Sorry Alana! I'm stealing box #9. Current Standings Player #1 (Lisa) has Box # 3 (Denise's stolen from Karen) Player #2 (Mariann) has Box #12 (Lainey's stolen from Carmen) Player #3 (Denise) has Box # 2 (Mariann's stolen from Karen) Player #5 (Tracy) has Box #14 (Frozen-Alana's box stolen from Sue) Player #6 (Karen) has Box # 9 (Pat's stolen from Alana) Player #7 (Sue) has Box #5 (Tracy's, stolen from Lisa-frozen) Player #8 (Shirley) has box #10 (Carmen's, stolen from Barb) Player #9 (Pat) has Box #8 (Frozen-Shirley's) Player #10 (Carmen) has #1 (Lisa's, stolen from Karen) Player #11 (Becky) has Box #13 (Margaret's, stolen from Mariann) Player #12 (Lainey) has box #7 (Sue's) Player #13 (Margaret) has box #6 (Karen's stolen from Denise) Player #14 (Alana) has # Updated Number of Possessions Lisa- box 9, 5, 3 Mariann- box 12, 13, 3, 12 Denise- box 5, 12, 2, 5, 6, 2 Tracy- box 12, 14, 12, 14, 4, 8, 14 (frozen) Karen- box 3, 1, 3, 2, 9 Sue- box 3, 8, 14, 5, 8, 14, 5, 3, 5 (frozen) Shirley- box 10 Pat- box 8, 4, 8, 14, 8 (frozen) Carmen- box 12, 14, 12, 5, 1 Becky- box 13 Lainey- box 7 Margaret- box 8, 2, 6 Alana-box 3, 9 Alana's turn. Alana, have fun with your family gathering!

Thank you, Genes. This Acer did look like a lot for the money, but when I googled it and looked at customer reviews on various sites, they were pretty mixed. A number of people felt these broke down too early - and slowed down too early. So I looked around some more. I think at this point that it's between Toshiba and Lenovo Thinkpad. This process would be easier if I knew entirely how I'd be using it. I know I'll do lots of surfing, some emailing, probably recording some digital media and maybe very limited word processing with open office software. I know I want XP. I know I want reasonable speeds (it drives me crazy when I have just a few minutes and can't get pages to load and change quickly). I am definitely not a gamer and don't plan to watch movies on it. Here are some remaining questions: - why should I shy away from integrated video? most of the preconfigured well-priced XP laptops I've found seem to have integrated video. - I know I hate weights of 6 pounds and more. But I am torn about how small to go. Right now I'm not taking this back and forth to work - and I'm not likely to if it weighs even 5 pounds. Do I go with a small portable 12-13.3" laptop that weighs under 4 pounds? Might be fun to be willing to bring it more places with me. Other than higher price, what am I sacrificing to go that small. Anyone have laptops this small that they find really comfortable and easy to use - a pleasure to have and be able to tote around? The Toshiba that Raven linked earlier is not currently available, but I found a very similar one - linked below: http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?omid=105&ref=bizrate&utm_source=Bizrate&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TBL300EZ1004X&sku=TBL300EZ1004X And here's a Lenovo Thinkpad on ebay - for about $150-200 less than selling elsewhere (note the seller will upgrade memory to 2GB for free - which means he will open the new-in-package laptop just for that purpose). This is not refurbished. When I tinkered with Lenovo's website to customize one, even with their current sales, I couldn't do nearly this well. What do folks think of this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-IBM-Lenovo-ThinkPad-T61-Laptop-C2D-2-0G-XP-64655ZU_W0QQitemZ250281364243QQihZ015QQcategoryZ177QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247 And beginning to customize a small Lenovo on their website, I came up with this: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/config.workflow:java-configure?x=x&sb=%3A00000025%3A00000169%3A I didn't finish customizing it - and there might be some changes I should consider (I didn't even think about service plans yet), but so far this is $1300 range. My business has picked up this summer, so maybe I could treat myself to this - but would still love opinions about how to specificially configure this. And in general if I should seriously consider going smaller. I did not yet look on ebay for the smaller thinkpads. And I haven't yet researched the smaller Toshiba's. Before I do that, I thought I'd wait to get some more guidance. Thanks so much. Lynn.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I tried looking at the "Filter MAC Addresses" and not sure I am understanding - but I went to the web address for the router and found the place where you can select the option for "Only Allow Computers with MAC Address Listed Below to Connect" but that option was not selected and no addresses listed. So I didn't feel comfortable setting it up as opposed to adding another address if there'd already been some listed there. I did follow the instructions for finding the address on the laptop but the number looked a bit strange - just a bunch of zero's with an alpha character at the end which made me think maybe I hadn't found the actual address and of course that made me hesitant about adding to the router for fear I might foul up the 2 computers that are working correctly. I did try the 'flush' and powered everything back up in the sequence you gave me but same thing, and then had to do it again in order to get the 2 original computers back online. So now, I am debating the uninstall of the Lenovo ReadyConn - I may try that when I get the courage. OR I've been thinking that I might just be better off buying a new router. The one I have is 3 years old - if it's old for a router, then maybe that is my best bet and hope a new one will fix my issues. I can't thank you enough for all the help you've given. I'll keep working with this and trying and re-trying as I have time over the next few days. If/when I get this resolved I'll let you know what I've come up with. Thanks again for taking the time and making the effort to help - it is a great comfort to those of us that so desperately need it. Frances

"Brickeyee, I'm guessing that, as an investor, you look for bargain deals. And I'm guessing that most FSBOs don't want to give you a bargain, and that's why you get frustrated with them." I am not always looking for investment houses having moved three times in the past 10 years. The FBO sellers all seem blind to he defects and problems in their properties, and base their prices on what they "heard so-and-so up the street sold for." More than one time I had seen the house up the street, and it was better maintained and more up to date. Many have odd layouts, poorly done kitchens, and lower end appliances in $750,000 houses. While the seller may be satisfied with what they have, they fail to even look at the competition in their price range, let alone the actual closed sale prices. I am also not going to wait two weeks while they huddle with their attorney to review a standard contract. They are trying to "save the commission" and seem to have little idea of all the details. Termite inspection? (A typical seller expense in my area). One had a major easement for a city storm drain running through the back yard under the patio they had recently installed. 1950 electrical in a 1950 house with no upgrades? Every time the AC came on the TV went nearly black form the voltage drop. They turned out to have a 30 amp service. Required disclosure form? (though I never rely on them) What is that?