[ScottyS]

Notebooks I've used for work and play:

(2) P2-class Toshibas
(1) P4-class Toshiba
(2) P4-class Sagers
(1) P3-class Gateway
(2) P3-class IBMs

I've had to replace HDD's, CPUs, and keyboards, performing all my own work on several of these.

I've dealt with several others trying to help other people.

Brand-new, I'd look really hard at the Sagers from powernotebooks.com.
Otherwise, I'd look at Sony, Dell, or Toshiba (I wouldn't touch HP/Compaq with a 10-ft pole).
IMO unless you need video card and memory speed for games a used IBM P3 cannot be beat.

The problem is --- all entry level machines these days suffer from the use of low-quality components, giving a much higher HD failure rate, for example. Service is really the biggest factor, as all the parts come from the same places anyhow.

In my case, I don't need a gaming laptop, or even a desktop replacement, as a laptop that would do what I need isn't made yet. I needed a internet/travel/web design machine, and a $300 eBay IBM R31 was the best choice. So good, in fact, that I bought a second for my college-bound sis after a week of playing with it. It has a 1.13ghz P3 mobile CPU, 14" screen, DVD drive, and capabilty to expand to 1gig SDRAM. Plus all the perks of an IBM, along with super-easy driver and software updating after I did clean wipe and threw XP Pro on there. I can buy a dual-layer DVD writer for this computer, get a bigger HDD when needed, and extra batteries. It'll barely play Tombraider 5, but that's not why I got it.