I have a Mac Mini - Mac OSX 10.4.11. (since approximately 2005) It is running very very slow, not as it used to. I feel frustrated as it takes so long to go from one place to another when surfing, or when I use WORD to write on the page and then if I need to then i.e. copy and paste etc... everything takes so long... plus... I have great disappointment as there seems to be a colourful beach ball spinning for lengthy times (i.e. 30-60 sec.average), at the top of the pages. It appears when I am going from one site to another, or when I am on hotmail and wish to i.e. search another email while I am writing a letter, or when I copy and paste, etc. etc. etc... basically it seems to be happening all the time, and not just when I do one particular thing.
I do have a lot of saved bookmarks which I keep on pages in folders on my desktop... could this be why?
Another family member uses the computer but signs in separately and his side is fine, is quick and does not have the spinning beach ball. I would be very grateful to receive any explanations, but easily explained please, (as if to a child!) as I have taught myself to use the computer, and know very basics, i.e.. Surfing, copy and paste. Thank you for your comments, advice etc.

I have a MAC Mini - MAC OSX 10.4.11, since 2005. I love it because when I had a regular computer there were so many viruses, trojans, worms etc. etc. and it caused great anxiety. My little Mac Mini has been so great and without any "diseases". But >> am I ignorant/naive? The only "maintaining" that I have been doing is >removing the cookies. Is there anything else I should have been doing all of these years? Can I take care of it myself? I would be very grateful to receive any information, instructions, advice etc. (but>> I do not understand computer lingo... only very "basics") Thank you!

Your computer is 6 years old, it's self not that bad of a thing, however if you are running the same Operating system install that you started with there may be problems. Mac like any other operating system becomes fragmented as time passes This fragmentation is much slower than that on Windows. If you have not already make backups of your data, Then reload your operating system, and run your updates.