I just bought the ACER 5532 at best buy and it has an AMD Athlon processor in it which is an excellent processor. The laptop has been excellent so far and I would highly recommend it. I got it when it was on sale for $329 so if you can get that one for $299 well all the better. I know nothing about the Toshiba, have heard they are very proprietary but other than that I know nothing, I am an AMD fan and only buy AMD products. However that Toshiba has the AMD sempron processor which a lot less of a processor than their Athlon processor so for that aspect I think the ACER is a better choice.
I read a ton of reviews before I bought the ACER and I was surprised at how many great reviews it had.
So your decision but if it were me I would again go with the ACER simply because of the processor.
Acer - Aspire Laptop with AMD Athlon Single-Core Processor
check the reviews
That is an amazing price darn wish I had got it for that price!
it will have McAfee on it and active so you will need to use the McAfee removal tool to clear it off of there. I would load Malwarebytes free as soon as you get it and run it because there is an application that comes on all of them new that is rated as spyware and it needs to come off.

Well I tried to read up on the two processors and I find contradictory things about the SI-42 vs the TF-20...I see no consensus on which is any faster or if there is a real difference.

Could we agree that either deal (Toshiba or Acer) blows this used model away...I was considering it to...its $199 plus $30 for a WIFI thumb drive thing plus $40 for a 1 year warranty...so they are all the same price?

What do you think?

http://buyusedpcs.com/product_info.php?products_id=240&osCsid=si2glu2dse3cgrnauq8hoo6md5

I'd buy new. The used one has a small hard drive and an older operating system. The new ones probably have built-in wi-fi capability. No comparison IMHO.

I got the Walmart one...the Acer is also still in supply at Best By....I still have been unable to acertain the difference in teh AMD chips

I told you the sempron is the AMD comparative to the Intel celeron, it is a much lesser processor than the Athlon. Athlon was their top of the line processor, but hey go with what you want, why ask.

I own both Acer and Toshiba laptops, they both perform equally well, but, for warranty, Toshiba is the better choice, as you can take it to a local authorized Toshiba Repair Facility. Acer, you have to pay to ship it to a regional repair facility. If the exact same problem persists again, then and only then will Acer pay for the shipping

raven,
I know you told me about the chip speeds among AMD...however I found just as many posts saying the SI42 was as fast as the TF20 as I did visa versa...I have no idea...A new Intel Celeron might be faster than a non cleron from 5 years ago....no disrespect intended but I have no idea h ow old the TF20 is compared to the SI42.....

Now you have the computer refuse to be 'on the losing end' and do not allow your 9 year old to have free rein with the computer in her bedroom.

Computers are incredible machines and everyone should have one in my mind. With guidance your child can learn much from the computer, without your guidance and scrutiny she can get into big trouble. There needs to be adult supervision and control with children. This is not to put you down in any way shape or form but you need to be the adult and parent and make these rules for both your benefits. Get her to teach you how to use the machine also.

I second what Owbist posted about monitoring the use by your child. Many dangers lurk on the Internet for unsuspecting users. I would not allow a child of that age to have a computer in her bedroom. It should always be in full view so that parental oversite could be available.

I second what owbist and grandms said. Allowing a child of that age a computer to be used in 'private' is just asking for trouble on down the road.

Good luck on this one since she 'has' to have one. Do all of her friends have computers in their rooms?...not that it really makes a difference.

AMEN and if it is connected to your network good luck with the spreading infections. Kids just do not understand the dangers or don't care. Only way any child that age would use a pc in my house is in my office full view with the pc so locked down they could only go to specific allowed sites on very limited user accounts. All social networking sites like facebook,twitter, myspace would be fully blocked. And if it was a pc I owned I would sandbox the whole thing for safety sake.
For everyones protection at the very least go to google and do some searches and READ
Know that putting a picture on the internet leaves it open to pervs and altering and appearing on sites you probably do not want them to be on.

Here is a link that might be useful: the dangers of facebook

"My 9 year HAS to have a laptop....she wants to surf the net in her bedroom...personally this is rediculous but I am on the loosing end here."

Hope you understand the warnings here about internet. It's like welcoming anyone right into her life. And if she "HAS to have it in her bedroom" she already has a plan for it.

The next step is a drivers permit and once they leave the driveway...

Sandy, mom of girls thankfully grown

ravencajun quotes"it will have McAfee on it and active so you will need to use the McAfee removal tool to clear it off of there."

Will this work on windows7?Also, can I install outlook express 6 on windows 7 somehow?

Christophern, you need to start your own thread as your queries are not related to the OP's original question.

I do not recollect having to remove McAfee from Windows 7

No it seems you cannot go back to Outlook Express, you are stuck with Windows Live Mail or Outlook unless you use another email program.

If more info is needed then repeat your request in a separate thread please, that way we are not hijacking another important thread.

I removed McAfee off of the same ACER mentioned which is the one I bought for my husband for Christmas, used the removal tool and put AVAST on it, it does have Windows 7 home premium on it. If you need the instructions start a post and I will be glad to tell you how I did it.

I went to our desk top and enabled some security under windows vista for her logon there. I then tried googling: sex and it blocked the search. I went to You Tube and searched on some bad words, all blocked...I feel a little better but wonder if whats provided by MicroSoft is enough...

andrelaplume2 at least you have made a start, that is important. Just remain diligent and hopefully all will be well.

Raven, thanks for the response to Christophern. Once I saw your comment I realised how foolish I had been as I built my own machine so had no bloat to contend with.