[alf]

Thanks for the great advise. I just placed bids on 2 ThinkPad T42s for $300 each, will see if i win them. My wife has a used T42 and that is one rugged machine.

I think the Thinkpads will stand up to 8 & 10 year old boy's abuse better than the smaller machines (I hope anyway).

I have never bought a PC off the bay, will see how this turns out.