Looking to buy a new laptop

[Ele'ill]

I need a new laptop- I live in the States- I'm not able to spend over $450 for it all together.

I'm going to be using it for school and for media type stuff.

What do you all suggest?


Thanks.

[F9]

TOSHIBA
I would go with something like 12"
I am not and an expert, but for me toshiba is the best.Not easily broken, can be repaired almost anywhere, available parts, great guarantees.The other aspects, like i3, pentium 2 , graphics card etc etc, most things are common and you should look at them, before you are buying one, to be careful not buy something with same things in the end, and just be more expensive for no reason.But i am going with toshiba cause, im really satisfied with them, and everyone i hear who has one are satisfied too, while with other brands i heard lots of complains .
How about an Ipad?I have no idea about their possibilities, i just saw one in a store for few seconds and seemed cool, really cool, but i am still concerned on things i would miss cause of the MS Apple difference, so i just look at apple staff and they really look cool, but i always end up with windows..

[Diogenes]

I would look on Dell Auctions for a used laptop without an OS and then get a Linux OS (I use Ubuntu, works great). That should cut a lot of the cost