I have a perfectly serviceable desktop machine (P4 3Ghz) I picked up used just a short time ago from a garage sale. I've been playing around with it because it's the first time I've owned a Windows PC, so I know it works fine. The downside is that it's as old as your current machine, and shipping for a desktop tower would be kinda heinous.

I would be happy to chip in on shipping costs if you would rather have someone else's laptop, or if there's any other way for me to be useful here. I can't stand the thought that, on top of everything else, your opportunities for social connection and roleplay might be cut off.

(Plus -- allow me to be selfish for a moment here -- I don't want to lose Flare Star. :))