[Tat2]

IMO...When considering laptops, you have to consider the amount of heat generated by the PC itself, remember, overheating can significantly reduce the life of any computer...but especially a laptop.

Find out where the cooling fans are located and consider what kind of surface you will be using it on most. If on a table or desk, no real issue, but, if you will be using on your lap, in bed, on a couch, etc.. you could block the heat from escaping...leading to, at the very least system instability or over heat shutdown.

I have owned several laptops through the years, and have learned from experience, that the addage "You get what you pay for" is VERY true when it comes to portable systems. They are nearly impossible to work on if you have a hardware problem (with the exception of RAM, drives, some video cards, and of course...PCMCIA devices).

Upgrading is another issue and ranges from easy to not possible based on the brand/model you are talking about. Normally, you won't find hardware for laptops at your local computer/electronics store and will have to order it. And because it is a proprietary system, you are also at the mercy of the company when buying accessories/hardware (translation=higher cost $$$).

Good laptops that will last you will cost you out the yin-yang. If you must have one and are not pressured for time, wait a couple more months, save some more money, and get a higher profile laptop. My personal favorite is Toshiba, as they have won... hands down...the Laptop torture test by [PC Computing magazine, I believe] several years in a row. My current Laptop is a Toshiba Satellite and it has been a good system, but it does not hold a candle to my Dell XPS desk top and cost more!

Get the Acer if you must, but if you can swing it, go with Toshiba, Dell or Alienware.