need a laptop...

Hello!
I am looking for a laptop for college. I will have to use the laptop for 4 years(during college), so I need one that will still be a good performer over the 4 years.
My main concern is that thechnology is shifting towars 64 bit. Laptop offer in my country doesn't include many choices for 64 bit ones(not that there are many possibilities either), so I will have to stay with the Intel Dual Core option.
I had narrowed my choices to HP nx 9420 with T2400(1.83GHz), 1 GB RAM, 80GB HDD and ATI Mobility X1600. There are a few other models which I might consider but are similar in components. I need a laptop for ocasional carrying, that's why I preffer a 17 inch screen, but it is not critical. I will be using it very much with CAD software, ocasional gaming, photo editing and other things.

My main concern is about the new 64 bit software that will be around soon(how soon??). If I were to buy this laptop, what components could I upgrade in order to have a good performer some years from now?
For sure I will put in more ram, but can I replace the hard drive too?
As I read on this forum, the new Core 2 Duo could be replace the Dual Core in some laptops. I don't know if it can be replaced in this one. Is it possible? Will that give me full 64 bit support?

Please advice me what to do. Waiting for new models is not really a very good option, I need the laptop by 1st of October, so I will buy it around mid september.

Well, this is the problem. Laptops(and other electronic products) are more expensive here due to taxes.
The notebook I have mentioned, the HP nx9420(EV271AA): T2400(1.8GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, ATI Mobility X1600 WSXGA costs about $1950, so you can check about how many times greater the price is.
As far as I can see, it costs around $1600 in the USA, so it's about 21% more expensive.
My budget was about $1800 but the nx9420 seemed to be worth the extra.
Still, I would like to get the best for that money. So I would say that for the US prices, my budget is still around $1600-1700.

thricemike, just saw your post. Unfortunetely ASUS is not really that well represented here, only few models available and those are too expensive.

Yes, I took them in account too. They are about the same(using X1400 in the models I was able to find), but Dells are more expensive.

But my main question was about the posibility to upgrade the NX9420 to 64-bit in the future, and upgrading the HDD. Is that possible?

well, to answer my own post, the HDD is user replaceable.

thank's for the answer, g00nter
Yes, I will wait longer, it seems the best idea so far. I wouldn't probably get C2D at first because of price. I will just have to check the market. I don't really want to get the top tech at that moment because it wouldn't have a good price-performance ratio.
As for the HDD, it will probably be the first thing I will replace!

Thanks for the answers.