model numbers of older laptops...

Hmmm, I would not agree with that at all bigjoe. I've got nothing against used, but consider this:

Hard drive sizes have gone from 30 - 60gb a couple of years ago, to 120 - 160gb even in the lowest budget laptops today.

Batteries are expensive, $80 to $100, and they don't last forever! Any laptop more than a couple of years old has a battery on the way to the graveyard...

Ram has increased from an average of 256mb to over 1gb, in just over the last year

Unlike desktops, notebook computers are real prone to user "damage", you simply do not know if the used lappy that you are looking at has been babied...or is a real "beater"!

Price: Even on Ebay...on a good day...you will NOT find a GOOD used notebook for less than $250...if you are lucky (notice I did say good!)...

Hell, for $450, on any given weekend, you can find a modest, but reasonable laptop with 1gb ram, 120 - 160gb hard drive, 15.4" wide-screen...

Brand new...new battery...spiffy, clean screen and case...no "sprung" LCD hinges...and best of all...complete with a WARRANTY!

Back when laptops went for thousands of dollars, buying used could make a good deal of sense, but now days, with notebooks going ever lower in price, while at the same time getting BETTER specifications, it is very, very difficult to come out ahead buying one used unless you simply get a "killer" deal...more often than not, buying a used laptop, you will be the one who gets "skinned"...

Check the sales papers this weekend, go to Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, heck, even Wal mart, you will not spend all that much more, but will get a whole lot more...

BTW, sorry bigjoe, to answer your initial question: There are literally HUNDREDS of model numbers, even for one manufacturer...no practical way to just list them all. Even amopngst current HP/Compaq offerings, there are literally DOZENS. For example, in the dv 6000 series alone, you have AMD processors, Intel processors, different disk capacities and graphics solutions, and on and on, so when you say "dv 6000", there are a ton of actualo different models...such as my dv6626us...or a dv 6755, etc.

If you do want to shop Ebay for used, I would go by your acceptable price range, then whatever you see that might look appropriate, go to the manufacturers web site, and look up that SPECIFIC model number. That would be your best bet.

OK, well this is by no means "inclusive" or anything, but the Pentium Centrino models go back to the dv1000 series. Anything in the dv 6000 series is relatively recent, and all 15.4" screens.

Like I said before though...sooo many model numbers! I'd look based on the price range you are willing to consider, and simply look it up on their web site...best way to be absolutely sure of what you are really considering.

Well I was in the same boat as you bigjoe and I have to disagree to Pete. I was looking for a laptop basically similar to needs of your girlfriend. I did a little research and came up with several models. The N610C, NC6220, NC6230, M2000, NX6110,NC6110, NC6140, A few of these models go up to 2gb of ram and go up to 2.4 ghz Pentium M and any where from 40 to 80gb HD. I have seen these sell from anywhere from $150 to about $250.

I did not want a widescreen and wanted a portable unit with a minimum of 2ghz speed. I don't do a super huge HD because I wasn't using it for imaging or anything else like that. Nothing that would require a ton of space. I currently have a 2 N610C, and a NX6110. Maybe I got lucky because I have had no problem with battery life with them. The only thing is a warranty but for me that doesn't matter. I think they are more of a hassle and that parts for the above are relatively cheap because they are older models.

Keep an eye out on Ebay and you can find one at a relatively good deal.