[Marilyn]

Janet, Dell and Toshiba both make really nice laptops that are not too expensive. However, realistically, you may need to raise your price range to closer to the $900 range to get one that will really do what he would want. You need the fastest processor (most RAM) and the most memory (40 gigs or more) that you can afford. If you really work the sales this time of year, you can find some real deals. We bought our daughter's Sony VAIO from Office Depot on a one day sale a couple of years ago and saved about $500.

Most new computers come with the wireless card already installed internally. If they do not, you can get a card pretty economically that inserts into a slot on the laptop to make it wireless capable.

There are several good wireless routers available. We have a DLink wireless router here at our house. It cost around $40, if my memory serves me correctly, and we have had two desktops and two wireless laptops online at the same time with no problems. I think it can handle three hard wired computers and two wireless. My daughters say there are even faster, better one's out now than what we have.

My oldest daughter is really into computers. As soon as she is up and about, I'll have her do some on-line shopping for you and see what she can find.

Your son is going to be sooooo excited when he opens his laptop!!! This will be such a cool time for you.