I like HP.  Iv'e got a number of HP printers and laptops.

A 2 gig HD??  I would blow through that in a matter of a day.  My system is 1.2 terrabytes at the moment.  Much of that is graphics, but also just materials from work.  And, some of that is backup space.  When I hook the rest of the computers up to the network (in my house), I've got about 2.5 terrabytes ... however, a LOT of that is duplcation.  Which can be a good thing ... the last time I had a system meltdown, I was able to recover everything.

But you know .... you could build a computer.  Anyone who can handle a basic set of tinker toys can build a computer.  You just plug stuff in in a certain order, run a few utility programs, and start installing software.

People just get a mind set about it being hard because it involves electronics.  But really, its no harder than the cloth room or nodes or ... well anything ... it has a learning curve, and then you get over that curve and suddenly it's all second nature.

Could be worse, could be raining.