hardware info 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.