Here are some:
Lenovo
ASUS
Another ASUS
HP

Hey, i’m not sure what type of laptop you’re specifically looking for, but here’s a decent one (for the price),

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmprd79500050001&skuId=999979600050001&type=product&childSku=8539281&count=1

The only relative downside to the model is that you HAVE to use Vista (most of the drivers for it are Vista only).  But, it’s a decent price, for the things it has.

What about going to dell and customizing a small business notebook? I am not sure how the core 2 duo equals out to the pentium 4, but you can customize the business laptops with XP rather than Vista. Starting prices are good….

You probably already know this, but I found out this summer that getting a laptop is always cheaper by going to a major distributor and not from the company.  The companies build laptops they don’t just sell them.  I bought a new Sony Vaio for school this summer and realized very quickly that a laptop with the same specs from the company and distributor is always going to be cheaper from the distributor.  I wouldn’t call this a gaming machine though it does handle Wolfenstein Enemy Territory decently well.  I also didn’t have any luck finding a nonVista Windows machine that had the specs I needed.  Count on buying a Vista machine from a distributor and good luck finding a decent quality gaming machine for under $1000. I don’t think it can be done.

Two notes:

1.  For our home systems, we’ve had tremendous luck with “open box” and “floor model” sales at Best Buy and the like.  Reformat and reload and you’re solid, usually with a substantial discount for a machine that’s (gasp) 6 months old tops.

2.  Gaming does not, in fact, require the fastest, 1337est machine on the market with quad core duo-fu and a chrome-plated lunch dispenser.  I play City of Heroes on my office laptop—an 2-year-old IBM Thinkpad T41p Pentium-M 1.7GHz, with the crappy motherboard-based video that came with it (and bumped up to 2Gb of RAM).  It’s not the fastest machine in the world, and I have to turn the video settings down a good bit—but it’s eminently usable and enjoyable.

Dell XPS is what I use…it’s a work horse…and many hours of gaming fun

This means we’re back to sharing my PC until probably at least after Christmas unless I win the lotto.

Don’t forget to hide the porn pictures and clear your browser history!

Don’t forget to hide the porn pictures and clear your browser history!

Good call, and nice signature, too.

it seems like it’s good and dead with little hope of blowing on it bringing it back from the great beyond.

I know the feeling - but that was the Nintendo for ya.

Les: in all fairness, the one thing that will hold gaming back for whatever she wants to do (MMOs?) will be the amount of RAM followed closely by access speeds. Play settings can always be cut way down, or the game can be played in Windowed mode (which, I can understand if you wouldn’t want to).

In other words, get any old laptop, at least a gig of memory (maybe more), and get any affordable graphic card. I know you can fetch that for under a grand; it just won’t be playing some games right off the shelf.

Moloch: Don’t forget to hide the porn pictures and clear your browser history!

I don’t understand what people have against porn generally, it brings joy to people and is people as nature intended, so it can only be a good thing?

I take the view that anyone offended by something either deserved/needed to be offended by it. Anti-porn, anti-masterbation, anti-gay, etc are some of the things I think only existed in the first place because of religous fundamentalism and it’s tendancy to misinterpret and get people to look for the ‘worst’ in each other. It certainly doesn’t make sense that these principles should exist at all in secular ethics for anyone

I take the view that anyone offended by something either deserved/needed to be offended by it.

100%. Still, these things in their own time. Think of taboos you would refuse to violate based on a visceral reaction; how long would you take to accept it? Could you ever?

According to my Sociology textbook, studies have shown that pornography leads to aggression in males and greater toleration of rape, not to mention it helps add to the subconscious patriarchal mindset in men.

I don’t have to hide my porn. I don’t tend to have a lot of it to begin with, but what little I do have my wife is more than aware of. Hell, she bought me some of it.

Getting back on the subject for a moment, it looks like we may skip the laptop issue after all and just build a new box. I can probably put something decent together for around $500 by recycling some of the components in the current machine that still work (hard drives, DVD-ROM drives, etc.). I’m basically looking at getting a new motherboard, processor, RAM, and video card.

Still, thanks for the laptop suggestions as I will be getting around to buying something to replace my old one before too long.

According to my Sociology textbook, studies have shown that pornography leads to ...greater toleration of rape,

I don’t know how you measure that - I’d be interested to find out. Studies have shown that video games lead to aggression and toleration of murder in men. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that both were accurate. There’s a larger issue at hand.

not to mention it helps add to the subconscious patriarchal mindset in men.

Male dominated form of entertainment, male producers, directors, male mindset. The rest is egocentrism, which we’re all guilty of. Whether or not men are more aggressive by default, I couldn’t care. We can expect that current porn really doesn’t offer much to or for most women - they get shut out at the concept stage. That’s really the problem. My mother loved her romance novels - I imagine that’s what all the “nice girls” had in her age. First time she saw porn she vomited.

