please help me pick a school laptop

[Bandit33]

I was all set to build my first desktop this summer, but since I'm headed to law school in the fall, it looks like I'll have to make the switch to a laptop. I'm up on desktop hardware, but I've never owned a laptop before, so I need some help.

I'm used to doing some gaming (dont need H-L on full detail, but decent performance with fairly recent games), but that'll be less important as I don't think I'll have much free time anymore. Also, the usual stuff: DVDs, mp3s, etc. Basically, if I come back to my room and hook it up to my 17" flat screen, I don't want to be painfully aware that it's just a laptop.

Should have:
at least 60gb HD
preferably 1gb RAM
PCI-e video (x300 any good?)
DVD writer
decent battery life
fairly portable (to and from class, library, dorm all day)

I've been looking at the IBM T-43s and the Dell 6000 series (I can get a decent sicount on Dell or IBM through school), hoping to spend around $1500 including some kind of port replicator.

Any suggestions?

Thanks so much.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Best bang for the buck is the Dell esp if you get on one of those hot deals. I own a 6000d and its OK. The fans are always on, so if that doesn't bother you. I haven't tried a T43 yet, but IBM does have a good rep.

The Dell weights around 7lbs and with your law books, it might get noticeable. I don't really play any games on the Dell. I heard the x300 is equivelant to 9600 mobile. So it should be decent.

 

[herm0016]

i have a dell 600m 1.8gig Pm 9000pro, 40 gig, that will run games like cs and halo (1) great. and it only weighs around 4 lbs. sould be able to find a good deal if you check out the hot deals.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Radeon 9000 runs Halo? Wow......

In regards to the T43, I would honestly go for a T42. The T43's cost more (obviously), only offer 5-10% more performance, and reduced batt life. IBM upped the batt capacities for T43's over T42 to compensate for batt life loss. Also, the T43's run hotter and a lot of users are reporting the fans running a lot.
T42's are a good deal cheaper and still do just about anything you need to. They don't offer PCI-E video, but the X300 is about as good at the 9600. If you're looking at the workstation FireGL cards, then money doesn't matter and you can do whateva

Looking back at your post, I reread your specs & $$. For that $, you will have to go with Dell. 60GB 7200RPM & DVDRW will run you more than $1500 for an IBM. That said, if you want a quality notebook that will last college and beyond, look into an academic loan for a laptop; that's what I did for my T42.
Either way you go, make sure you get a good warranty on it and I recommend the accidental damage coverage. Can't beat it when you could sit on your laptop and have it replaced...