i never got a dell, but saying that i wouldnt get a nec either.. :) friend has an nec and its disasterous.. i've used sony all my life and they i recon are built to last and all quality parts in them. Make sure they are the one from jap, the ones from china im not too sure :P .. like the IBMs, the sony will NOT die.. lol it even poured a bowl of cereal on it.. :) i would have to disagree with you on that one. i have literally pulled apart laptops of every single brand. the sony's screens are very easily damaged. IBM laptops are built with titanium conposites in there chasis so are very strong structurally. NEC has been rated japan's no1 brand last year. and all laptops are made in china and also all laptops are built by 3 major companies. the companies are MSI LG and another company which i cant remember now. i know for a fact that IBM and Apple laptops are made by LG. i got myself a LG laptop from work and i think it is one of the best brands out there althought not known very well. haha well, i suppose thats the diff when u buy top end laptop vs the normal laptop, i now use an hp.. coz i dont see the point of getting another sony but all the ones i had since i bought them once they r released, they are all made in japan (or claimed to be) and i had no problem with anything, on the other hand my friend has a dead batt within months, dead cooling fan within the year in his nec.. and nth has gone right.. speaking of which a guy i know that got a LG laptop has sent it back 3 times and he is still hving problems with it.. u mite have pulled apart millions of laptops but i'd still like to hear the amount of complains u get for nec/lg vs sony and ibm.. but again, if smeone is afta something thts below 800 bucks whatsoever.. yeh maybe go nec or what not that if ur expecting to replace it in a year or two time unless ur lucky or ur DAMN careful with it :) - and that does not involve pouring cereal onto ur lappy ;) with your mates lg and nec it must just be there luck. we obviously do get a nec lg ibm or hp laptops that seem to spend more time in the work shop then the customers house. it is mostly just a one off thing. this is a trade secret im gonna tell you all. if you buy any brand laptop and think there is something wrong with it return it within a week and they should replace the actual laptop no questions asked. if it is over a week they will repair it under warranty.