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Building your own computer (PC or laptop) isn't for everybody, but it's definitely a great way to become better acquainted with the inner workings of your computer. And it can save you lots of money since you can probably double the machine's lifespan simply by upgrading parts as needed.
I have an Acer tablet PC that I've been fairly happy with - it was right around your price range when I got it a year or so ago. The HDD did fail, but in all honesty, you're going to have that risk on anything so just back up your data with an external HDD or something similar and it doesn't matter. A friend of mine has a Toshiba tablet PC and it performs fairly well, but he had some issues with it not too long ago (it had a loud whistle for some reason and would lock up every once in a while) - Toshiba support is horrible (based on what he's told me and he's a very techical person as well).
I've seriously thought about upgrading to a MacBook / MacBook Pro myself - I have another friend that got one of those and he's fairly happy with it - remember that you can use Boot Camp to run Windows XP on it so it's not like you have to run OS X only.
Your best bet is to figure out the specs you think you need and then start looking around - if you just set your budget and then see what is out there, you may see something that's a "good deal" but you wouldn't use those features...so it might be a better deal to buy a lower priced computer, invest in a good external backup device and a nice large & fast HDD for a laptop (since most laptops you'll find have the slower HDD with lower cache by default) and maybe up the memory. If you go with a laptop, remember that the one thing you pretty much can't upgrade is the graphics chip so if you want to play games or any 3D stuff, you'll want to make that a priority. I would suggest going dual-core though in whatever you get just because it'll be a bit snappier even for everday use. Don't worry too much about 64-bit or not...I have an AMD 64 chip in my desktop (single core) and it doesn't perform much differently than anything else in it's speed range (even with 64-bit software...at least 64-bit windows and linux).
Good luck with your decision and don't forget to check out outlet.dell.com (and other online outlets) if you haven't already...every once in a while you'll find a *really* good deal there, but it's hit or miss. And NewEgg.com is always good for PC stuff - that's where I bought my tablet PC and it's usually some of the cheapest prices you'll find.
I know some guys who dont have a very high opinion of Dell quality but I have had a good experience. Dell Tech support sucks...but now-a-days you can google anything you want. Good luck with the purchase.
Regarding your Soyo KT600 motherboard I would suggest trying two things:
1) updating its BIOS to the latest stable (non-beta) release , and
2) installing the latest VIA chipset drivers , currently 5.09A as of this writing.
Some people say VIA chipsets are crap, but that hasn't been my experience. I've been using the KT333 Dragon Ultra Platinum for the past four years and have had zero problems with it.
A few more things to try after BIOS and chipset driver updates:
* make sure your BIOS' memory timings are correct for your RAM, and use Memtest86 to test your RAM for defects
* try setting your AGP slot to 4x in the BIOS, rather than 8x, and make sure the voltage is set correctly
* don't overclock your CPU if you are doing so currently
* ensure adequate cooling in your case; instability in modern systems can often be traced to overheating issues
* ensure your power supply is providing adequate power for all of your system's components. Use a power supply calculator to get an accurate estimate
* procure a $15 ATX power supply tester in your local computer store and test all of your power supply's leads to ensure you don't have a faulty PSU
After all of the above, sometimes a format and reinstall of your OS, coupled with updated hardware drivers for everything, can do wonders.
If you end up going brand name. HP and Lenovo are probably the most dependable. If you want a high quality machine that isn't exactly name brand, price out an Asus. It's a very dependable and very solid computer. Sturdy. Honestly, you may end up paying more for an Asus than you would for a HP or Lenovo.
Personally, I just picked one up and after a short hesitation, I bought it off of ebay.
For $400 I picked up a machine thats about 2 years old, but is better(spec wise) than the desktop machine I've been using. If you take the precausions and protect yourself using buyer protection services available through ebay, paypal or your credit card, it's pretty hard to get scammed.
Just be wary of the ones that are just too good to be true.
A laptop that sells retail for $2000, can easily go for about $1400 on ebay. Quite the savings to ignore the option.
I've owned a Sony Vaio -- awesome computer, but Sony has *the worst* customer service. I've been really happy with my Sharp for the last five years and may buy another if I find a current model I like. Friends have had bad luck with HPs.
Good luck in your search!
I would HIGHLY recommend using http://www.fatwallet.com to get coupon codes for a new Dell. You can buy a very nicely configured Dell laptop for about $650. I personally would never consider buying anything but a Dell for the value. If you want me to send you some examples, send me a PM and I'll find some for you. I made the mistake of buying a "higher end" HP from Costco a couple years ago and later realized I could beat that significantly with a Dell. And I've been very happy with the quality of all the Dell stuff I've purchased. (And I've purchased a LOT for my employer as well)
Just my two cents
Hazzard