Help Me CHOOSE A Decent LAPTOP

[SLippi]

Most computers will fit your need. As someone already mentioned you will most likely need to either add a TV tuner or get a USB or Firewire VHS converter. Personally I'd suggest backing the files up to an external drive after you burn to DVD to have them available if the DVD fails. You could also keep them on your laptop and hook that up to the TV to play (some laptops come with remote). Both Microsoft and Apple have movie creation software built in so you can start with that and buy a commercial program if you find this doesn't fit the bill.

I prefer HP laptops but pick a brand and stick to similar or better specs as the one below. It's 680 so even after tax you are below or at the bottom end of your budget and can spend the rest on an external drive to backup to, whatever device you chose to use to get the tapes on your drive, or grab a nice dinner with the kids so you have more videos.
HP - Pavilion Laptop with Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor - Black - dv6-1355dx (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23 153%3B2+Duo+Processor+-+Black/9556287.p?id=1218123846583&skuId=9556287 - broken link)

[Neuling]

According to this new study there are notable differences in the reliability of notebook brands.

The reliability ranking is like this:
Asus, Toshiba, Sony, Apple, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Gateway, HP
- where Asus is the most reliable and HP the least reliable.

Over a 2-year period after purchase 9% of Asus and 16% of HP notebooks will die. The other brands are in between those extremes in the order given above.

Over a 3-year period after purchase 16% of Asus and 26% of HP notebooks will die. The other brands are in between those extremes in the order given above.