finding out system hardware in ubuntu

[MICHAEL WEAVER]

Is there a way of finding out hardware of a PC in Ubuntu?
I am wanting to find out about the components of my laptop, system  
resources etc
to find out why I am having problems getting Edgy to speak  and maybe 
even install?
I think it might be a Compaq Presario but not sure of the model number  
without asking
someone in my family with me being Totally Blind.
I know it is running Dapper which someone in one in one of the LUGs I  
attend helped
me install and I am aware of a slight lag when pressing  for example ALT 
F1 to bring
up the Gnome equivalent of the Windows start  menu and Orca responding 
but maybe
a system check might explain why I am  having some trouble with Edgy 
even though
I do get the Edgy tune like it  is loading Ubuntu as Live.
It seemed to take a long time bringing up the graphical desktop and  
crashed when
the people at my LUG tried to install Edgy from the desktop  so I am not 
sure if
I have a problem with the processor speed, RAM and  whether Orca version 
1 takes
up more system resources which is why I  seem unable to get speech even 
when I try
ALT when I think Ubuntu has  loaded as a Live version.