BIAB is the best thing that's happen to music since the guitar pick. No musician should be without it. The basic program is all you really need, and maybe a few of the real drum sets. It will cost you around $125. You don't need any special computer to use it, and you can output from your computer to a stereo amp of some sort and get a really nice sound, for practice or even recording. It's simple to use. If you can check email you can program a song in BIAB. Unless it something really complicated, I can program a basic song in less than the time it takes to play it. Tweaking it out takes a little longer.
Steve,What Rick said is basicly correct but I'll advise that you call PG Music and tell them what you want to accomlish and get thier advise on what you are gonna need as far as a computer is concerned.If you buy the full package with Real Band you will need a large hard drive.Also if you get the program in DVD format you need a DVD to install it..Call PG Music..