Thanks for all the tips on the HP laptops. The problems with general flimsiness and loud, unstoppable fans are also reflected in these comments (on the model I'm considering): http://www.amazon.com/HP-G7-2022us-LED-Backlit-Processor-Technology/product-reviews/B008QDJUI6/ When I see two comments in two days both essentially saying "I don't know what those other guys are talking about," I wonder if HP put them up to it. I still have an old Dell Latitude D800 from 10 years ago that works today. It cost almost $3000 back then! So durability and longevity are important. Mike