Get a Dell, with media center edition (basically has all of the features of XP pro), pay the extra 8 bux for an XP install CD, and complain when they forget to send you DVD player and CD burning software reinstall CDs and they might just ship those discs to you overnight (or just use the built in media center player and download the free CDBurnerXPPro 3 from the Internet which is more capable than the Sonic burner that they bundle with the system).

I've done this probably 10 or so times in the last 2 years, I've lost count!

Edit: oftimes the latitudes and inspirons are identical... the latitudes may be a little bit more rugged and same models are offered for sale for longer periods of time, since IT depts hate mixing and matching equipment, which doesn't pertain to your situation.

in the past dell has used a different chassis for each model, however now both are built on the same chassis. I'd try to find a d series, probably one with a smaller screen, I REALLY like the D620 and the precision M65, or the D820 thats the equivilant to a precision m65. the . Fingerprint login software sucks though.

Dells are by far the ugliest computers you can get unless you go the XPS route. However the warranty and customer service policys are improving and should continue to.

Eurocom F-Bomb or Dell M1710 would be my recommendations on a gaming laptop.

Just bought a Dell e1505 (Inspiron). I had heard and seen Latitudes fail more often then the inspirons. Get a gig of ram, intel core duo proc, 7200RPM hdd, and the battery upgrade. I believe my battery claims like 9 hours, I havent tested it out yet though, I am willing to bet its an inflated number. Most come with built in wifi these days, so you're covered there. Dell always has good deals and sales. Look around the web for dell coupon codes and daily sales, they are all over the place. Got my 1400 dollar lappy for a grand, and 400 dollar monitor for 240.

In my opinion i love my DELL Inspiron 2200. It is a fast laptop I have the mobile pentium 4 processor with wireless nic card DVD player/CD burner it has a 7200 rpm 40 GB hard drive with 512 meg of ram.

Price with getting the laptop with a carrying case and a wireless mouse and a mobile car charger was $875.

Hence the mouse and charger were an extra $160 .

A.J.

MacBooks are very nice. I like my Powerbook. Internet everywhere I go, clean, lightweight, Superdrive, widescreen, Yeah, they can get expensive though.

That'* what I have. Ordered it with the smallest amount of memory and smallest hard disk possible and upgraded them myself... was much cheaper to do it that way! 512 MB memory module was like $30

Also have an Inspiron 600M, just like the Latitude D600, nice machine too.

Toshiba and Dell are good times.

I'd stay away from HP, but that'* just me.

Yes they are...
I've got one with the AMD Turion, and it is wickedly fast. The 17" HD screen is just plain beautiful, and the built in WiFi is blazing with a good connection...
I haven't had time to play with everything yet, but this thing is gorgeous as a media computer.

If you have $1300+ to spend, it'* worth it.

BTW, keep in mind DELL'* reputation for horrible customer service. I can't imagine they're any better at helping deaf people with computer problems...