Gateway, thumbs up.

Whatever your opinion of Gateway's products, my recent experiences with their tech support department was impressive.
First off, they speak actual english. Not that outsourced, learned-in-english-as-a-second-language-class english either, but honest to goodness english.
Secondly, they actually sound like they could turn on a computer without help. You know how it usually is. Some foreign tech support robot reading from a support database question list and if you try to make them deviate, or answer in a way the system doesn't cover, their heads explode. However, Gateway's people actually have a clue. Bravo.
Third, they are polite, and helpful.

Oh yeah, the system I was working on was well designed, feature packed, and stylish looking. Imagine that.

To anyone out there shopping hardware and not considering Gateway, give them a try. And buy the extended service.