Then I got a sale notice form BJs on a Toshiba C875D-S7345 with a 17.3" HD LED Back lit screen for $399, and say why not? I don't plan to use this for a travel computer, more of a portable and out-of-sight living room desktop - so the 17.3" screen looks good and what's HD and LED Back lit, is that good display stuff today - next generation screen technology compared to my 7 yo machine. It lists Windows 8, I am familiar with W7 so it might not be a big change.. my old Gateway is XP, of course. It has 4 GB RAM, a necessity with W7/W8 I understand, 320 GB HDD (on the small side for a new computer) and an AMD EI-1200 processor, must be at least a dual core, but I don't know.

I am not a "gamer" or "graphics" user, so I suspect this machine is "more than enough" - yes I am thinking Tablet too, but I don't think Tablet is yet up to replacing a Laptop used as a portable desktop.

I don't have the specific offer from BJs online, I got a coupon in the mail from them. I was having some problems finding the computer online, on Toshiba/'s web site. It may be a "special" for BJs as I didn't exist on the Toshiba selling web site.

Yes, I remember when 1 MB for RAM was a lot

I think I am not ready for Windows 8. I notice in the pictures of the subject computer the "desktop" shown is a matrix of boxes in more or a graphic/picture form rather than icons.

Yet another step to the reality I am no longer connected to the technical world.

That's how I came to own the Gateway I'm on. I purchased a Vista machine from Walmart and had some problems getting it operating - I gave up and took it back to Walmart and they gave me my money back... I then went looking for a left-over XP and purchased the Gateway, which has been a good Laptop (15+ screen but thin and light enough to be a travel computer).

Thanks, I have looked at refabs.. and there's still a lot of XP out there as well... don't know who would buy one unless like me they were considering it for parts - my latest interest in a new laptop (I mean lap not note, as I want at least a 15" screen) being driven by my careless handling of my 7 yo gateway (my under the table living room machine). Speaking of Gateway has that brand been taken over by ACER? I still see the brand out there, but no longer any advertisements..come to think of it TV is basically absent of any computer advertisements.

Back to subject, I did a reply on a January thread on Windows 8 where I learned from a link provided by ragencajun the RetroUI Pro, make-over to run W8 as W7, and still have W8 underneath for when you're ready to use it. It isn't freeware for at $5 it is almost free, but...

I see the subject Toshiba is available on-line form Toshiba for $399, and I also see a Toshiba near the same for the same price but it has a 500 GB HDD (not the 350GB) and an Intel not AMD. I recall ravencajun prefers AMD. Me, I can't complain with Intel, my old Gateway has a Celeron.