Not for a family member or friend.  Well, he has become my friend over the past year that we've been together.  But right now I think his life is coming to an end.

Who you might ask?

Toshiba.  My laptop.

Apparently my husband and I are too mobile with him.  Those days and nights of frolicking on the couch and in the bed with him are coming to an end I'm afraid.  A few nights ago while he was sharing YouTube videos with me I noticed a paleness on his face.  He wasn't as bright as normal.  He began to pant and felt warm, so I sent him to bed, warning my husband to let him rest for awhile as he must have had a long day.

Then the following night, as we cuddled on the couch after searching the MLS, he grew pale and warm again.

A checkup by Dr. Norton resulted in a clean bill of health.  But a mother knows better.  I'm afraid that months of moving him to and fro have made him weak.  It seems like only yesterday we brought him home from Best Buy and introduced him to his cousins, Linksys the Router and HP the Printer.

With each shallow breath he took on my desk last night it became clearer to me that the contract he was helping me write may very well be his last.

Unfortunately this will be our fourth lost in about five years.  His older brothers, Compaq, HP, and Gateway died of similar complications before him.  But HP was a fighter!  We took him to a specialist who helped him live a few extra months.  But we don't want to put Toshiba through weeks in a hospital just to prolong the inevitable.

So I'm looking to you, my Active Rain family, to help us in our time of need.  Although we don't want to "replace" him, we know that Toshiba would want us to move on.  And Linksys the Router and HP the Printer would be lonely without another companion.

If anyone can recommend a good, sturdy laptop that enjoys quite evenings at home, an occasional day at the park, doesn't mind being passed around, and is under $1000 I'd be much appreciative.