New laptop, any suggestions?

[sulretal]

I am looking for a new laptop.

Monitor Size: Any size 14.x" or 15.x" monitor with at least a 1200x1000 or higher native resolution.
CPU: At least a C2D, not sure if I would use the max capabilities of the t7400's 4 mb caches so I could deal with a 2mb cache one
RAM: at least 1 Gigabyte
HD: Size doesn't matter, I store all non-important files on my external HD anyway.
Video Card: As much as I would like to, I will probably not be able to get an expensive GPU for my laptop. So I can deal with anything that can play DVD's and such.
Weight, anything under 8 lbs,

I'll be using it for general schoolwork (no CAD or PS demands for my college major, so that's not a worry for me) and I'm hoping the laptop would be so reliable as to lasting me until I graduate undergrads (3 years)

I would really enjoy if the laptop did not get very hot, when I'm in class I like to type on my lap rather than a desk so it makes it realy uncomfortable for me to deal with a hot hot laptop.
It needs to have acceptable battery life; I'm thinking at least 5 hours while using all battery saving option.

My price range is under $1,200 including a nice warranty.

I have been browsing different sites looking at laptops and their reviews and such but am having a difficult time deciding. So any help given by you laptop savy entrepreneurs would be a marvelous thing for me

 

[meionm]

The highest resolution that I know of on 14.1 that is 1440x900 WXGA+. I owned two 14.1" laptops one with WXGA screen and other WXGA+. WXGA+ all the way from now on.

I owned 15.4 notebook and now I have 14.1. Smaller notebook with high resolution is a better choice for me. After a whle of having 15.4" it felt really big and not very portable, plus it was heavy.

If you will not play games or do anything graphic intensive, the intergrated or low end dedicated card will do. Playing dvd, typing don't require much.

I have E1405 from Dell with low configuration but it came cheap from dell outlet in refurnished condition. With this laptop I am not planing on going with vista until next laptop.

 

[sulretal]

The highest resolution that I know of on 14.1 that is 1440x900 WXGA+. I owned two 14.1" laptops one with WXGA screen and other WXGA+. WXGA+ all the way from now on.

I owned 15.4 notebook and now I have 14.1. Smaller notebook with high resolution is a better choice for me. After a whle of having 15.4" it felt really big and not very portable, plus it was heavy.

If you will not play games or do anything graphic intensive, the intergrated or low end dedicated card will do. Playing dvd, typing don't require much.

I have E1405 from Dell with low configuration but it came cheap from dell outlet in refurnished condition. With this laptop I am not planing on going with vista until next laptop.

I was actually looking at the e1405, perhaps that might be the wisest money per performance ratio ?

 

[Korndog]

the lenovo's are great laptops.., u should look at the 3000 N100 Value one at lenovo's website...
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...orkflow:LoadRuntimeTree?sb=:00000025:00000075:
if u add the virabrantview, dvd burner, 1gb ram, and fingerprint option, it comes out to 999, then add a 9 cell battery (should give u more than 5hours and you'll have an extra 6cell backup) and it'll come up to 1148
i think it weights under 5lbs too

 

[Pinky]

the lenovo's are great laptops.., u should look at the 3000 N100 Value one at lenovo's website...
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...orkflow:LoadRuntimeTree?sb=:00000025:00000075:
if u add the virabrantview, dvd burner, 1gb ram, and fingerprint option, it comes out to 999, then add a 9 cell battery (should give u more than 5hours and you'll have an extra 6cell backup) and it'll come up to 1148
i think it weights under 5lbs too

I'd get the bare bones and buy the upgrades yourself to save a bunch of cash.

Second the lenovo/thinkpad suggestion...

 

[sulretal]

I'd get the bare bones and buy the upgrades yourself to save a bunch of cash.

Second the lenovo/thinkpad suggestion...

That Lenovo actually looks very nice, I am considering it.

Any what do you mean by buying barebones? I thought barebone laptops were generally more expensive to produce than a manufactured one.
Any thoughts on the dv2000t series?

Operating System Genuine Windows XP Home Edition
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T5200 (1.60 GHz)
Display 14.1" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
Graphics Card 128MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
Personalization HP Imprint Finish + Microphone
Memory 512MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard Drive FREE Upgrade from 40GB 5400RPM to 60GB 5400RPM
Primary CD/DVD Drive LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
Networking Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth

Primary Battery 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
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Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works/Money
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OS and Recovery Media System Recovery DVD w/Windows XP Home Edition
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your additional options:
Click "edit" to modify. NOTE: These items are in stock and will ship immediately.
HP extended service plans 1-year HP Accidental Damage Protection with Express Repair extended service plan

For 998.98 I can get this, If I remove the 1 year hp warranty it will be only 900.

 

[Korndog]

well yea, i'm sure u can get the 9cell battery for about 60-70 bucks off ebay or from an online shop, but the other stuff is pretty cheap.
that hp one is pretty nice too, my cuz has one of the newer HP laptops but in 15", the screen looks amazing, but it barly lasts 2 hours, w/ the 14" you should get maybe 3 hours esspecially w/ the duo 2, but i would definitely look for a 9 cell battery for it you might be able to get 5hours out of it. the Lenovo's seem to be the most energy efficient though, the one i'm looking at buying w/ a celeron (yea i know i know) last more than 8 hours!! i'll never have to carry my powersupply w/ me again.

 

[sulretal]

Well I went to Circuit City to check out the models in person that I was looking for. Unfortunetly, they did not have have the Lenovo v3000 n100.


I really like the dv2000 series.

So I geuss it's between a n100 or the dv2000 series (Either AMD or C2d, not really sure what is better will do some more reading on their benchmark comparisons).