Repair or Get a new one?

If you want a portable notebook and don't need dedicated video graphics look at the brand new HP DV1000 series at hpshopping.com (14" widescreen and CD/DVD functions with the operating system turned off and built in remote).

You can get the full Pentium M 725 Dothan (2mb L2 system cache) 1.6mhz here for the best value.

If you want dedicated video memory (ATI video card -- you have decide now -- you can't upgrade later in a notebook in most cases) look at the 15.4" widescreen HPZT3000/Compaq X1000 series -- see X1000forums.com -- 6.5 pounds --this area in the general section will show you the best ordering specs and discounts you can use for either machine -- search for a DV1000 thead and you will find the dedicated website for that model.

Both are Pentium M (Centrino) with 4 hours of battery life with wi-fi on our more without. See hpshopping.com.

Both of these can be had in the $1,000-$1500 range depending on options.

$1000-1500 is not cheap. I believe he wants a notebook more like $600-800. Walmart sells a basic notebook for $599. For around $700-800, he could probably get a mobile Athlon XP2600+ or 2800+ notebook with a 15" screen , DVD/CDRW drive, 512 meg, 40 gig hd, Win XP, etc.

$1,000 is a great deal for a new notebook with a full processor (not a Celeron), built in wi-fi, CD-RW/DVD ROM drive, a 14" or 15" display (square or widescreen) a hard drive, etc.

I would not go over $1500 myself either with 64 bit Microsoft Longhorn coming in 2006-2007. I spent $1299 plus tax on my Compaq X1000 series and if you order it at hpshopping you can get closer to $1,000 now with discounts (especially if you get 256mb RAM 1 stick and add more RAM yourself later more cheaply if you want).

Anything new under $900 likely does not have a full Pentium 4M, Pentium M (Centrino) or Athlon 64 cpu and thus it is partially obsolete already.

There are of course refurbished notebooks or E-bay to get a fully stocked notebook for under $1000 also if needed but be very cautious (using a manufacturer site for a refurb is a good value if it has the same 1 year limited warranty as the new units -- don't get one with a 90 day warranty or worse no warranty as Notebook repair costs are stiff (as you found out with the LCD replacement cost).

A little over four years ago, a P3-600 with CDRW ran 1,700 bucks. It had Windows 98se and 256MB RAM.

Today, much less gets you so much more.

I think it's a great deal.

Bob