Laptop Recommendations

[uncleezno]

My girlfriend was just activated from the waitlist of the med school she really wanted to go to, and she needs a new laptop. As much as she wants a Macbook, the students are strongly told not to use them as there is a lack of support for them in the country (the med school is in Israel, a joint program with Columbia FWIW). So that means a PC. She and I both used dell laptops as undergrads/grad students, but they were clunky, desktop-replacement models that we weren't too happy with.

Can you guys help me choose a laptop that will let her get her work done, but still be portable? I imagine it should have a C2D processor, 2 gigs of RAM, and probably a 15" screen or smaller, but I don't know what models are any good. I'm not opposed to another Dell for her; I love all the coupon tricks one can use to get them super cheap. Also, I'm fairly certain I can squeeze even further discounts from them through my employer.

I really appreciate your help. She's going to be gone for three years, and I want to make sure she has a reliable machine that won't need to be fixed while she's over there. I'm staying in the States, and I don't need some slick Israeli computer guy helping her out



-Dave

EDIT: She tells me she wants a 15" screen so her keyboard isn't too tiny. From what I've seen, laptops with screens that big are a couple of pounds lighter than our old ones, so that's good.

 

[DarkRogue]

I personally like the IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad laptops, but they're kind of on the expensive side.. if cost is a concern I'd advise going back with Dell as they do get pretty cheap with all the coupons out. One of the bigger selling points for IBM was the IPS screen, but they've discontinued that with the 61 series (T60 seems to be the last model with the IPS option) so they all more or less have the same screens now - all TN.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I enjoy the Dell Vostro line for cheap but sturdy builds. And btw this would probably be better in the SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones PCs section.

 

[Roguestar]

I've got a Vostro 1500 and it's fantastic, but other than this recommendation I refuse to help you in your quest because you use the insufferably stupid term "lappy".