Ok. I need want to get a nice laptop.

Specs:
>= 15" monitor
>=512mb Ram
>= 128 mb (name brand video card, not just intel integrated crapola)
>=1.6 ghz proc, AMD or Intel, pref AMD as its cheaper
+Windows XP (pro/home)
+Any kind of sound
+integrated wireless g
+USB
+integrated ethernet 10/100 is fine
+CD/RW (no need for DVD-RW)
+Not too ugly/wonkey looking
+Mouse pad scroll thingey, if possible

No brand preference (IE, compaqs, acer, gateway.. anywhing)

Cost:
<=$1000

Anyone got any ideas? I'm looking for testimonials, ideas, feedback, input anything.

I've already seen what cyberpower systems has to offer, and it looks pretty good. I've got a friend who recomends it...

Your specs are so not Vista-ready.

And don't get Home, so many administrative crap are left out...I miss my MMC! Well they do have it but it's missing alot of stuff.

MMC = Microsoft Management Console

i was in a similar boat not so long ago. And then then I found This Laptop for under $600

And after adding another 512MB ram module, it has been awesome ever since.

Yes I know it is an off-brand. But it works AND it is upgradable (to AMD Athlon 64)
which is awesome.

The complaint I'd have with it is the terrible integrated video. It barely even runs SC4, and kind-of runs Civ 4.

But it runs older games just fine (Like starcraft). It's just not going to work real well with the newer stuff like HL2 or any UT incarnation. The DVD playback is perfect though (plus the SVideo-Out port is extremely usefull)

I found mine (new) on Ebay, although I hear that ebay is a good place to get screwed on laptops. I know that retailers sell this model new for around $600. Unforetuneately, the only retailer I've seen that sells this model so far is Wal-Mart (and if you don't like wal-mart, that kind-of sucks)

On the mention of Half Life 2, that reminds me. Get a video card that supports HDR!

waaa? A 64-bit $600 laptop? WTF

With only 256-mb of RAM? I'm so confused....a top-of-the-line processor, yet the bare minimum RAM for XP?

256 RAM and XP is...not fun at times. I can vouch for this.

*should have poked people more to buy 512, but is not looking a gift horse in the mouth either*

Its not too unusual. Especially when you buy from a regular/off brand.
My friend's sister bought a 64-bit HP desktop system that only had 384 MB (Somehow)
Which sucks. I mean, 768MB is barely adequate. 1024 is more comfortable.
I've been down the road of <512MB and it is teh sux0rs.
But, anyway, it is a good deal. It has some weird quirks, but once you get used to them It works well.
And it is the cheapest laptop system that works well I've seen.

One thing you might want to avoid with laptops is anything with a mobile P4 in it. (Centrino and Pentium M are descent, but expensive) Basically any Intel system that would actually run any modern softawre faster than an 8Mhz Zilog 80 calculator processor (circa 1982) is going to be well above $1000 even used. The problem with the P4Ms is
1: They are Northwood core and Northwood (while being overclockable) is old and crappy.
2: They never run at full speed and are terrible mobile processors. They are MUCH slower-feeling than their desktop incarnations.
3: They are expensive: you paying for a brand-name and *nothing* else.

Centrino is nice, and the Pentium M is okay too, but they are COSTLY.

I'd avoid brands like Dell too, because their laptops are prone to being very expensive and they use Celerons and P4s on all their "affordable" models. And those processors are noticibly slower than their desktop versions when made mobile.

So AMD's mobile Sempron/A64 platform is the most cost effective for a mobile computer that feels like the speed of a desktop.



Just to give you an idea of how that CN5560 model works:

-I run photoshop on it and it has no problems. In fact, it runs photoshop *as* well (if not better) than my P4 desktop.
-I can run SC4 on it, it is choppy, and kind-of laggy because of the built-in video, but it *does* run it at least,
-It ran starcraft without any problems (of course, Starcraft is kind-of an old game)
-It ran Fruity Loops 3.4 (Sequencer/ Music creation software) with 5 fairly processor hefty soft-synths running at once without any distortion. (Which my desktop can't even do)
-It ran Civ4 okay (graphics were a bit laggy, but I expected that)
-It runs GMAX better than my desktop, even without a descent video card.
-HL2 was laggy. Quite laggy, I do not suggest running graphics-intensive FPSes on this computer. The lack of good video card makes it so you have to turn the settings all the way down, and it impacts gameplay.
-The built in wireless has mediocre range, but it's still works in libraries and stuff. And it's fun to go around wardriving for rouge APs and stuff, but because of it's range it is unlikely you would be able to exploit them :P The built in wireless also has a power switch on the case, it is convenient.
-It has a built-in LAN and Modem port. That's convenient too.
-It doesn't seem to get especially hot (as long as you keep vents unblocked)
It just gets warm, which is nice if your hands get cold easily.