Benjamin Ashton wrote:
> Hello.  I wonder if you can help me.
[...]
>     What does anyone think about my plan?  Am I barking up the wrong tree? Are there any major drawbacks that I am unaware of?
It sounds fine to me. I wish you well with it.
Is it important that the next machine is a laptop? I mention this 
because you might get more for your money if you also consider desktops.
Details: RAM is important, and the more the better. 128MB absolute 
minimum. 256 or 512 mb preferable (or more?). I run PIIIs with 384MB 
ram - a little slow but no real problem for me.  I have just recently 
finished and delivered a PII 266Mhz (128MB
ram) 4GB hd crt, cheap speakers, machine for a friends 2 year old 
child. Loaded with a lot of edubuntu (7.10) and community games. (The 
child user will be a non sudo user). This machine takes a while to 
boot up..... but the child is very happy with the performance of the 
(young) kids games :-) and the parents are delighted that a previously 
totally junk PC is now a central happiness resource.
If you install ubuntu then do keep in mind also the ubuntu (help) 
forums and also the uk ubuntu discussion lists. All these are just as 
welcoming as the LUG.
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391