Get a laptop now? Or wait?

First off, im interested in a laptop that I can be mobile and light, but when plugged in can provide more then adequate gaming performance. After doing research on this and reading this forum quite a bit, I have come to the conclusion that I need it to include the following:

Radeon 9600 Pro card,
Centrino 1.4-1.7,
512 ram

I'd like to spend less than $2,000US for the system, preferably less if possible. Although new technology is constantly being developed, the new dothan cpu's with the 2mg cache's will likely shoot down the price of centrinos and the new 256 meg mobility radeon9600 (is this real?) should drive down the price of the notebook so that I can get even more performance out. Very noticable improvements like this dont come around that often so I am debating if I should wait for them to be released. Being as it is only about 5 weeks(I hear) or so until they will be released, it would be economically smart to wait just a couple months to purchase a new laptop as I would like configured. Also, being that the clevo notebooks will soon have a centrino notebook line, that is another reason why I would want to wait, as the build quality of dells are bothersome and gateways are normally overpriced.


Possible candidates in the pricerange as of today if I buy now:

Dell I8600
1.5ghz centrino with SXGA+ screen
512 ram
128meg Radeon 9600 ProTurbo
DVD-RW
Total price: $1,538US + $50 shipping = $1588 (after Mail in rebates)

Gateway M505X
1.4ghz centrino with XGA screen
64meg Radeon 9600 (is it pro?)
512 ram
DVD/CDRW combo drive
Total price: $1,400US + ~$115 sales tax = $1515 (after Mail in rebates)

Still looking for more possibles near the same price range

Dell is obviously the better deal for price vs performance and I will probably go with them, although the build quality of gateway seems superior. However, I hear people are very dissapointed with the SXGA+ screens from Dell right now and that the new samsung screens at the end of this month will noticably improve the quality of display.

Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Decided to wait

I decided to wait, for multiple reasons, and I think I will get one once the dothans come out (unless I find a really great deal )

Bump!

Yes

I'm in need of one, but I can wait a month or so. And yes I know there is always a new technology and thats not what concerns me. The dothan cpus are being made out to be a much better solution to my needs and would thus be worth the wait and the price. As for the graphics card, the m10 should be more then enough for anything new game that comes out this year so thats not very important in my decision. As for harddrives...I dont need too much space and for bluetooth, im not even planning on getting a card anyway.

Anyway, thanks for the comments. Oh and bigmoose, im still interested in your review of that notebook.

Yes, for real.

Education 5% discount =p And an extra 20$ off coupon

That deal is gone now, and it is now cheaper for the base system, but with less ram and no DVD-RW, but a much better harddrive. Also no MIR to worry about and free shipping

New config, (same discounts) Base system $1,224
1.5ghz centrino with SXGA+ screen +95$
256 ram +0$
128meg Radeon 9600 ProTurbo +189$
DVD/CDRW combo drive +0$
7200 RPM 8 mg cache harddrive +66$
Total price: $1,554US

I then would buy a 512m stick of ram for probably about 100$ to put me up to 768m ram


NORTHERNLiGHTS, That is exactly what I was thinkin about doing