Currently prooning on an HP Compaq laptop (nc6120), have used various models of theirs over the years as well as Dell and Toshiba. Personally on experience I would go Tosh or HP, don't know Acer (did they used to be Texas Instruments at one point?).
Do not make the mistake of buying a comedy brand from PC world or somewhere as a friend did.... piece of junk. He's got rid of it now and bought a Sony Vaio, expensive but nice.