My laptop of two years died (again) this morning. It’s a Toshiba M105-3041, but I call her Maeve. She can be sensitive and moody at times but on most days she works fine. Since her purchase, she’s undergone a few modifications:

1. Upgraded from the 1 GB RAM to 2 GB ($130)
2. Upgraded the original 1.86 GHz core solo processor to a 2 GHz core duo ($125)
3. Fixed in a new connector to the adapter cable since it had problems charging (< $2)
4. Replaced adapter when it continued to fail to charge ($76)
5. Replaced it again when the one before short circuited within the first month ($90*)
6. Upgraded the previously 30-minute-life battery with one that lasts a little over 5 hours ($100)
7. Replaced the original DVD drive with a slot load. ($100)
8. Changed the keyboard pad just because (~$25)

* + S&H, the rest are without. All upgrades and replacements made by my brother.

Her modifications and upgrades shockingly amount to $150 more than the original selling price - that’s inclusive of the new hard disk drive that should be here in a week.

So now, I must wait - again, for her to be revived once more.

(Edit: Cool, look at the date posted. XP)