I can buy any number of Dell “business class” laptops from my work when they go off warranty for $100+tax ,, typically they’re 14” core2-duo , 4gb ram and 160gb drive ,, freshly reloaded with XP ... If you want one let me know..
I may take you up on that.
I’ve owned a dozen or more Dell desktops and even more local knock offs. 3 or 4 Hp/Compaq boxes that have all failed.
Dell boxes seem to be the most flexible although I’ve never owned a Dell Laptop.
I don’t think I would buy anything other than a Dell machine in the future.