So I was in a big box store the other day, wandering through the computer aisles, trying to find some answers, and they had signs posted, “Let us help you select your new computer,” and I’m thinking, ‘yes, please,’ only there isn’t a clerk in sight.

The hard drive on my laptop crashed during my trip to the coast. A tiny paranoid part of me suspects it became corrupted as a result of the wireless connections I relied on in either San Francisco or Eureka.

The diagnostic support at the company web site proved to be all but worthless; they offered me three possible options and none of them worked. A tech at the box store took a quick look minus the hefty diagnostic fee, determined that the hard driving wasn’t working and there were some other problems as well, and recommended I start shopping because it was going to cost too much to fix my computer, if it could be fixed.

I’m considering one of those new mini notebooks, but I’m wondering if they get too hot for prolonged used. All we generally need it for is back up and traveling, but it would be used every day and I’d prefer to do so without the risk of setting my lap on fire.

My needs are pretty basic, I don’t do gaming or stream music or video, I need word-processing and internet access, and I need Windows. I’ve been very brand loyal but I may take a leap with this purchase.