I need some laptop buying advice. I'm looking to spend around $700 (although I could go up to $800), I want something that will be good for several years, I'd be using it for school and as a second computer. I don't really need anything fancy, although something with a dvd burner would be nice.

I'm a little worried about spending that much money and then hating what I have. Is there a brand I should focus on or one I should avoid?

askye, you are talking pc, right? you might need try checking out dell refurbished sales:

[link]

the link on the left (stockroom) will let you search the whole inventory. I usually select cert. refurbished & previously ordered new

I am talking PC. I've heard mixed things about Dell, but you've been happy with cert. refurbished?

yes. absolutely. I got my current laptop from there. but I decided to get a "previously ordered new" one. It apparently wasn't booted up. I did buy an extended warranty (which I recommend for laptops anyway). I got a much better laptop than I could have afforded anyway for a reasonable price.

I've had very bad luck in the past with Dell machines. I've not purchased them in a few years so they may be better now.

For the past few years all of my laptops have been either Toshiba or Apple. Toshiba has some great prices on their lower end models and I have found them to be very reliable.

Thanks your help Le Nubian and ND.

I have had my dell (Inspiron 700m) for at least two years, and it's been quite reliable. ::crosses fingers::

My issues with Dells have all been due to lack of compatibility. They use a lot of non standard motherboards and the like and they've screwed me more than once when trying to add things like a new video card or new audio cards to machines. Chances are most folks don't have those issues.

Anyone know if you can make an Amazon wish list address hidden?

There's a setting to make them private. When you make a new one, it's private by default. I don't really know exactly how to do it, but poke around.