>This is actually easier than you are making it.
>
>For the CPU, you want an Intel Core Duo or Core 2 Duo (Core 2 Duo is
>slightly better and also more expensive ... the difference is not great,
>however). Both processors do come in a variety of speed ranges. Forget
>about every other processor. The one you want is one of these two.
>
>[Centrino is ***NOT*** a CPU ... it's a designation for a variety of
>"all Intel" machine configurations, e.g. Intel CPU, chipset, Video, LAN
>and WiFi. Fine, but having a better (but non-Intel) video or WiFi
>option makes the machine "non-Centrino".]
>
>You may not now be able to buy a laptop that doesn't come with Vista.
>It would have been better to have made this purchase before January
>30th, you would have gotten BOTH XP and Vista at no additional cost (you
>can still get that option, until March 15th, ***IF*** you can find a
>machine with XP preloaded and the free Vista upgrade offer. But they
>have pretty much disappeared already). You can probably install XP on a
>machine that comes with vista, but, amazingly, XP drivers for models
>that come with Vista are often NOT readily available.
>
>Hard drives that are externally changeable have pretty much disappeared,
>however it's not difficult to change the hard drive in any current
>laptops (on most laptops, one screw and you are there). All current
>production laptops use SATA 2.5" hard drives. Don't discount the
>usability of external USB hard drives, either 2.5" or 3.5". In most
>cases, you can even boot from them.
>
>The really good news is that your price targets are too high, you won't
>have to spend any more than the low end of your estimate. I'm going to
>recommend that you look at the Dell E1505 and the Toshiba A105
>(discontinued, but may still be found) and the A135 (the replacement for
>the A105, almost identical).
>
>You can EASILY get a machine very close to what you want for $800 if you
>are a savvy buyer (watch the sales and for Dell, the deals at
>www.techbargains.com). EVERYONE has a Toshiba A135 model (or several)
>on sale this weekend, that includes Best Buy, Circuit City, Office
>Depot, Staples, etc. Price range from $549 to $799, and the $749 and
>$799 models will pretty much have everything you want and need except
>that they may only have 1GB of memory, so you may need to add memory
>after the purchase. You can also get a loaded up Dell E1505 for $800
>(look for the special order code that gives you a 20%% discount on any
>E1505 selling for $999 or more, then configure you $1,000 E1505 and only
>pay $800 for it; there was even a 25%% code available but I think it's
>gone now.).
>
>
>Data Girl wrote:

>> I am currently in the market for a work / personal use laptop in the base
>> $800 - $1,300 range. I've been out of the loop for the past few years due to
>> raising kids and am not currently up to speed on the latest hardware / 64bit
>> platform stuff.
>>
>> Here are the major applications I'm intending to run:
>> MS Office 2007
>> Visual Studio.NET
>> SQL Server 2005 (Developer Edition for non-production testing purposes)
>>
>> I've already determined 2GB RAM and a dual core CPU are requirements.
>>
>> Before making a purchase, there are a few essoteric questions I need
>> answered that are probably beyond the scope of what the sales floor guys
>> could answer and would appreciate any incite from the perspective of a
>> fellow professional techie.
>>
>> - How to the Intel Centrino Duo vs. AMD Athlon 64 X2 compare in terms of
>> performance and multitasking?
>> - My company does not support Vista yet, so I'm wanting to go with XP
>> Professional. However, do I need to be running the 64bit version of XP to
>> run 64bit enabled applications optimally?
>> - Several years ago, one of my coworkers had a Gateway laptop with a
>> removable HD. While at home, he could pop out his work HD and insert his
>> personal HD. I'm not talking about an external USB type HD; this was a
>> bootable device that mounts internally. What is this device called, and if I
>> order from some place like Dell, could I request this as an option to the
>> conventional fixed HD? Also, if anyone has had experience with this type of
>> device, could you confirm what licensing issues this presents for XP,
>> becuase it would result in (2) different installs.
>> - Can you offer any other general advice or reccomend a specific model in my
>> price range?
>>
>>