Buying a Laptop...Looking for Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down Input

Janet,  I have a Gateway and have been happy with it, like you I am not that technologically advanced - it needs to plug and go and I don't do gaming either.  I've had it for about 4 years now and have thought about getting a new one, but this one works just fine.  My daughter has a Toshiba and hates it, she's lost about 10 keys off of it and with laptops you have to have the whole keyboard replaced when you lose a key.  My son has an HP and a Compaq and likes both well enough.  My son is a gamer though and uses his laptops primarily for gaming. 

Sadly all my experience is off the table when you nixed Dell! I have had a gajillion computers and almost all were Dell...pricing and options got me every time! Reminds me of when I tried to NOT buy an HP printer...it was the only company that made the printer that fit ALL my qualifications! Sigh. I do have a little Lifebook that is pretty sweet. It's just for carrying around when I travel and blogging and surfing in the Living Room. No bigger than a hardback book! Just wouldn't use it for hard core pic editing or writing contracts! Good luck!

Janet - I have a vaio and have been relatively pleased with it.  I have all of my LOS software and all the other necessary programs I need and have had relatively little problems with it.  I don't rely on customer service much; I have my own computer guru I use.

I also have a wireless card so that I can go anywhere at any time with my laptop.  My only complaint; it's a little wider than the openings on my favorite laptop bags so I have to either fanagle it in with a little work or use one of my less preferred briefcases, which are heavier.  I know this may sound silly to most (especially men) but you know what I'm talking about.

Oh and it's very sturdy; I've dropped it more times than I care to admit and it's no worse for the wear.  Kind of reminds me of those Timex commercials "takes a licking and keeps on ticking".

Janet, I had a Gateway Tablet that I loved mainly because the screen flipped around and I could write on it including getting signatures on contracts. But after 3 years of abuse it finally died. I now use a HP Pavilion. The screen is very shiny. It may be a little too big for you if you carry it a lot. BUT...for only $650 I find it to be a great machine.

You don't need to play games or watch movies!? O_O  That's a requirement for all my computers, even if it's not the primary need. LOL. As for brands, I'm always happy with HP. No matter what the product, if it's HP, I'll be satisfied. Right now, I need a new battery and AC converter for my laptop. =(

Poor Janet :)  I had a Sony Vaio for 7 years and loved it, did not like the model that was available at the time I needed to upgrade so I now have an Acer (4 years & counting) and the support when it totally died - after being dropped off the roof of my car - was great. 

I also have an Acer netbook, super portable and light that I never leave home without now.  My older laptop is so big compared to the netbook, that is now becoming a desktop laptop!

My laptop is a 17" HP Pavilion and I love the big screen.  I've had this one almost 3 years and it has been very good to me.