Help me choose a laptop

[compnoobie]

I thinking about getting a laptop soon. Im wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Im looking for a laptop about $500-$900. Im not gonna be playing major games or anything like that, but mostly doing school work and stuff. I've been searching around for laptops and I was wondering if things liek Duo-Core processors necessary or is it fine just with a single Pentium M or AMD Turion 64. Ive been seeing good cheap laptops from Lenovo, Dell, and HP, but at the same time, i dont feel like getting a crappy computer which is gonna only last me 2 years. Any suggestions would be nice. Thanks.

[Rainbow32]

I would hold off a wee bit longer, closer to Xmas time to buy, because of that snafu with Vista not being available on P.C.'s until after the first of the year.
The major OEM's will be making deep discounts on computers with XP cause of this for the holidays from what I've been reading.
Also cause of this a $50 coupon to upgrade to Vista Home edition will be available from many of the OEM's.

[compnoobie]

O, ok thanx. But anyway, do you think its necessary to have a Duo-Core processor or anything like that? Or basically what im asking is when Vista does come out, how "good" of a laptop should i get?

[Rainbow32]

How good of a laptop you can get for the price range you stated would be hard to answer right now. What you can get for $900 today will get you much more in 4-5 weeks or so.
I would go for the duo core, cause you never know for sure what your going to be doing with it 2 years down the road.
Get yourself the Sunday paper and look over what's available at what price and kinda track what interests you and what the different retailers are offering. Check Dell's online store daily as their offers change very frequently.
Your best deal will probably involve a rebate of sorts. The rebate was the most innovated marketing strategy ever developed, cause only 3%-5% of consumers actually use them, saving the companies big bucks while at the time of purchase having people believe they were getting a hell of a deal.
Mail in those rebates! I've been doing it for years and never had a problem getting them. Many retailers give you a tracking number to check on the internet so you know at what stage your rebate is at.
Jesus my wife even mails in the $1 rebate coupon on a 3-pack of bar soap.