rb wrote:
> I'm totally a newbie regarding laptops. I'm thinking of buying one to take
> on an extended tour to the Mid East. I'm wavering between buying a new one
> for maybe $475 or so, and one on Ebay for half that.

A new laptop for only $475 will most likely have an outdated slow as
molasses Semperon CPU and only 256 Meg of RAM. Internet Exploder will take
at least 30 seconds to load. It will be a very frustrating computer to use.

IMHO, you should have at least an Athelon CPU with 512 Meg of RAM to save
your sanity.

Another thing to consider is the used battery. You have no idea how many
charge and discharge cycles its been through. It may only run for five
minutes. A new battery will cost you $100 to $200 (rough estimate off the
top of my head).