Laptop Computer Advice

[richlevy]

I will be taking the family to Key West this summer. I have found that the DoubleTree Key West hotel where I will be staying has free high-speed internet access in most (all?) of its rooms. Since I am bringing my AOL-chatting teenage son and his friend, as well as my other teenage son, I thought it might be nice to have Internet access in the room, if for no other reason than checking maps, printing coupons (www.myclipper.com) and other vacation stuff. It might really come in handy if we get a rainy day.

This may push me over the edge to buying a new computer in addition to my Compaq 450mhz desktop.

In a reply to my e-mail the tech person there said all I needed was an Ethernet-card equipped PC. He also stated no laptops have ever been stolen from a room, but I'm bringing a security cable anyway.

Now I have priced used 400mhz laptops at Second Source for $400 and a used 900mhz laptop for $799.

With rebates I can get a new laptop with XP for $999-1099! Of course, if I can get a $300 or less laptop, I won't worry about leaving it in the room as much.

I was considering spending $300 and buying the following laptop and upping the memory and installing an ethernet card. What do you think? I have licenses for Windows 95 and Windows 98. I can borrow a CD-ROM for Dell.

The main use of this PC would be Internet and word processing. I would install Winamp, AOL chat, and possibly Kazaa. It might not have enough RAM to support a virus scanner, but I would load ZoneAlarm.

An additional use would be to upload digital pictures. I only need enough of a battery for a powerup at the airport for security, although I'm sure I could find a plug with only a minor hassle.

So, $300-$400 for 300 mhz mail-order used or $999 for a new 1.8 ghz model with XP and ethernet.

Any ideas?