Free Republic

I need a bit of advice. I do not own a notebook/laptop computer, this will be my first purchase. Offered to me NEW: a Toshiba Satellite A135-S2326. Windows Vista Basic (I know, I know...bugs/monster memory eater), 80gb hard drive, 512M of RAM. 15.4" screen. The price after rebates: $350. I might eventually upgrade the RAM to 1 or 2GB. This is going to be used primarily for a child being homeschooled, maybe to watch DVDs during travel, light internet usage in airports, etc. Nothing massive. Is $350 a good price?

A bit of an old story is coming to the surface as Panasonic is waving around pictures of a CF-M34 ToughBook which a soldier in the US 82nd Airborne division took with him into Northern Iraq, only to have some inconsiderate... person... put a bullet into it. The good news? The bullet went through the screen and part of the keyboard, but didn't come out the other end to do any harm to any piece of US military property on the far side. Impressive, no? Well, probably. Pretty much anything dense enough can stop a bullet, if you're lucky...

ALBANY - A mosque leader charged with helping launder money in a missile plot thought all the weapon talk was a joke, his lawyer said yesterday - but prosecutors were not laughing. Imam Yassin Muhiddin Aref was jailed without bail after prosecutors questioned why his name was found in a notebook in a terrorist camp listed as "Commander Yassin, United States." They also unveiled a photo of the imam's co-defendant watching as an informant shouldered a real surface-to-air missile in the back room of an Albany-area convenience store. That was among the evidence cited by prosecutors in Albany Federal Court...

Tokyo, Japan, Sept 28, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Sony Corporation will initiate a global replacement program for certain battery packs that utilize Sony-manufactured lithium ion cells used by notebook computer manufacturers in order to address concern related to recent over-heating incidents. Sony always strives to deliver the highest level of satisfaction to its customers and all consumers. We believe that this program is in the best interest of both our customers and all consumers. Sony is discussing this plan with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and will coordinate with other government authorities as required. We will announce...

NEW YORK - Democratic Sen. John Kerry, a potential 2008 candidate, lashed out at former rival George W. Bush and his advisers on Friday, calling them incompetent and labeling the White House team "the Katrina administration." "These guys are the most incompetent people I've ever seen in Washington in all the time I've been in public life," Kerry said via teleconference to the National Action Network, an advocacy group founded by Al Sharpton. "The problem with it is their incompetence is hurting people, it's hurting real people." Kerry criticized a House bill that would punish those who aid illegal immigrants...

Okay, I want to get some people's opinions. Who do you think is the best seller of laptop batteries out there? I'm looking to get a new battery for my wife's Dell Inspiron 8200 and I have no problem finding batteries on the net that will work, but who would you go with in terms of reliability, honesty, price, return policy, etc?

I am planning to buy my first Windows-based notebook computer. Budget in the $1200 range. There are lots of choices and a lot of confusing info out there about desirable specs/components. Would greatly appreciate recommendations from FReepers knowledgeable about computers. Will be for home interent use, running Photoshop, MS Office Suite, taking work home from the office from time-to-time, and similar tasks. Need something sturdy, reliable and with a bright, sharp display. Your recommendations on specs to equip it with, within my price range, are also much needed. Thanks.

GRAHAM LOSES NOTEBOOKConfused On Iraq And WMD___________________________________________________________________________________________“The most hyperbolic and unhelpful statement so far, some Democrats said, was the suggestion Monday by Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.), also a presidential candidate, that if Bush misled the American people, it might rise to the ‘standard’ of an impeachable offense.” (Jim VanderHei and Helen Dewar, “Democrats Sharpen Attack On Bush Over Iraq,” The Washington Post, 7/16/03)THE MISSING ENTRIES  July 14, 2003: Suggested Potential Need For Impeachment Proceedings Against President Bush.  “Graham was asked if he would support impeachment if Democrats were in control of the House, which brings impeachment charges for the Senate to...

I have a sudden need for a decent notebook PC. This will serve as my "temporary desktop computer" at a client's office where I will need to be working for the next several weeks. I want a lot of "bang-for-the-buck," including sufficient memory, screen size, etc., to do some pretty heavy computing (running engineering software including CAD, etc.) I'd like some recommendations. I haven't been keeping up with the notebook market AT ALL. Thanks in advance.