What kind of non-word-processing/browsing stuff will you do? Because if it's nothing too processor-intensive, a refurbished Thinkpad (X- and T- series ones are lightest/smallest) or Mac (maybe with maxed-out RAM, and definitely with a new battery) seems like it might be a good choice.

Just regular browsing -- Metachat, news sites. I guess it would be nice to be able to stream things, I do listen to NPR a lot.

What is maxed-out RAM? I mean, what's the max?

Every new laptop today will be powerful enough for word processing and web browsing/audio streaming/etc, no question. Make sure you have at least 1GB of RAM if the computer is running Windows Vista. Other than that, select a computer based on your preferences (screen size, reliability, battery life, etc.)

Maxed-out RAM will depend on the computer. I think most laptops today will accept at most 2GB. For your usage, I really doubt you'll notice any benefits from going above 1GB anyway.

If you're going to buy a computer at full price, buy a MacBook because it's pretty, and it has that neat thing that lets you take goofy pictures of yourself in front of the computer, and it'll just make you feel good.

Plus, you can hook your iPod up to it and then think, "Look at all my pretty white things!"

Make the screen size and keyboard the primary factor in what you choose. If it comes with Windows XP, 512MB of memory will be fine, if it comes with Vista, you'll need at least 1GB. I've seen so many quality control issues with Apple and Dell that I wouldn't recommend either. My Thinkpads, though, have even survived being dropped and stepped on a couple of times.

Great, y'all. Thanks.

Nth the Thinkpad recommendation. I wouldn't spend my own money on anything else.

I have spent other peoples' money on plenty of Dells. As consequence, I've had plenty of time to chat with on-site repair technicians, who contract with all the major manufacturers. More than one of them has told me "If all I worked on were Thinkpads, I'd starve.

Avoid Dell (I say this because my last consumer experience with them was so bad--it all started when my harddrive had a critical failure and became an ex-harddrive--that I will never buy from them again and intend to tell everyone who asks me to avoid doing business with them).

It's a long boring story, culminating in Dell cheerfully suggesting I repurchase all the software I purchased when I bought the computer new because when I bought the computer, new, they installed the software; they didn't send installation disks. Thus, when the harddrive became an ex-harddrive, I no longer had software, but if I want to get my software back, I have to give them several more hundred dollars. I.think.not. On the other hand, I really like Open Office.

Avoid Vista. And I like dell, but I have a latitude/business model, and didn't buy any software from them. But for the love of god, avoid vista.

I like Dell, too, but you can no longer buy machines from them without an operating system, which is a downer. If you buy Vista, get 2GB RAM - I don't know what all the fuss is about re Vista, as it seems to work as well/badly as XP with some new shiny bits.

I got the "Avoid Vista" sentiment loud and clear, so when I went to the local big box electronics store this afternoon to gauge my options, I searched for a notebook without Vista. When the (cute) clerk came over to ask me if she could help, I asked her if they had any laptops without Vista. She said no, there wasn't a single computer in the store with XP, except for the ones the staff used. She said Vista wasn't all that bad, that she had gotten used to it after a while. I explained that this would be a secondary computer and that I wanted it to be compatible with my desktop. She agreed that that made sense and wandered away.

A couple minutes later, she came back. (She was cute.) She said she had a solution: I could bring in my desktop, and they could install Vista on it, and then they would be compatible! I told her "Nice try, but I'm not falling for it." She smiled and wandered off.

Five minutes later, I was looking at vacuum cleaners. [I have two broken ones in the house, and a very dirty floor.] The (cute) computer clerk wandered by, pointed to the one I was looking at, and said "This one comes with XP!"

I said, "Well shit, I actually wanted Vista with the vacuum cleaner!" She laughed and wandered off again.

At that point I suspected that I was being flirted with, and I ran out of the store without buying anything.

I think I'm going back for the vacuum, though.

And I also need an external hard drive...

i know it doesn't seem logical to spend extra money to downgrade, you could always get an oem copy of windows xp off of ebay or through newegg.com.

Dell are still selling notebooks with XP ...

Also, forget the stupid vacuum cleaner - go back for the cute clerk!