Computer Advise???

[Chrislit18]

Here is the story, I have had my HP laptop for about 5 years now. I got it the summer before 6th grade, and I'm now in 10th grade [thats how I do year calculations. but anyway], and its the computer I bought for myself. I paid...my OWN money for. and its a nice computer, it cost me about...1200 bucks.

I think its an HPPravilionz4800 series. [on the HP site it says its worth NOW $165.75].

So the thing hasn't worked since september. and I am Pissed. truthfully, more than pissed. We took it to Staples, Circuit City, and asked at Best Buy. I ended up having to buy a new battery for it, [MY MONEY] and it worked fine for about...two weeks.

I gave up since, and i figured, fine ok, whatever. I am currently on my moms desktop computer, which i LOVE, but the problem-all of my music collection [ALL of it, plus some!] and itunes, and some pictures are on my computer.
Now, because of the ipod, i dont need to worry about plugging it in all the time, so i figured, ok ill wait till Christmas and get it fixed, because its where the plug is connected to the motherboard that is screwy apparently [thats what the kid at Staples said today].

So because my music, photos, and other things are on the computer, I still want the memory, my music collection [that means MAC demos, live stuff (priceless stuff) my moms/dads cds, my cds, and stuff bought ON itunes] means everything to me. and to fix my laptop, its gonna cost like 350 bucks. and its not like ill get it back by christmas. the guy at Staples told us basically, it would just be worth it to buy a new computer. So thats the route I think my mom is gonna decide to take. [Im assuming Im gonna end up paying for it though...long story]. So in addition to buying the new computer, Im also going to have to get my memory transfered from Laptop A to new Laptop B.

Heres the situation:
1. I dont know how much she plans on letting me spend on this thing, and I doubt she wants to go over 1100 dollars.
2. I have no idea what brand to get-I want a MacBookPro SO bad. But the thing is, Laptop A is a HP, with a Windows XP format. could my memory [music, pictures, documents] be transfered sucessfully? and if not, should I just get another HP?

So Ill be paying about 1000 for a computer
and about 65 for memory transfer.

I wouldnt even CARE about the pictures or documents, but I'm getting one of the new iPod Classics for Xmas [I picked it out myself at Marshalls. they were on sale for 200 bucks, the 80 gigs. which is PLENTY for me. as i only have a 4 gig mini now.], and I want to use it ASAP, and put all of my music collection on it, so I can sell some of my old CDs that I dont listen to. The money will probably go towards the computer. And if i 'recycle' my original Laptop to HP, they will pay about 166 bucks for it, which will pay for mem. transfer plus some of the computer.

I just dont know what to do.
I NEED a computer. thats what I do know.
but the whole idea of memory transfer is really messing up exactly what I can buy. I want an Apple, but I really doubt they can handle info from Windows.
and thats another thing, can the new Vista handle info from XP?

So if anyone can help in any way it would be greately appreciated. I have no idea what im doing here. I need the best computer I can get that has good memory, and a semi-fast processor [now is Athalon better than intel core centrino? or what. because...that confuses me, and my mom has no idea either.], and i would like a 15 or 17 inch screen. I really think an HP would be the best thing. but my mom doesnt want to spend a lot. and I see why, but I dont want a cheap piece of crap that works horribly.

Thanks for listening.
Christine.

Again, any advise would be a great help. I have no idea, and even just a reccomendation would be good. I'm sure I'll be waiting until after Xmas to even place my order, and won't get it until mid Jan. [Therefore no new ipod until then either ] Just a time frame f.y.i.