Apple has its horrid AppleWorks but they're working on a word-processing program. I'd rather have a new iBook as they're "tougher" than PowerBooks. I'd like to tinker with it but given that you're in Canada...
Basic home maintenance: Cocktail and Tech Tool Pro. Anyone can do it.
Sometimes my hand hurts from the trackpad so I got Appple's optical "Mighty Mouse" which absolutely rocks.
Not on Apple's payroll, they've got pretty good support and if they keep botching a job, you'll get a free computer - the latest of the models.
Allan