Considering how your computer and tv got fried, the laptop has the advantage of being quickly removed from the surge protector and the path of travel from a lightning strike.
There are many mid-priced laptops and net books that can probably serve your needs.
If it is used mostly for web browsing, storing images and home videos you really don’t need the hypersonic speed of the top end cpu’s.
Note that even the laptops with track pads can handle a cordless bluetooth mouse. I’ve used such a setup for about three years, rarely accessing the three hd towers I have.
Do suggest that you dismiss the google books with a sneer.
With the USB ports connecting printers is really almost child’s play.
Make sure you get at least 4gb of ram memory and 500gb hard drive.
Step two.
It occurs to me that with your computer fried you have no way of knowing if your printer, router, and other attached hardware are functional if they were connected via wire.
Worst case, plan for replacing those as well.
good luck!
“the laptop has the advantage of being quickly removed from the surge protector and the path of travel from a lightning strike”
I don’t care how fast you are, you ain’t faster than lightning!