Thanks for everyone's input.  I do not want to go to vista because of farm works program that I use, I would have to upgrade and have heard about some trouble, maybe they got things working better by now.  Also because of apex, but XP works good for me and I am comfortable with it.  My mom just bought an HP at best buy and seems to like it, hasn't had it very long though.  Mine would be one to go into office in shop, I have a dell in house that I am using now, the laptop I was looking at was about $750 with everything and a 15" screen.  Is it worth $150 to go to a 17" screen? I think I might like it but It would make the laptop bigger also for transporting.