[stomachmonkey]

I am primarily a Mac user although I do have a couple of PC's in the house as well.

Am doing some web and video work that requires a PC to confirm compatabilty and such.

My PC's are all worn out and the kids have taken over my home office so to conserve space and allow mobility I've elected to pick up a laptop instead of building a new tower.

Went to CompUsa this week and picked up an HP. Monster rebate on the thing, $500 brining final price to $699. Still more than I wanted to lay out up front but it was a good deal so I got it and it's sitting here unopened which means it can be returned without a restock fee.

Here's the quick spec. Needs more RAM.

Pavilion zv5360us Notebook
Intel Pentium 4 Processor, 3.06GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, 15-inch XGA TFT Display, DVD / CD-RW Combo Drive, Windows XP Home Edition

Got a circular that CompUsa is having a midnight madness sale today.

2 other choices present themselves.

1st one is less up front than the HP, $899 vs $1199. Same final price of $699.

Averatec
6110-EH1 Notebook
Mobile AMD Sempron 2800+ 1.6GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 15.4-inch WXGA TFT Display, 4X DVD+/-RW Drive, Windows XP Home Edition

2nd new choice is $929 up front and $499 final.

Compaq
Presario 2232us Notebook
Intel Celeron M Processor 360, 1.4GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, 15-inch XGA TFT Display, DVD / CD-RW Combo Drive, Windows XP Home Edition

Remember that I need it as a test bed and not neccesarily as a workhorse.

I'm concerned about the upfront cost because of the flaky nature of rebates.

I'd be less pissed getting hosed on a $200 rebate vs. a $500.

So what do you guys think?

Thanks
Scott