Need help with notebook choice

First, sorry if this is a bit long, I just wanted to include a lot of detail on what I want. If I don’t get many replies I’ll shorten it though so hopefully more people will read it. Now,

Hey all, I’m new to these forums but have watched it for a day or two before deciding to bring my dilemma up to the people here.

In a few months I’m planning to buy a new computer for myself. I don’t have a job (I’m only 15) right now, but once I get one I plan to save up for a few months or so to buy my own computer (I need one bad...) At first I had been planning on building my own desktop, but recently I have been considering buying a notebook. I’m still not completely decided yet, and mostly it will come down to what I can get for the same amount of money with each path.

However, while I am able to look around and assemble a list of good parts for a desktop, I have absolutely no idea what to look at for notebooks. So, I was wondering if anyone here could maybe suggest me some notebooks or point me in the right direction at least.

First of all, my estimated budget for a notebook is a maximum of $1300 (USD), I will only think about higher if it’s a VERY good value, and I would like to keep this price down as much as possible.

Unfortunately, it has appeared to me as if everything I’m looking for in my new computer is impossible at this price point. The following things are my very bare minimum requirements in a notebook,
-15” or greater display with a resolution of at least 1024x768
-64MB dedicated video card supporting DirectX 7.
-DVD drive (DVD burner is not necessary, CD is)
-At least a two hour battery life under a medium load
-Not extremely heavy, 7lbs is fine but 10 is pushing it
-Not extremely hot, I’m fine with a little warmth, but not enough to cause pain
-Not extremely large, mostly I just don’t want it to be extremely thick
-Integrated 802.11g WIFI card
-40GB 5400 RPM hard drive
-512 MB of memory

While that is what I really need, there are a few more things I’d like to have in one, but could do without, as follows.
-15.4” screen and/or a nice quality screen
-DirectX 8 support, 9 is even better (though probably impossible)
-3.5 hours or longer battery life, 5 or more would be godly
-Small and light enough for easy portability
-No more then warm to the touch
-I would really like a 60GB HDD, or an 80 even more.
-7200RPM would also be nice

A memory card reader is not needed at all, though would be nice for the future. A parallel connection is also not required, neither is serial but that would be nice to have for the one old thing I have which uses it.

I have heard about barebone notebooks, but do not fully understand them. I know they are basically a notebook “shell” with just the case and motherboard (as well as things built into the case like the LCD) but do they include a processor as well? Do you have to install it (that’s okay if you do though)?

I do not mind installing my own components, so barebone is an option (but make sure to include the price of Windows XP, Home edition will do), and also is buying cheaper parts separate from a pre-built notebook. But if I buy a separate hard drive would the pre-built notebook come with an XP CD or a restore CD I can use to install it on a new hard drive?

Anyways, I plan to use this computer for a couple main things, in this order,
-Internet surfing
-Playing some games
-Word-processing (I’m fine using Open Office)
-Image viewing

I currently play Half-Life, The Sims, and SimCity 4 among other games of that nature, but I want to play Half-Life 2, The Sims 2, and perhaps Far Cry as well. I don’t mind playing on low quality settings, though would prefer DirectX 8 for HL2. And don’t bother saying if I want to game I should get a desktop, I’m still deciding but need something to compare a desktop to now.

If anything has to be downgraded because of cost, this is what matters most to me from most to least,
-Speed (not extremely fast, but not really slow either)
-Performance (must be better then a 2.0GHz P4 and 32MB ATI Rage 128)
-Graphics
-Storage capacity
-Display
-Heat
-Battery Life
-Size

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this at least, I really need advice on this though.