New Laptop on the horizon?

[Pale Dim]

Okay, this is getting out of control.

1. I got a USED Dell Inspiron 5150 when I get back from the Bike Tour. Me love me Dad long time. This thing is fast, but as soon as I got it running,  I notice that there is trouble because the internet connection is not strong enough. I dunno. 12.0 mbps just seems too weak to me.

2. Later that month, I get the horrendous blue error screen. Okay, it doesn't happen again for quite some time. I get it looked at by a computer repair store, they completely wipe it from viruses. $60.00

3. A week or two later, crashes come back. It turns out that it's a hardware problem. *insert rageface here* The motherboard was being crushed by a design flaw. We take it back to the repair store, it works perfectly for them. $60.00 for another virus clean. I get it back, and it will not even let me get past the start up screen upon boot up. *insert rageface again* I think I got scammed by the computer repair guys. -_-

4. $90.00+ dollars later, a new motherboard arrives, the design flaw is taken care of, and the whole problem is fixed. YAY! Nothing happens for a little while.

5. Some months ago, the Soundcard is no longer being read. I can't even FIND one of those online, and a fix isn't even available!

6. Overheating is taking effect as of earlier this week. Even though I have one of those fans that Laptops sit on to keep them cool.

7. Something or someone set my icons on my desktop to not show. Which is weird, because my laptop was on when it happened, which means that it just happened. It's NOT supposed to do that on it's own.

I HATE THIS LAPTOP!

I tell my Dad about this. He has come to the conclusion that just getting everything that is currently wrong fixed would cost more than a new laptop. And even if we do fix it, the problems would still keep popping up. It is a 5150, after all. He has accepted the fact that it was his fault that this has all happened, since he bought it in the first place. So, he is taking responsibility to buy a NEW laptop, as long as it isn't too pricey, while taking into account the factors I'm looking for.

My main factor used to be:
1. It had to have 3.00 GHz.

Now, it is:
1. Memory capacity larger than 1.00 GB.
2. At least 2.8 GHz
3. The model needs to have a reliable background history, and looking back at the 5150, I read that the model was infamous for hardware malfunctions. Just my luck. So, the background history needs to be acceptable.

Anybody know a model like this? Because we could use a little help.

EDIT: NOW it has to be under $200. What is he thinking? Thats probably how he got this stupid thing!

[Deku]

Man, that sucks. I don't know anything about laptops, but I plan to get one somewhere in the distant future (after 3DS, Skyrim, phone, Wii, and Skyward Sword). :P

Lot on my plate. Good luck with all of that. At least your dad is being cool about it, mine wouldn't have been.

[Pale Dim]

Okay, so what about a IBM Thinkpad G40. Anything anybody here has heard about that model?

[MagmarFire]

If you want my advice, I recommend one that doesn't have its SD card slot on the same side as its CD drive slot. Apparently, I'm not the only foolish fool to have made such a foolishly foolish mistake... -_-

[Deku]

If you want my advice, I recommend one that doesn't have its SD card slot on the same side as its CD drive slot. Apparently, I'm not the only foolish fool to have made such a foolishly foolish mistake... -_-

Why, what's the problem with that? Please esplane, I wanna learn. ???

[Twilight Wolf]

I assume he stuck the SD card in the CD slot. XD

[Pale Dim]

Yeah, that would seem about right...

[MagmarFire]

I assume he stuck the SD card in the CD slot. XD

Bingo. Now I need to have someone look at my CD drive in when I'm not too lazy and get it out of there. T_T

[Pale Dim]

I shake my head at you, Mags. I shake my head. Okay, but seriously, anyone know of a Laptop model I could use?

[The Glamour Nazi]

My Dell inspiron 1525 has lasted me 3 years...

Sure, it's nearing the end of it's life, overheating, battery not holding a charge, but it's a sturdy little computer...

Not sure if that helps...

It's an older model, so it should be cheap... Finding one this old... Well, good luck.

[MagmarFire]

I shake my head at you, Mags. I shake my head. Okay, but seriously, anyone know of a Laptop model I could use?

In my defense, I wasn't the only one to do that. There are more accounts of that happening than you may know.