Ed; SO glad you fixed the problem! Amazing how simple it can seem - once you _find_ the problem - but don't underestimate yourself just because the solution was simple once you found it!

NicoleC ... are you in the UK? if NOT, what kind of laptop d'you have for sale?

Sounds like the folks in the UK have to scramble more to find parts, but they know what they're doing!

Amos - sure, Apples are cool, but they just aren't _convenient_. It's like with cars that use gasoline vs cars that use ethanol; both would have been just as good, but once one came into common use, the other was just not worth the trouble. Plus you can't transfer skills learned on one easily to the other.
As for Linux; imagine you had to learn Latin to operate your car - most of us would take the bus! It may be elegant and versatile, or so I have been told, but it involves too much learning.

McGrath - apt grasp of capitolism!

Winterchild