That router is fine too.
I picked up an HP laptop a couple months ago. Here's what I can tell from that experience:
- Vista does suck a little. Maybe I just don't adapt to change very well but I like XP better. Now, to be fair, it doesn't suck as bad as some people say, but it's definitely not glitch free.
- I believe XP service pack 3 is the last major release for XP before Microsoft officially stops supporting XP. I don't think you can buy any new computer with XP anymore already.
- I don't really pay much attention to these things but I think Microsoft is already talking of releasing Vista's replacement.
- If you want to have >4Gb ram then you need to look at a 64bit system. Some device drivers aren't there for 64 bit yet but .. I dunno, how many devices does one attach to a laptop anyhow?
- The only complaint I have about my laptop (outside of Vista), and the one thing I would warn people about ... it has a ridiculously super glossy screen. While this increases the "shininess" factor and will make you fall in love with it at the store, if you do any work while near a window, you will not be able to see ANYthing on the screen. It drives me nuts that I have to draw the blinds closed to surf during daylight hours. My work laptop is a Dell and it has about as flat/non-reflective screen as you can get and it's far more forgiving in this regard. So nothing to do with brands but do watch out for the glossiness. I'm not sure why they would even make laptops like this..