I would check the requirements for the applications and games you would like to run on your laptop, and then get the cheapest possible laptop that can support those. I do much more on my PS3 than my laptop, plus PS3's can use youtube although I don't know exactly what the quality is. If you're going to be running Call of Duty on your laptop it'll be expensive, but if it's just youtube you should be able to keep the price down.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.