Doc,
Please post those specs on that $8,000 server. That's a ton of money for a small office server.
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On the overall discussion. This is just my opinion, but one can get carried away looking at all the little things that are running here and there. Basically, keep your programs to a minimum. A good AV program now covers most spyware and adware and, if not, use SpyBot or whatever and open it and run it when you want to. On a domain, you are far better off using Windows Firewall, and though it isn't as good as Zone Alarm (which is my personal favorite), it will make life a lot easier. Get a GOOD hardware firewall. The only really helpful thing (for me) that a software firwall can do that a hardware firewall can't is to watch for programs on your computer trying to get to the outside without permission. Of course, that means for newbies they have to know what can get out and what can't.
Finally, when things have slowed to a halt, there is nothing like two things to get it going again: a reformat and adding RAM. And, you need to know the logistics of adding RAM as well --you can't jsut add RAM to any old module. It is kind of refreshing to count all your programs -- say 20, then reformat and add only those you need and see you are down to 12. Things just run much better again.
