Alright you gurus out there. I need your help. My laptop has some sorta problem with the motherboard (so far as I can tell) and I'm blowing through power cords like a mofo. I've decided it's time to move on and pass this mother down to my daughter.
I'm just not sure exactly what I should get. I love having a laptop, but I'll never get another 17 in monstrosity again. I never take it anywhere because it's too big and heavy. I'd like to have one so I could take it to school and for the portability (so I can watch games on TV and still be online). But it's not a necessity.
I don't do any real gaming right now, and likely won't in the future, although I really want to play Diablo III when it comes out. So that is a consideration, but not a deal breaker. Mostly, I use my computer for web stuff, Office type applications, music, and playing stupid Flash games that suck away my time. I do the occasional photo and video editing, randomish programming and database stuff but mostly that is school related and this laptop can handle any of that should it be a problem. For that matter, this machine can handle Diablo III.....I hadn't thought of that....
My biggest concerns are money and reliability. I really don't like screwing around with my machine and I'm way to impulsive to computer shop much on my own. I just buy stuff. I'd like to get a cheap of a machine as possible, in all reality, probably less than $500.
Do any of you have any recommendations? Are netbooks worthwhile for my uses? Should I just get a cheapy desktop unit? I need something that will last at least two years, preferably more.