Re: Not a Thinkpad
"I have dropped it several times, its a little scraped and bashed up but the keyboard still functions like new and it is a wonderfull machine to work on."
Depending on the nature and demands of 'work' just a reminder that second hand thinkpads, T4x, X60, X200 can be purchased from the well known auction site for a ton plus or minus.
My X200s cost a ton and a half including delivery, is a dual core with integ graphics, runs just about any Linux (CentOS, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu) with kernels newer than about 2.6.18 ish and does just about all the stuff I need (light graphics, office, web, bit of R). Probably not video editing. Everything works, including the Fn buttons.
I did a T60 with retail Windows 7 for my sister, it is chugging away nicely with Security Essentials and 1Gb RAM. She does Office and web/email.
The Tramp: not for windows, just don't like spending money....