Im getting a new lap top here in the next few weeks...And was wonder what everyone has and likes for ohh around 1700$...Just wondering what people have baught and where they've gotten them thanks.

Wait for 2 months at least, or if possible untill the end of the summer when PCI express comes out.. Intel released the Pentium M-2 (well thats not the name but its a new core, 90nm tech, cooler etc) this week, and they will becoming available soon.. but preiminum is expceted.. i would reccomed looking at http://www.notebookforums.com for some more information

PCI express ehh? And what is this new technology good for? I was thinking of getting a new laptop soon myself. Dell and Gateway both have good financing, only about $25 a month or so. I think I'll go with whichever gets me the better deal.

Also what do you want? DVD Burner, Video card...? What will you be using the Laptop for exactly...? Games, Internet browsing, video editing?

Going to school for Photography so alot of photo editing and such....some light gamming maybe...I mean whats a puter without a few games??? Looking at HPs Athlon64...and I know 64 isnt great yet but a nice Athlon CPU in a Laptop and FAST TOO the 64s speed windows up A TON...So looking at that 1Gig RAM 60GB HDD...

if you have the money all i can say is Hypersonic! By the end of the month they will have the 9700 mobility inside there 64 bit Athlon sytem.

I'm with Darkstar on this. If you can afford it get either a Hypersonic or a Voodoo.

http://www.hypersonic-pc.com
http://www.voodoopc.com

I would actually reccomend the E-machines new laptop, it has a radeon mobility 9600, athlon 64, and 512 MB RAM

Its all for about $1300 after rebates. (best buy) Plus for an extra $100-200 you can upgrade to 1GB ram.

I have looked around, and the only thing that really comes close in $/performance ratio is the Dell 8400 or whatever it is (just below the XPS but in the same case)

But, the E-machines is about 3 lb lighter, and has a wide aspect screen (1280x800)
I have the step down, and I like it other than the IGP and the fact that if I dont keep it dust free, it overheats in games or encoding of videos, but I use Photoshop a lot on it, and I runs fine. The 60GB Hdd and 512 MB RAM are really hard to find in that $ range.

check ABS too, they have nice machines
http://abspc.com/app/familyNote.asp#zforce

What do you think would be better....AMD64 bit...there are VERY FEW....or for what Im doing Some video/ ALOT OF photo editing....LIGHT gamming...and alot of multi media stuff I Should just go wit hthe P4 since htere are a lot more options

Please wait... its worth it in the long run... really.. if u MUST have it now, get the A64

Musicmaster why are you so intent on waiting? What major advantages will PCI express bring to a LAPTOP??? Just wondering.

I don't think it will really matter for a laptop.

I'd suggest HPShopping ( http://www.hpshopping.com ), which is basically HP's official store. I just bought a Compaq x1000 from there and have been completely satisfied with it, wonderful computer and really helpful customer support (there was a billing problem that I had to sort out with them, they really were great). My brother also bought the HP equivalent of my Compaq there as well.