~1300 Laptop

[MisterPants]

I'm looking for a laptop for use in school,planning to run win2k. Mainly going to be used for wordXP. I'd like good, crisp screen that can preferably do 1024x768. I'd like it to be light, have a good keyboard, and available with an NIC without using a PCMIA slot. Since I will be running it ~6 hours a day on batteries (I know I need at least 2, 3?) I would like it to have good battery life. I've been looking at the Dell Inspiron 4000(800P3/800Celery), ASUS A1300(850P3), and the Toshiba Portege 3480CT. I don't know much about the reliability of these notebooks, as it seems that none of these companies actually make these laptops. The ASUS is most likely the worst performer, using the S3 chipset where the other two use ATI. The difference is that it is a good 100-200 cheaper, and is branded with a name I've come to trust. The other negative involving the ASUS is that it lacks a SmartStep processor, so I doubt it hits my battery life expectations. Does anybody have reccomendations to add to this list? A choice from this list? I was interested in the Ibook because I've always wanted to use a BSD Operating system and couldn't because I have to use an intel Phoneline Network Adapter, which has no support in anything but 98SE and FINALLY win2k. So OSX seemed somewhat interesting. Unfortunately that will lead to a need for new software, and I assume it wouldn't be easy/possible to network and share an Internet connection with 98SE systems.

 

[Von Ribbentrop]

If you could add a little more cash. I'd recommend: Toshiba Satelite 3000-S353. It has everything you want and it will allow you to play games when you get bored (GeForce 2 Go 16mb). One thing to look at when buying a Laptop - Support!. If your gonna run W2k make sure the manufacturer has the drivers/ software for that OS. Toshiba is one of the better company's in that respect. The system above comes with a duel boot W98SE/Mil, BUT also has a full set of W2K driver/software. As for battery life it probably isn't the best(no second Battery) but if all your gonna use it for is Word Processing you'll probably be able to get a couple of hours out of each battery. I'm waiting on a sale/price drop/coupon and then this baby is mine.

Luck