Laptop recommendations?

[HomerMcvie]

Geez, what a tech NIGHTMARE week.
Monday, my desktop PC dies. Getting it reformatted....still waiting to get it back.

Yesterday, my phone screen went dead. It's under warranty, but they're making me send it in for repair. Had to go buy a "pay as you go" phone today, or be without ANYTHING mobile, for a couple of weeks.

Get home from buying the phone, and my f*cking LAPTOP has died, too. WTFFFFFFFFF?

So, I see that Wallyhell has about 6 different models, ranging in the $350 neighborhood. Pretty much everything.
Dell
Compaq
Toshiba
Gateway
HP

Now, my two desktops are Dell, and I can't say that I'm crazy about them. And I think I've heard bad stuff about Gateway, too(right?). My laptop that has died was a Toshiba, and I did get 3 good years out of it. I was otherwise satisfied with it.....
So if you could pick from the above brands, which would you choose(or stay away from), and why/
THANKS.