What we need is new kinds of porn.

||side rant|| I read an essay (edit: written by a woman, crucial detail) once, on the difference between erotica and porn - the argument was, essentially, that erotica promoted love and equality (S&M;between loving couples would be porn by default). Porn was porn because its mainstay was aggression and control - particularly men over women. You see what I did there?

Patness: Think of taboos you would refuse to violate based on a visceral reaction; how long would you take to accept it? Could you ever?

When aware of something like that I conciously ask myself - is this hurting anyone? What pros/cons there are? I don’t like the feeling of contempt for people, an idea or an action, so I try to find a way that I can be OK with it. I also look into why they would do it, because that helps keep me understanding

However when people who hold influence/threat over me have visceral reactions I cannot afford to challenge it in them, or have to be subtle, I’m enslaved to their silliness. I will do my utmost to end it, so far as I can afford.

Theo: According to my Sociology textbook, studies have shown that pornography leads to aggression in males and greater toleration of rape, not to mention it helps add to the subconscious patriarchal mindset in men.

Even if there was a correlation I severely doubt it’s the cause;

Rape often happens because people lack a sexual outlet, one signficant type of these people tend to be recluses who feel unable to date, unaccepted by their peers, made to think that alternative outlets like prostitution or masturbation are wrong but still expected to have sex by their peers in order to stand any chance of getting out of the situation they’re in. Beyond a certain point you cannot ignore physiological needs, cannot think straight even (hence you have fairly isolated guys who appear pervy/creepy), and they ultimately decide for once in their life to put themselves first (which in other forms is considered more acceptable). This type of rape occurs because of society’s failure to deal with + help reclusive males before they get to that point, instead the dominant of society tries to get everyone to hate the unconfident type, which doesn’t solve their issues and makes women even more wary of them, making them further isolated. Porn and prostitution provides an outlet for physiological needs for these people, that averts/ at least delays rape, and may help them move on.

Of course, there is another category of rapists who are alpha-male types with far fewer emotional problems than the previous and little regard for others in most parts of life. These are the agressive ones, and also the ones who spread hate and discourage tolerance of the less confident (encouraging the problems of the above), they are often also the charmers, who gain/crave influence and respect they don’t deserve, and get angry with anyone who deprives them of it. In society alpha-males manage to shift their blame (even in philosophy) and get the best things socially

And Patriarchal mindset? How does it do that?

Patness: Studies have shown that video games lead to aggression and toleration of murder in men. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that both were accurate. There’s a larger issue at hand

Correlation is not causation, and should not be treated as by banning video games. These studies are done by people who decided beforehand that they want to demonize those that don’t play, and they also tend not to be video gamers themselves, they lack understanding of the topic yet still try to make judgements on people.

*Isolated people are more likely to play games out of boredom.
*Isolated people might also become frustrated with a society that fails to understand them
*That frustration can come in the form of violence

We can expect that current porn really doesn’t offer much to or for most women - they get shut out at the concept stage. That’s really the problem

So long as it’s their choice it’s their choice, they accept what’s going to happen when they agree to the pictures. Some pornstars are very well paid too. Also it’s not as if using free porn in any way affects the one photographed because they don’t even know that you’re using it, and probably wouldn’t care anyway if they agreed to it

Oh no.

Rape often happens because people lack a sexual outlet,

Not often - rather rarely, in fact, and by which point there are many other issues of repression and personality to stack on the list. Okay - just so you know, man, this is the argument I get accused of making when I say rape is about sex. Of course, my argument is entirely different, but… I have an extreme distaste for it. It’s gotten in the way of progressive conversation on several occasions.

The reason the accusation gets levelled immediately, and it’s important that you acknowledge this, is that the issue of rape has somewhat of a legal precedent, circa 1950. The argument that “boys will be boys” was actually, somehow, a plausible defense - that is, if a woman was going to be indecent enough to (*gasp*) have sex with someone and not be perfectly discreet about it, that this was an open invitation to have sex with everyone who wanted it all at once. It’s almost impossible to believe, but this (somehow) saved a huge number of asses from the clink for gang-rape. It’s taken many decades, and we’re still not there yet, for people to accept that women have every right to choose whatever, or however many, sexual partners, they prefer, without being made to suffer for it by the general public - certainly, without it being made an excuse to harm them.

When you say it’s an issue of sexual repression, or that they lack a sexual outlet, you are almost always wrong. It can be an issue, yes, but your self-esteem should drive you to a solution long before rape enters the picture. In the meantime, having said this leaves you looking like you’re making the “oh, they just needed to get laid” defense. Rapists do not need sympathy for their crimes - what they need is intervention or condemnation.

