Yeah going on what jdude said, netbooks are the way to go as far as a general use laptop for least amount of money. I believe most of them have linux on them, so if you don't mind that than this could be a possible option for you, you'd have to check for s-video/other video out. I'd consider getting a warrenty or replacement plan if possible, because if an internal hardware piece gets damaged chances are slim for cheap repairs. Even if you wanted to do it yourself, it can be a real pain, because laptops tend to integrate a lot of things together. All other points have already been touched on for the most part.