Desktop Replacement laptop

If you can wait for the next 35% off or $800 off coupon for Dell you can actually get a 9300 for around that price. Here are the approximate specs for $1200 when the coupons codes are available:

1.6GHz Pentium
512MB RAM
60GB HD
Nvdia 6800 Go w/256MB
CDR drive
10/100 ethernet card and intel wireless card

I am not sure when the coupons are gonna come out, but it should be soon. Yes, Dell does sell Centrino notebooks. It is a centrino as long as you have a Pentium M process and an Intel wireless card like the 2100, 2200 or 2915.

a 6000D would fit the bill

Hey JPF,

Good luck at college. =) Where are you going and what are you studying?

Just a quick note about Centrino. The Centrino technology is a marketing tool from Intel. A Centrino notebook means that you have a Pentium-M processor, the Intel 915 or 855 chipset on the motherboard, and an Intel PRO/Wireless card. (As joseyu said. Apologies for the repeat.)

Strictly speaking, most people are interested in the Pentium-M processor, since it is that chip that provides the long battery life. The short answer is that Dell does provide Centrino technology. Just make sure you pick a Pentium-M processor and an Intel PRO/Wireless card. (The motherboard will contain the appropriate Intel chipset.)

Some pointers I found from some of the folks here: If you're looking to do gaming on this machine, then you may want to consider getting a 7200 RPM hard drive. Most laptop hard drives run at 5400 RPM, which has a slower access speed.

Also put some consideration as to what screen you want. I had first thought that I would get the highest-resolution screen and just scale it. However, I found out that LCDs look best in their native resolution, so you want to get the screen that will best fit your desired resolution.

These links may help a little, too:

Older paper on resolutions

Current list of resolutions available

Edit: Oh, and if you do end up buying one from Dell.com, you may want to consider getting the minimal RAM and buying ram elsewhere. Sometimes it can be cheaper to get RAM from a 3rd party. Replacing/Upgrading RAM also does NOT void your warranty. (I called Dell tech support to confirm this.) It depends on your needs and what coupons you have.

Follow this mans advice! I paid 1256 plus tax on mine, which is in my sig. Some states dont charge tax for Dell products, you could be one of them

That is what I am trying to tell him, instead of some others who are trying to get him into buying their used laptop. For $1200, I would never get a used notebook when I can get the 9300 with a Nvidia 6800Go for the same price.

any of the pentium M are good desktop replacements

Cool... I have a friend at the School of Mines. Good luck!

speakin of those 800 or 33% coupons when are they supposed to come out again. im also heading to college in the fall and i need a laptop with atleast the following specs:

1.8 ghz PM or higher
1 gig ram
60GB hd
wireless
video card w/ atleast 64 mb ram
dvd/cd-rw

i think thats all.. i had a 9300 that i paid about 2200 for (1.86 ghz, 1 gig ram, go 6800), but i think i can get a better deal ( i returned it). just waiting for the coupon to show up. if i cant get my hands on one of those coupons i think ill just buy from the outlet. i really wanted an xps2 but i didnt want to pay over 2500 for anything.

Based on the specs you listed, you could take a look into the 700m, the only thing is that the 64mb for the graphics is integrated, so it uses your ram. I have used it for Photoshop CS and MS Movie Maker, and let me tell you, this is an awsome machine!! I have my 700m for school and it is small enough to take notes in class. I used the $800,00 off of $2000,00 paying in the end about 1200,00, and that is not even taking in consideration the discounts Dell gave me afterwards.
And as someone noted above, get the minimal ram and buy extra somewhere else, like here:
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4389075
I can attest to this ram working fine because i bought it 2 weeks ago, and it comes with lifetime warranty.
Good luck!!