Thanks for the tip on salescircular.com. ^ This particular report carries only national electronics and office supply chain store info (i.e, circuit city, best buy, staples, office max etc) but no info on the larger local stores; also by the time they update their website with the current info (usually Sunday PM) I've already received my Sunday paper (~5AM) and consolidated the ad info myself!

And Loren, regarding the chipsets, you are right about the graphics. This was explained to me by a really nice salesperson at J&R Music World (NYC). In the long run it will not make any difference to me unless I suddenly turn into a heavy graphics user (i.e., video editing or video games etc.)

So, now that (1) I'm armed and ready for the 21st century in computing, I now have a second project which is (2) to get my "baby laptop" into the 20th century. My thought is to continue to use it for word processing (typing the diss) because I am very used to the keyboard and the first part of my diss (MA thesis) is already in hand and formated in this WP program; and my hobby (word games, ie. tangleword, scrabble, boggle etc ). Also can continue to use for dial-up internet.

Currently, this laptop has 32MB RAM (max 96MB) and 4GB HD (max~8GB) rotation speed 4,009 rpm; processor is 266MHz Pentium (R) w/MMX technology; 64 bit video card w/2MB EDO DRAM.

What I have in mind @:-) is to attempt to update from WIN95 to WIN98 so that I can use a jump/flash drive in the USB port to back up the diss. (cannot use USB port now as WIN95 has no code...first used with WIN98)

Yes, I know she is a dinosaur...but this little baby got me through college, grad school, law school and a few other miscellaneous programs, and now I hope that she will be with me through the final stretch!!