Thank you all for your comments, observations and advice on and off the blog on computers. I have ordered a Dell Inspiron 1520 online, but here in Mexico. It seems it won't be much more (if at all) expensive than getting it in the US becasue it has a 2000 peso discount at the moment and because it is configured slightly differently so I don't have to pay for certain features included in the US. We've had Dells in the past and as I said, I am now using an eight year old Dell Inspiron and have been generally happy with them. Service seemed to decline at one point, but I think it has improved per some of your reports. I did look at HPs at Costco, including a recommended version, and wasn't terribly excited. Well, I don't exactly get excited about laptops any more in any case, but they just didn't have any zing, and the keyboard wasn't great. But thanks, John, anyway, for mentioning your HP of six weeks' age.
The bridge is in a state that suggests it may be about to be repaired: there's a big backhoe and gravel and ropes and cables and stuff spread around. Seems, however, that this means repair and not replacement with a wider bridge. But who knows? Meanwhile from our point of view, the detour is definitely adequate and hasn't hampered us. I think bigger and bigger vehicles are edging along the slim, very basic one lane bridge on the detour so we're all praying (I'm not religious but it seems important here) that it holds up. I have pictures, but this old lady of a PC is a bit awkward for using to put on the blog.
Again, thanks all! More blog posts with pictures soon if I get back a functioning Acer, later if I have to wait for the Dell. I sure hope its the former because this machine won't do it for indexing and I have one coming at the end of the week. I can't quite see Jim happy with me hogging his 10 hours or whatever a day.