buying Toshiba laptop before we go to Portugal

Make sure you get a Toshiba world wide guarantee certificate when purchasing the machine.

Link to Toshiba Portugal national PC/Laptop support center is here:

http://bit.ly/5tuRgt

The issue about local computer men referred to above is also important. Often we have a lot more experience with day to day trials and tribulations of computer users in the field, than manufacturers' national service support centres.

Make sure that you bring a laptop cooler with you as in summer conditions here can cause laptops to run hot.

Finally, why are you giving up on Macs? Given the fact that there are practically no problems with viruses on Macs, moving from Macs you are used to a Windoze machine is difficult for me to fathom.