I have to buy a laptop for work. I want something that will last me a few years and could replace my desktop at home. I would like the price to be under 1K (I could stretch it to 1.5K) if possible. I would like to get the most bang for my buck. Minimum specs: >80gb HD, >1.7 GHz, PCMIA slot, USB port, Wifi, dual layer burner, 12-17" screen, <8lbs, >512mb RAM, etc...

A friend of mine said I should look at averatec.com I liked the Averatec 17" 7160-EC1 (cost ~1.2K). I also looked at Toshiba, IBM, Sanger, and Dell.

Is AMD better than Intel or vice versa (one better for games and one better for video)? I don't play computer video games, much. For work I really just need a basic laptop, but since I have to pay for it, I want to maximize my dollar. So if I can get some suggestions or point me in teh right direction, I'd really appreaciate it.

 

I owned an Averatec, it was a good laptop and VERY VERY light and in spite of that, well built and didnt seem flimsy at all.

Some Dell laptops might be ok, but from my experience and that of my brother, we've had nothing but problems.

 

Dell Inspiron 710m

 

I love my 710m but I really wouldn't consider it as being a "desktop replacement" type of machine. It depends, though, on what the desktop it's theoretically replacing was doing in the first place.

 

Latitude 820 just came out... i got one here... it is amazingly light... so much better than the 810 or my Inspiron...

only prob is it might push 1500 if you set it up be start to be a desktop replacement... ie... best display, 512GB video card, 2gig ram, DVD-R...