I can tell you from experience to avoid HP at all costs. Within 5 months, I had a hard drive that crashed, power input come free of the board, failed keyboard. HP wasnt very helpful in correcting these problems as well

For PC laptops, I like Thinkpad (was IBM, now Lenovo). Solidly built, minimal gadgetry, high quality, corporate-oriented. I've used the T42p, X40, and now the X41. I'd look for a used one, or investigate the lower-priced models (I think they are the R-series?).

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 9400 5 months ago and have no complaints yet. It was listed on sale for $975 to my door, but in the end it cost me less than $775. I happened to see a similar model a month later with more memory, so I contacted Dell and suggested they provide more memory or give me credit. They not only sent me more memory, but they also credited me $200. I was only expecting one or the other, so they have my vote.

Dell was in the news recently about giving up on rebates and simply advertising/selling for less. No doubt another good idea as we all hate those rebate hassles.

Here's a url for Dell and other deals. Sometimes coupon codes are provided. Hopefully the link will work without having to register to the home theater forum it resides on.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/deals/deals.php

Dudes, I'm getting a Dell. They're having a decent sale, so I got an E1405, and was also able to use some of my Amex poiints buying a $250 coupon, saving even more.

I have always prefered the Dell's Latitude notebooks to the Inspiron. Both are good, just a personal preference.

Look on the Small Biz site and go to the Smart Deals. They have a Latitude D520 with dual core, 1 gb ram, etc. for $799. I would upgrade the hard drive to a 7200 rpm unit and that it. The wife / partner has a D500 and loves it. Thw D520 appers to be an even better unit and greatly upgraded over hers.

True, but you get what you pay for. And Apple, like Porsche, has entry models that give you a very good bang for the buck. For instance, how about getting a laptop than can run windows XP and Mac OSX together? If I were you, I`d consider a MacBook with intel core duo. They start at $1,099 and I don`t work for Apple.

Aurel

Tikanis.

STRONGLY recommend against HP and Compaq. We have one of each; one desktop(Compaq) and laptop(HP). I like their periphials, but both computers have had "problems", and in both cases, the company tried to avoid fixing them under warranty. I finally went to the State Attorney General and got a settlement. Over the phont technical assistance is terrible, off shore and usually wrong. Not to mention how often one has to ask for a statement to be repeated!!!

A once excellent company heading toward disaster. Next time either a Dell or probably we will jump ship and go for a Mac.

"cheap" is relative. If you can live with smaller screen, low resolution, limited i/o and capabilities, then sure you can get a cheap laptop. But start adding features and pretty soon you're at $1K. Which is close to a MacBook. Which doesn't suck. :p