[TChris]

I have an Acer Aspire 5100 laptop. Apart from the completely screwed up software configuration (Two FAT32 partitions, equal size, one is for system backup only, you get access to half of your hard disk, no Windows installation CD, loads of Acer crapware preinstalled, etc..) it seems to be a pretty decent machine.

I spent two days fixing up the hard drive; it has been pretty good ever since. Not bad for the ~$700 price tag.

[FateAmenableToChange]

My wife and I got one of the lower end Aspire models for our main home computer about 2 years ago for $500. My harddrive was partitioned the same weird way, although I have free access to the second partition and just use CD’s for the backup. If the OS goes, I’ll turn it into a linux machine and buy another dirt cheap laptop. I don’t know if I’d trust it for travel — battery life was only about 65 minutes when new.

[papasmurf]

I believe that’s a North American only policy. It’s illegal in the EU, and Asians would scoff at their products for that. Me, myself, personally, I...would re-format that hd in half a heartbeat.