Computer wooooooooooe

I forgot to say this in my last post (even though it was the whole reason I posted): I don't have much internet access right now because I don't have a computer. I'm in a school library right now. My laptop has been pronounced a lost cause by the kind people at the store, and I won't be able to get a new one till later this week. So, assuming that I know nothing about computers, are there any brands/makes that people recommend? Or, on the other hand, brands/makes that I should avoid? My laptop was a Compaq, and I've since been told that they tend to be fairly unreliable, so I'd like to avoid that again.

On a completely different topic: yami_valentine! A secret fic/art exchange for Yami no Matsuei. You know, like Yuletide or Secret Slasha, except for Valentine's Day instead of Christmas. It'll be much fun. Go sign up!

Also, there is still no one signed up for Tatsumi over at reflections_2. Feel the dead secratary love, people. A lot of other fandoms need to be represented, too. No characters have yet been claimed for X/1999 or Saiyuki or Death Note or Utena or Fruits Basket or many others. And how about Yuki from Gravition? Or Omi from Weiss Kreuz? I know there's fans for all of those on my flist. Go on over, dammit!