[svandamme]

If you don't do games, then you don't need the Nvidia or ATI video cards and can stick to the Intel Graphics.

Centrino cpu's don't have much cache, avoid those like the plague unless you are really on a tight budget

The Duo Cores also have wide ranges of cache, do make sure what you are comparing when checking out 2 different laptops... as you are better off with a 2.0 ghz duo core cpu, with 3MB cache, then a 2.1ghz with just 1 mb of cache... But for just surfing and what you describe, a 2.0 with 1mb will do just fine as well. You will hardly notice the difference for that kind of application.

Avoid the consumer laptops, go for the business ones... they are usually built better have better warranty deals, and don't come loaded with consumer crap software

my nephew just bought one of those Dell Vostro 1520 laptops, pretty sturdy laptop, good bang for the buck...