New laptop ideas, answers, and recommendations

[daparnin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Sorry if this gets double-posted, we've had some outgoing e-mail issues...

I'm looking for ideas, answers, and recommendations.  I'm shopping around 
for a new laptop and would like to get the most for my money since this is 
something that I'm going to have to live with for a few years.  I've 
browsed Best Buy and Newegg.com.  It will be used for Internet, MS Office, 
GPS, and to help me learn PHP, MySQL, and other web apps.  WDSC is not in 
my plans for it. 

Background: 
My budget is around $1000.  I like cables that do not plug into the side 
(RJ45, VGA, power, etc.).  I would prefer not to get a docking station.  I 
like keyboards that have a scroll wheel/button of some sort. 

Processor speed: 
Dual core vs. non-dual core--How do the speeds compare?  How do these 
contrast between Intel and AMD? 


Screens: 
It seems that everybody is selling reflective screens now instead of 
anti-glare.  I prefer not to be looking at my own reflection as I work. 
I'm thinking that a screen size over 15" would be too big for use in the 
car.  I was in Office Depot over the weekend buying ink cartridges and 
noticed that all of their flat-pannel desktop monitors were anti-glare.  I 
found it interesting that anti-glare destop monitors would likely be 
placed in environments where you could control the lighting while the 
glossy, reflective laptop screens would likely be used in places where you 
couldn't control the lighting.  Does anyone still sell anti-glare for 
laptops? 


OS & memory: 
I like XP but realize that Vista will probably outlive it.  Vista Home 
Premium appears to be the way to go from what I've read.  True?  If so, 
then for memory 1GB minimum, 2GB average, the more the better? 


Other stuff: 
Built-in webcams seem to be hitting the mainstream.  Are they just a toys? 
 They seem to be standard on Mac laptops. 

Can anybody give me good/bad recommendations?  I haven't really checked 
into Dell because I had a motherboard failure on my work PC and it took 
two replacements for them to get it working properly.  From what I've 
seen, Acer is looking the best so far.  Thanks. 



Dave Parnin