I am no computer expert, so I'm just going to tell you what I am typing on right now and have been using it for over 2 years. It is an Acer, just a basic model and I swear, it has not given me one day's trouble since I got it, and it was a used "extra" at our corporate office. I have been really pleased with it.

I did purchase a Toshiba Satellite a few weeks ago for my daughter. It has the 17 inch screen and the built in numerical keyboard, which to me is priceless. It is heavy, though, but it is not being moved around. It will become our home computer when she goes off to college because it is not one that you would want to move around a lot.

I had a Toshiba before and I was very happy with it. Due to an unfortunate incident (I spilled a glass of white wine on the keyboard), its life was shortened, but that wasn't Toshiba's fault. It was mine. Luckily I told the truth and my manager never fussed at me. After all, I was working at home on a Sunday night!