Advice and Assistance Needed

I need a bit of help. See, my computer is blue-screening itself to death more and more often, so I'm thinking that as soon as the family finances are under control, I need to go computer shopping. No, I'm not asking for donations (but they would sure help!), I need advice.

My current system was home-built a few years ago. I'm running Windows 95 OSR2 on a Pentium Pro 250 MHz with 288 MB memory, and I've got 5.5 gigs disk space (most of it used).

I'm leaning towards getting a laptop/notebook so I can sit somewhere besides my computer room to compose messages and blogs and stuff. I'd also like the mobility for when/if I get to go down to San Diego Comicon again, if that ever happens, so I'd want one with a modem and an ethernet card.

My needs aren't complicated. I use my computer mainly for browsing the internet and working on websites. I also like to listen to my MP3s while working. I need a bit of disk space, but even a 10 gig drive would be an improvement over what I currently have. My initial searching shows that Windows XP is the most common OS now on PC notebooks, so I'd probably go with that (no, I don't want to investigate LINUX or anything, not yet). I plan on keeping my current computer as a back-up, so I'm not overly worried about being able to port software over. What I need, I can get.

Now, if I do get a notebook, I'd like to "dock" it and use a regular monitor and keyboard and mouse for when I'm working at my desk. I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with this kind of system on whether or not it works well and if you like it.

In addition to advice on what kind of system I should get, I need thoughts on where to get one. I've looked at Dell and Gateway for starters, where else should I be checking? Anyone have any horror stories about service from a mail-order computer place? Anyone have exceptionally good service they want to talk about? Anyone know of a nice inexpensive place to get computers? I'm sure that, looking at what I've already got, finding something better isn't going to be too hard.

It's going to be a few months, minimum, I think, before I can afford to get a new computer. But since it's actually becoming an issue now, I guess I'd better start in on the research. And, hey, if you really do want to contribute, just e-mail me. I'm not too proud to start a "Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog Computer Fund" if it'll help me get a computer faster.