I know a lot of people who are so socially awkward that they can’t approach women and get viciously depressed when someone talks about any form of intimacy with a woman (like spending 6 hours on the phone with one). They also can’t talk about their problems, and they struggle even admitting those problems to themselves without feeling like worthless human beings. They, all of them suffer from mental illnesses - our tendency to isolate them hurts them more. I could even see some of them becoming a danger to other people. Yes, getting laid (and not having to feel ashamed of themselves one way or the other) would help them.

But rape isn’t really about sexual repression. There are many other options, always, and thus, many other motivators to consider.

If I had it my way, I’d do away with the proverbial fig leaf and be done with all sexual stigma. Sexuality isn’t a suitable basis for judging anyone, and altogether often the fear of judgement does stop those few cases from getting to the point of intervention. On the other hand, having dulled its edge I’d also think that sex would make a far less effective weapon, which is almost entirely what this is about - raw malicious, evil conduct.

You know you have a mixed audience when your post about your wife’s broken computer leads to porn vs. erotica debate =P

Anyway, why not just get her a usb keyboard for your new PS3?

Patness: and by which point there are many other issues of repression and personality to stack on the list

Which makes them socially inept, which in turn means they will often have a lot of sexual tension, which makes them even less able to deal with women without creeping them out, it’s a spiral. Men of this type live in psychological torture which they want to end by anything that might stand a hope in hell

It’s almost impossible to believe, but this (somehow) saved a huge number of asses from the clink for gang-rape.

It saved the asses of the exploitative type. This is not the same type of rapist as the desperate recluse. I am fully behind women’s rights to have sex with whomever they wish, so long as they havn’t got an emotional commitment to a partner who would be hurt by it. I suppose it is bad for someone to restrict the freedom of their partner, but sex is often emotionally connected in relationships, then again, maybe they should grow to tolerate it (if they are offended…)

Law is not my major concern, as any principles it tries to set up are open to exploitation by the worst sort

It can be an issue, yes, but your self-esteem should drive you to a solution long before rape enters the picture.

The reclusive type of rapist often severely lacks self esteem, often crushingly so. This is what makes them reclusive, and makes them unable to get laid by the conventional route of emotional trickery and charm.

In the meantime, having said this leaves you looking like you’re making the “oh, they just needed to get laid” defense. Rapists do not need sympathy for their crimes - what they need is intervention or condemnation

They need to know the effect they’ve had on others, but they need to actually get the cause of the problem sorted. Simply kicking them some more only gives them the discouragement of prison and further isolation at the point of threat, it doesn’t itself make them realise what they did or less destructive ways to get laid. Good rehabilitation doesn’t cure re-offending generally, but it certainly reduces it. These people need a psychiatrist if they are to be eventually released.

Yes, getting laid (and not having to feel ashamed of themselves one way or the other) would help them.

Hence part of the need to legalize prostitution, and make these people aware that that option is open to them- with people willing to help of their own decision. Legalizing it may well offer protection against people smuggling to fill the gap, and legal protection against bad punters

There are many other options, always, and thus, many other motivators to consider

If they feel the conventional routes to getting laid are closed to them, and unaware of how to obtain a prostitute/made to fear pimps, then they may feel like they have little choice - if they are conditioned to think (as people were/are) that things like masturbation will make them go blind or other things, they have no physiological outlet and are constantly at boiling point, which is no way to live. The demonizing of suicide makes some feel forced to live in the hell they’re in, they’re trapped in a situation and don’t see many ways out…

If I had it my way, I’d do away with the proverbial fig leaf and be done with all sexual stigma. Sexuality isn’t a suitable basis for judging anyone, and altogether often the fear of judgement does stop those few cases from getting to the point of intervention

I’d like it if sex was considered no big deel, and something done practically as a greeting or public expression of friendship (like hugging is now). If it was freely and easily available, all the inhibitions, stigma, probably a lot of conflict and frustrations, would just dissolve away. People wouldn’t need to rape then, and even if they did it wouldn’t be a big deal.

I think bonobos have it right

I’m with the “any old laptop will do, as long as you invest in a decent amount of ram to cap it off.“ Even low-end laptops seem to have dual cores, and while it’s nice to get a really awesome video system WOW just doesn’t require all that much. I haven’t upgraded my video card yet on my dual core cheapers desktop, but with 2 gigs of RAM I don’t have any hiccups with WOW whatsoever.

On the other hand, some of the low end laptops I’ve looked at are ugly as sin and look really uncomfortable to use. YMMV.

Wheeler, I find the thread drifts that take place to be alternately fascinating and flustering. As for a keyboard on the PS3, if it ran World of Warcraft that would be a viable solution, but alas it does not.

