Best $1000 laptop

[alkemyst]

For my wife for Christmas, she has a japan version of a PIII 933 VAIO...it's a nice sturdy machine (the cats at 15lbs each have jumped about 4' down on it).

I am looking for a sturdy and compact (although she is considering one with a built-in numeric pad, I bought her a usb one a few months ago).

Looking for a decent sized screen, although if I can 'dock' it I can pick up a 15-17" LCD too, a nice keyboard, mouse and be done.

She would like a Japanese keyboard...not a requirement...she likes white (Apple iBook...although hell if I can support apple in japanese).

She will run her OS in Japanese.

I am figuring $1k is a budget...her kind of games are solitare, Zuma Deluxe, etc. She mostly surfs/emails, she would like to run J2EE/Tomcat for programming.

I am finding alot of $600 deals now, but they are a little too little machine for her wants.

Thanks

Chris

 

[imported_rod]

Have a look at Dell. (www.dell.com)

Personally, I think they've got the best value laptops.

RoD

 

[xanis]

I took a look at some Dell notebooks (Dell laptops are good) and customized an Inspiron B130:

Intel Pentium M 740 @ 1.73GHz
1GB (2x512) DDR2 SDRAM
40GB Hard Drive
CD/DVD Burner Combo Drive
15-inch Display
Integrated Graphics

Grand Total: $850 (w/o shipping & tax)

Edit: I remembered that she likes white, but this thing is black with silver trim stuff on it and personally I think it looks nice.

 

[Scouzer]

Asus Z70Va

comes with x700 so you can actually game....carbon fibre case and 15.4" widescreen

 

[alkemyst]

i know about Dell. Still the M140 at the $950 through EPP is probably not the best deal with coupons, and closeouts.

 

[alkemyst]

Anyone know about the Sony Vaio VGN-FS742/W? About $1100 after rebates

15.4" TRUE X-Brite (not ECO)
Intel Pentium M 740 1.73
512 MB
80 GB
DVD+R DL/DVD+/-RW Drive

It's white like she likes.