Quote from max401:
Don't forget there's a port for a real keyboard.
Yup, and a port for a monitor too. The reason I wanted the laptop was a space issue. Since I primarily use my home computer for online banking and email, I find it much nicer to have this thing out of the way and easily accessible and moveable. So if I want to pay my bills at the kitchen table, or even on my bed I can do it. My old setup was a tower with a 20" monitor. Had it in my bedroom, and it took up too much space. My son has a desktop in his room, so I bought a wireless router and a card for the laptop, and now have the flexibility I wanted, and a lot more room on my desk.
I actually came home from work today and paid some bills out by my pool on the patio set. Sure was a nice change from being tied to the old desktop.
But you are right, a regular keyboard would be easier to use, but I seem to be adapting to the little keyboard on the laptop pretty well. But I was NOT adapting too well to the touchpad. Never seemed to be nearly as smooth as the mouse. Got this little Microsoft USB corded mouse (for laptops). I actually went into the store with the intent of getting a cordless mouse, but they were out of stock, and the desktop versions had big boxes as receivers, and the laptop wireless mouses (mice?) took up a slot anyway (they said they would have them in stock "tomorrow"....always seems like BBY is going to have what you want "tomorrow". And they are substantially more money. This corded mouse just plugs into a USB port, and the wire is not an inconvenience. Short wire, and the optical (first time I ever had an optical mouse) is a pleasure. Works on any surface, and works exceptionally smoothly. And cost only $14 at BBY.
Now if I can figure out how to get this to print on the printer attached to my son's desktop, I will be set. But so far, no luck. Linksys support says they don't do that, toshiba says they don't, my ISP is no help. They all said to get in touch with MSFT. Not so easy so far. And there was virtually zero documentation on Win XP that came with the computer. Every other computer I ever bought had a Windows manual. Maybe they think that it is adequate to have support on line. But I feel like I need to speak to a human, and MSFT seems to have no human support. Unless I am looking in the wrong places. And I tried calling Hewlett Packard. They used to have pretty good phone support. But now their site has changed. Maybe because of the CPQ merger.
I know there is a file and printer sharing configuration (wireless...my friend has it set up in her house...., but I get the feeling I am gonna have to pay someone to come set me up. Or wait 'till my friend's son comes home from school...he set hers up. Too bad. But maybe it's worth it. In the meantime, I can always make floppies and print from my son's computer.
BTW, the Toshiba seems to be one of the few laptops with a 3 1/2 inch floppy drive.....which is nice.
Peace,
Rs7
)