Dell Inspiron 1420

Pros: Fast, nice size, doesn't get hot

Cons: Very poor viewing angle - dims on battery

Summary: I like this computer a lot but for the display. It dims to an almost unusable level when on battery in spite of the power setting you choose - you can't override the setting. You also have to be looking almost directly at the screen for readability - even just moving your head six inches off center noticeably reduces brightness and contrast. On the plus side, the high res model is really crisp. Also the glossy screen cover is a really bad idea in brightly lit rooms, unless that is, you want to see your boss's face in back of you.

It's really fast though - wakes up from sleeping in 5 seconds and Wifi under 5 more. The touch pad is better than all of the HP/Compaq models I looked at - it's easy on the finger - HP has a glossy surface that grabs the skin - very annoying.

Great to have the media buttons right on top of the keyboard too. DC plug is on the left side as is the hot air outlet, so it doesn't interfere with your legs when using it on your lap. This unit does not heat up very much at all and is silent, so it's really a true "lap" top.

WiFi has a momentary switch on the front of the unit that launches a WiFi discovery mode with a real-time signal strength meter - quite useful to quickly find WiFi. Four USB sockets, 2 on each side are conveniently located too.

Only had to uninstall one bloatware package - Mcafee security. Installed Comodo and it was painless.

Lid closes tight with spring - no annoying latch to fumble with. The keyboard is awesome! Very easy (and silent) to type fast and a function key allows use of a number pad layout using regular keys.

Paid $950 direct from Dell including tax and (free) shipping - 3GB RAM, Bluetooth, Webcam (really easy to use and accessible control panel), high res screen.