The best OS for perl scripts is UNIX or some flavor of UNIX/Linux.
Generally a PIII 800Mhz or higher should be more than adequate. Either Intel or AMD would be fine.
If you plan on a lot of activity then get SCSI hard drives.
Since RAM is so cheap, get the most you can, I would go for no less than 512MB.
Doug
Moderator: Cool Customers
Captain Kirk: "Once again we've saved civilization as we know it."
Dr. McCoy: "And the good news is they're not going to prosecute."