Recommendations for a New Laptop?

[RedKingGold]

I'm very interested in Windows 7 and have been scouring teh internets for various reviews on laptops to purchase one to replace my 200x Thinkpad.

Here are my specifications:

#1. Price Range = $600 - $800;
#2. Weight = Must weigh 4.5 pounds or less (13.3 inch screen or less);
#3. Keyboard Comfort
#4. Speed - only applications it needs to handle word processing, internet browsing, and text-sims (FOF, PureSim, FBCB); but it'd be nice to get one that's can do these as quick as possible (and handle multimedia task managing).

Not too concerned about battery life or optical drive, although those would be a nice touch. Would look into getting an external hard-drive to store my music files and such.

I really like the idea of a netbook, but worry about speed and ability to play text-sims on it.

Thoughts?

[DaddyTorgo]

aren't there sites that have filters where you can filter out those things and get a list of which ones might work? then visit local stores and do the "keyboard comfort" test

[Kodos]

Have you looked into a mini notebook (http://operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=76111)?

[Dr. Sak]

Ask MGOBLUE, I hear he might be selling one.

(was it too early to make this joke?)

[DaddyTorgo]

Ask MGOBLUE, I hear he might be selling one.

(was it too early to make this joke?)

nope - kodos even beat you to it!

[Edward64]

Some new architecture (Calpella)coming out in Jan (or at least for Lenovo Thinkpads).

My site to do research is Notebook Reviews - Laptop Reviews and Netbook Computer News & Reviews (http://www.notebookreview.com/)

For thinkpad refreshes New ThinkPad models, ThinkPad T410, ThinkPad T510, SL410/510, X210 for January 2010? | www.thinkpadtoday.com (http://www.thinkpadtoday.com/new-thinkpad-models-thinkpad-t410-thinkpad-t510-sl410510-x210-for-january-2010.htm)

Lenovos have been very price competitive. You should be able to buy a low end T410 for around $800. I believe they will be thinner and even though it is a 14 inch screen, 16:9 may fit your purposes?

[BishopMVP]

I'll piggyback on this instead of starting a new thread. I'm buying a new laptop now/soon. I don't play FPS or sports games - save those for consoles - but I'll use it for games like Civ4, Paradox titles, FM, etc, which require certain graphical requirements these days. But I do like decent screen size, so I'm definitely not in the market for a netbook.

As a base, BestBuy is offering Best Buy offers the Toshiba Satellite AMD Athlon II 2GHz 15.6" Widescreen Notebook/3GB RAM/320GB HDD/dual layer DVD burner/802.11g/Windows 7 Home Premium (http://dealnews.com/lw/artclick.html?2,338995,1086804), model no. L505D-S5983, for $399.99( http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+Laptop+with+AMD+Athlon%26%23153%3B+II+Dual-Core+Processor+-+Graphite+Gray/9553896.p?cpncode=24-67660690-2&srccode=cii_13736960&skuId=9553896&ref=25&loc=SHP&id=1218123211002 )

Is the Athlon II 2GHz with 3GB ram going to be enough to keep running the next iteration of these games or is it worth doubling the cost to get up to 4GB ram? Dell Studio has a 4GB one on sale for $549 Dell Studio 15 Dual Core 2GHz 15" Laptop $549 - dealnews.com (http://dealnews.com/Dell-Studio-15-AMD-Dual-Core-2.2-GHz-15-Laptop-for-549-free-shipping/333907.html)

So basically is it necessary to spend the extra couple hundred to go from 3GB to 4GB? And are there any other (decently reputable) sites that would have a laptop in this range for cheap?

[MrDNA]

Just throwing in my .02 - I love Toshiba laptops. I've got one and so do my fiancee and mother and we've never had any problems with them. The one I am typing this on must be about 5 years old now (I know, I am a caveman! Maybe I should check out those links...)

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I'll ask what my daughter thinks of hers & get back to you in about 20 years when she's talking to me again.

[RedKingGold]

Update: I think I'm going to start collecting my shillings to purchase this puppy in two months or so: Lenovo ThinkPad Edge Review (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5450)

[stevew]

I want to get a desktop replacement type laptop, something that will run games like Civ 4, maybe stuff a bit more graphics intensive than that. What would something with a half decent graphics card cost? Want to stay in the 800-1000 range if possible.