So after much thought - we decided to talk to our daughter and let her know that we wanted to get her a laptop - but that we also have concerns about her use of technology - and that we would only do this with a contract. I'm going to be working on the contract for a while - and would welcome any ideas. So far, I know it will include that I have administrative control of the laptop - which will be used to update programs, run antivirus and antispyware - and generally ensure me that I have access (unlike her ipod which she changed her password on so I don't have access). It also includes that all technology (ipods, laptop, etc) will be in the parent's bedroom - from when it's time to get ready for bed - until after school the next day (or the next morning if there's no school). (not having it in the kitchen over night bc. she'll sneak down and get it if she's awake in the middle of the night. She won't sneak into our bedroom to get it.) This will prevent her from using it in the middle of the night (esp. tempting when her friend lives in Vietnam is is available to chat at those times) - and thinking she can have the laptop open in the bathroom while she's getting ready for bed. For now, I am not setting time limits - but will include that those could get added in the future if we think she's using it too much. The reason to not add it now is that she is using it a bit too much. BUT - that's bc. she loves her new Sims game - which is actually motivating her to do her homework as soon as she comes home. For the first time ever, I do not have to monitor her homework and keep asking her to do it (I still pay attention to what she's doing, but it's nice that the impetus to do it and stay organized is now coming from her). She's also coming out of a serious depression - and having some pretty terrific, responsible behavior - so any limits on amount of her free time spent on the computer - when she's meeting all her responsibilities - isn't as pressing for right now. She's also healing form a broken ankle - so in fairness to her, there's not as much active stuff she can do with her free time. ------------------------------- I have some questions about how to set up her computer so I have administrative control. I have that set up on my computer now - and she can use it as a guest. But if my computer is off - and restarts, she needs the password to get on. She doesn't have the password to my computer (which is how I want it). But I do want her to be able to log into her own computer without me giving her the administrator's password. Is there a way to do this? Set it up so she can start the computer and log in as a guest? Thanks. Lynn.

the links in owbist post are for the version of that laptop with the intel dual core processor that is very different than the celeron processor version you posted asking about. The dual core would be a much better choice however it is of course more expensive, well worth it though. They seem to use the same model number with various processor choices which is a bit confusing. Celerons just do not have much power especially if you will be using it in your office applications.

The DDR3 is the latest type of memory and a 7200RPM hard drive is a real plus in a laptop. Many use a 5400RPM drive, so the 7200 is faster. You don't give all the specs, so can't say much more. For example, is the processor a 64bit or 32 bit processor. I'd advise to definitely get 64bit. Sounds like a good price. Some don't like HPs laptops, but I have one and like it just fine, much better than a Dell I had.

Thanks guys! Lirodendron, yes, we're supposed to close THIS Friday! Then we're going up to Jersey on Tuesday and will close on the next one on Wednesday. My buyers are letting me stay in here for two weeks after closing but with all the trips back and forth, it's really not a lot of time. We're moving ourselves to save money. In the beginning we were going to get movers but every time I lost a buyer and we put it back on the market, we put it back on for less money and so now I'm coming out with less. Therefore we're doing all the moving ourselves. As far as the hay, we're going to take one load in the horse trailer, close to 100 bales, and the buyer will buy whatever is left over. She lucks out. I'm selling it to her for the same price I paid but she doesn't have to get it and stack it! It's not the winery house. When we lost one of our buyers (I can't even remember now which one because this has happened so much), the seller of the winery house wouldn't give us a house selling contingency even with a kick-out clause. After we found another buyer, we went up there again to look at it and look at some others while we were at it. It looked horrible after going through the winter and we were so relieved she didn't lock us in! We felt like we were given a second chance! We found a better place, more suitable for the horses, with more acres and nice pasture. It's an old house too. Not grand like the winery house but I'll fix it and make it really cool. Thanks for asking! Check out my blog again for a real interesting update about this stress I'm under and the message I got. Here is a link that might be useful: Greener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Country