Shopping Help

[etherial]

Thoughts on buying a new computer. What I need:

• a laptop model
• a full adult-sized keyboard
• a non-Vista operating system requiring one click or less to install
• the ability to run multiple web browsers at once (as well as a game or two)
• cheap (free) anti-virus protection
• DVD drive

I've only bought one computer before. That was easy: Go to apple.com, fill out the information for the educator's discount, buy a top-of-the-line model with all the upgrades. Unfortunately, I have not the budget for a top-of-the-line anything. So, any suggestions on sellers, manufacturers, and models?

Edit: I really do mean non-Vista. XP is a version of Windows I'd be willing to use. 7 seems to have all the usability of XP with all the pretty of Vista, but that's just my first impression. *nix is fine, and the one click is just a metaphor, but I remember the days when it took months to *nix working properly on a PC, and I want a guarantee that it'll be fully functional in half an hour.

Comments

[ruggrat.livejournal.com]

My Asus X83V worked with Ubuntu in less than half an hour. I was astounded (since my past exploits with Ubuntu always left me partially-functional). There was one thing that needed a workaround (at least, the only thing I can remember being a problem) - when I suspended the system, and resumed, the webcam light stayed on. There's small configuration fix that made it completely perfect after that.

That said I'm still dual booting with Vista (but it would be just as easy to go with XP instead) so I can play VIDEO GAMES.

The X83V is hard to find, I got mine refurbed, because I think they were a Best Buy exclusive or something, that was sold off to other distributors after they got bored of it. Anyway, 14.1" screen. Keys are comfortable for me, but I have lady hands.