computer's dead

[kandrathe]

After 5 and a half years good service my laptop has crashed. Most of the time I switch it on there is just a black screen and it doesn't react to anything....when I switch it off (8 seconds on/off button) sometimes at the next switch on it says on of my hard drives has an error....after checking and going to the windows logon screen it gives me 1 seconds of view of my wallpaper and then goes black again.
I could ask for advice how to restore it but I think all hope is gone.....and after 5 and a half year it is probably time for a new one.
So here I could use your help. I have some general questions and appreciate any thoughts;
--what do you think is the best 'brand' (or brands)
--Value for money....same question
--I will not take a super machine but being able to run diablo 3 would be nice, does anybody have an idea what specs that game needs?
--why are vaio's so expensive? What gives the system its quality? I mean after having to recall so many batteries it doesn't seem worth to spend much on such a computer (altough I am sure they use good batteries now)

Really any help/advice/suggestions are welcome.
eppie

Where are you living now? Are you still in Italy? What is "good" also relates to where you can get good service.