MM, WoW’s biggest requirement seems to be RAM and I’d imagine a semi-decent mobile graphics chip should be able to handle it.

Ahhh! your wife is for the horde...you lucky SOB!

Check this out.

...the public testimony of women ( MacKinnon & Dworkin, 1997), my interviews with pornography users and sex offenders, and various other researchers’ work, have led me to conclude that pornography can: (1) be an important factor in shaping a male-dominant view of sexuality; (2) be used to initiate victims and break down their resistance to unwanted sexual activity; (3) contribute to a user’s difficulty in separating sexual fantasy and reality; and (4) provide a training manual for abusers ( Dines & Jensen, 2004).

http://www.mincava.umn.edu/ documents/ arpornography/ arpornography.html#id2645419 (for some reason this source is blacklisted just take out the spaces)

...large amounts of experimental exposure to such material led men (and to some extent women) to be more callous toward gender relationships, more likely to overestimate the prevalence of certain kinds of non-mainstream sexual behavior such as sadomasochism and bestiality, less likely to be offended by sexually explicit material, less likely to support restrictions on the distribution of sexually explicit materials, and more likely to support lighter sentences for convicted rapists.

D. Zillmann and J. Bryant, 1982, “Pornography, Sexual Callousness, and the Trivialization of Rape,“ Journal of Communication 32(4): 10-21. http://bob.nap.edu/html/youth_internet/ch6.html

http://www.mediawatch.com/wordpress/index.php?cat=7

http://www.dianarussell.com/ porntoc.html (also blacklisted)

(Worn out from skipping all that talk of porn) and getting back to the system building - Les, I know I’ve said this before, but if you build a box, don’t skimp on the power supply.  It isn’t the wattage that matters, it’s the quality.  My favorite machines have used supplies from PC Power & Cooling.  And by “favorite” I mean, systems that have run without a hiccup until their motherboards are ludicrously outdated. 

The reason for this is better power regulation.  As line voltage varies, you want a supply that delivers steady, clean power.  Most people buy a cool new case, which is fine.  First thing they should do is take out the cheap-assed power supply and toss it in the trash.

Oh, and after more than a decade in computer support, I’ve encountered a lot of porn.  It is very amusing when the user becomes flustered (usually a professor) and says “it’s for research”.      as if I care.

Theocrat, thanks for the info. The latter link, though several decades old, appears more concrete than the first. They leave me a little more to consider.

Men of this type live in psychological torture which they want to end by anything that might stand a hope in hell

And a felony conviction will totally do that. Not saying it’s a rational thing, just saying that nobody in their right mind would reach such a conclusion. The intervention that needs happening, in this case, will be a psychological (or if more severe, psychiatric) one. Getting them laid would only allow a temporary lapse of otherwise permanent torture.

It saved the asses of the exploitative type. This is not the same type of rapist as the desperate recluse.

Yes it is. You rape a woman, you need two things. One, sex. Two, control. Sex by definition, control by consequence. Getting that control, maintaining that control, requires exploitation. As for legal exploitation - defendants still get the best legal defense they can muster. It’s just sad that such a shitty defense was the precedent at the time.

If they feel the conventional routes to getting laid are closed to them, and unaware of how to obtain a prostitute/made to fear pimps, then they may feel like they have little choice - if they are conditioned to think (as people were/are) that things like masturbation will make them go blind or other things, they have no physiological outlet and are constantly at boiling point, which is no way to live

Sure - but who’s a sensitive rapist? Doing this requires harsh callousness, recklessness and disregard for the welfare of the rape victim. It’s not “oh, excuse me I’m just here to fuck, I’m really sorry.“. It’s not. There’s never been any evidence supporting that rapists rape because they are reclusive, and I’m a firm believer that when it comes to crime, motivations vary by offender. It just doesn’t happen. Rape is not about sexual repression.

If it was freely and easily available, all the inhibitions, stigma, probably a lot of conflict and frustrations, would just dissolve away. People wouldn’t need to rape then, and even if they did it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Rapists don’t need to rape, now. In all fairness, I doubt they did in, say, the last millenium or so. We agree on something, here, though. Victims of any form of abuse should not be left to feel isolated, alone with their problems, or crippled by it.  Stigma does the worst harm, then, and I’ll bet money that almost every rapist is aware of that going in. We’re long past due in disarming rape and rapists, and you have described to me a number of ways in which you have trivialized rape as an attempt to fulfill a personal need, and not a deliberate attempt to debilitate another human being.

On the same topic as DOF, Tom’s hardware did an excellent review of Power Supplies and found most companies lie about what their PS can truly handle.

Here, here and here.