my mom's about to start shopping for my graduation present, a laptop, (she loves to surprise, you see) but has no idea what she's looking for. other than "cheap and good."
I don't know anything about laptops, I know that the better/cheaper computers are generally built by a comp-smart friend or dad or something, but I've never heard of one building their own laptop.
I have zero experience with the things, my family's never owned one, and I had one friend in 6th grade with one she used only sometimes. yay.
since it's for college, I'd like it to be pretty carry-around-able. and somewhere to plug in a real mouse, I hate those finger-rubbing things they come with 8(

all suggestions welcome, thanks