I would avoid Compaq or HP. Most people I know have Sony or Toshiba or Dell. One had a HP and it was repaired 3 times for hardware issues. Got his money back after a year and went with a Dell.

 

Service, service, and service! The hardware brands don't matter so much, but the support you get does. Electronics are electronics...they all break sometimes no matter the brand. I buy about $150,000 a year with Dell for my company and will continue to do so if they keep their service levels where they are today.

For what it's worth...in the past I have bought Toshibas, Compaqs, Sonys, IBM, Gateways, and HPs. I don't buy them anymore.