Getting a new laptop

[snapps]

I have been looking around quite a lot of places. I have had my current laptop for 4 years and its time for a new one.

I am looking for something with these specifications:

Downgrade able to xp(drivers can be found for xp)
Atleast 2gb of ddr2 ram
A decent video card of atleast 128mb ram.
screen size between 13.3 inches and 15.4
built in wireless with (wap2 support optional)
Atleast 160gb hard drive
Atleast 4 usb ports
No webcam
HD RPM: 7200(not required)
Battery: 9cell(or whatever will last on a good war driving trip,etc)
Good processor
Some durability won't hurt
Affordable for a student
United States

This laptop won't be used for gaming or anything. Just for running things like 700mb for a VM, photoshop, firefox, firewall, wmp, and run smoothly.

I really don't know much about hardware so your help would be great. I am a student so I am trying to find something affordable.

-snapps

[Sparda]

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/c...s&cs=ukdhs1 perhaps?

[snapps]

O sorry. Wasn't clear. US Dollar and in the united states. And can I find the drivers for XP as well?

[Sparda]

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/con...s=dhs&cs=19

XP Drivers: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/...n&TabIndex=

[Swathe]

I recently got a dell inspiron 1525. Itt's close to what your after after some adjustments and it's a pretty good little lappy.

[snapps]

PROCESSOR    Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5750 (2.00GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)    edit
OPERATING SYSTEM    Ubuntu 8.04 with DVD Playback    edit
DISPLAY    Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800)    edit
VIDEO CARD    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100    edit
MEMORY    4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz    edit
HARD DRIVE    Speed: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) Free Fall Sensor    edit
OPTICAL DRIVE    CD / DVD Writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)    edit
WIRELESS CARDS    Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card    edit
INTEGRATED WEBCAM    No Webcam Option    editW
BATTERY OPTIONS    85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)    edit
SOUND OPTIONS    High Definition Audio 2.0

For a little bit less then $1000. Does that sound alright?

[VaKo]

Get a Dell Latitude with a next day on-site warranty. The spec you have posted is fine.

[nullspace]

I say go with a Thinkpad t61 (once you go black you never go back).

I am pretty sure they are <$1000 last time I looked they were $700ish. I say spec the processor, graphics card, and screen how you like and go for the cheapest setting for the ram and HDD. Go to Newegg.com and buy your RAM and HDD requirements. This way you have an extra HDD and can sell the RAM.

Thinkpads are solid machines and the case design is top notch, it will last a long time even if you treat it like crap. I had a A31p through college and then some. I had it for about 6 years and then gave it a new home. The majority of my developer and sys admin friends use thinkpads and love them.