My desktop computer is 8 years old. I shit you not.

Why am I posting about a potential computer purchase? Because I need some help, not necessarily with hardware, but with software.

As you may or may not know, my demo recordings posted to this site are rough. Really rough. Sandpaper-on-your-most-intimate-parts rough. I've got some decent musical equipment (although I suppose one SM-58 microphone doesn't really cut it) but getting the sounds INTO the computer has been a real challenge.

Digital distortion flareups make recording vocals onto my laptop an exercise in futility, and the software I've begged/borrowed/stolen is craptastic. Even the lowliest shareware programs claim to have a panoply of "effects" you can apply to tracks, but the reality is that they all sound like ass, and, even if they don't, they can't magically turn a noisy, crackly, hissy, poppy, low-volume track into radio gold.

I need to invest in some legit music recording/editing software. My preference of course would be something that doesn't cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and that doesn't have an insane learning curve. Is GarageBand worth my time? Or is it geared too much to MIDI-input instruments? Does it handle vocals? If not, I need something else.

Anybody know anything about this crazy stuff? All input is welcome.