could you help me with a laptop purchase please? (wga question)

How about a MacBook?

I have a Dell Inspiron 9300, and am quite happy with it and Dell.

They have fairly good support, and they ship promptly and safely.

I would suggest the "Inspiron E1505" line, and it looks like the "Ultimate Productivity" version is $987 and meets your specifictations above http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/entnb_e1505?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

You might want to click the "Customize It" button and select the following:

- 512 MB "Dual-Channel" memory (note - this will add $50 to the price).

- 128 MB (or 256 MB) ATI Mobility X1300 video card (note - this will add $79 or $129 to the price).

This will give better memory and video performance, and provide for memory upgrades that will stay with the times in the next few years. Especially for a college student.

The E1505 line have dual-core processors, so if you upgrade her machine to Vista, there will not be a problem.

I can vouch for the Dell machines ease of hardware upgrades (memory, hard drive, optical drives), so you can easily upgrade those items in the future if you decide to do so - even after the warranty, because they use the current industry form factor standards. Note - I recommend writing down the upgrade options due to Dell changing their lines frequently, and finding the limits of the MoBo can be difficult in a few years.

Again, I would suggest getting the video and memory upgraded (though it will push the price tag up). The video cards are specially manufactured for these units and are not currently available through anyone but Dell for their products.

One other item I forgot to mention is that Dell does a good job of updating drivers and softwares which are available when you create an account and use the "Service Tag" number to access them.

They are downloaded as an "executable" file which she can double-click to extract and run the driver and/or software installation. The files automatically extract to a created "C:\Dell" folder and then run automatically, so she can just follow the prompts to install the updates (if she needs them).

I had heard bad reports about them as well, prior to purchasing my notebook.

What I have found with Dell, and all other support divisions, is that the first call starts with a lot of customer information gathering to establish a case (or reference) number. After the initial information provisions, you will be in a situation where you may be speaking with someone who has direct access to the information related to the company parts, policies, and normal support procedures - while you have equal or better knowledge of actually working on a computer from a hardware or software perspective.

I find that being politely helpful, while allowing the support person on the other end to do their job in the step-by-step procedure they are taught, is much more productive than attempting to bypass the basic steps, to find the answers you are looking for. I have also found that if I explain the situation in a clear and concise mannor, the support person can then rule out a few items and shorten the process.

In many cases, this first person may need to consult a supervisor for the more advanced questions, which can take some time. Again, being patient is a helpful way to go about dealing with this type of situation.

As for the "Do-it-yourself" type of person, of which there are many, the fact that Dell allows easy access to drivers and software based on the "Service Tag" number is a very easy way to update the system without dealing with the support people on the phone.

In my case, I immediately requested the XP Pro installation disc, which was not an option under the "Customize It" sections at the time. I received it literally the next day at work, and was able to do a clean install with the help of the downloaded drivers. I did this because I do not use the hidden partition created at the factory to allow novice users to restore the original configuration as shipped - for emergency situations (note - this is of course a nice feature for people such as your daughter, as long as she practices back-ups to either removable media, or an external hard drive, for school files, music, pictures, etc.).

I also upgraded the hard drive, optical drive (the only issue here is the bevel size to fit tightly in the slot opening), and even an Intel Pentium M (760) processor by purchasing from "Newegg.com" which saved me a bundle of money, and provides a nice platform for the upcoming Vista.

I can at least say that Dell does a good job with the hardware assembly, and they also provide a service manual online outlining the replacement of all parts of the computer hardware. A very nice touch IMHO.

I would assume that other companies may provide the same resources, but I only have experience with the Dell notebook I possess - as far as notebooks go.

The best recommendation, whichever route you go, would be to make sure you get the processor (solo or dual) and video card that will provide the platform for the intended use of the machine upon the original purchase. The hard drive and memory upgrades, which could be done on vacation time at home by yourself, are 'no-brainers'.

I have not had good experiences with Dell lately.  The last two people that had me work on their computers because they were "broke", ended up sending them back and buying Macs instead.

werewolf. I've read everyones comments here and I have to say that all of them are true and right, and big time worthy of consideration... about every model of computer, about every service, about every warranty.

I have a Dell Inspiron8600. I've had it for two and a half years. The best thing I ever did was to buy the Complete Care warranty. With a laptop, a college student in a dorm, I wouldn't do it any other way. It replaces the entire computer if it is dropped, had liquids spilled in it, anything! I've called them on a Tuesday, they sent DHL that afternoon to pick it up at my house in Massachusettes, flew it to Texas, fixed it, and had it back at my front door on Thursday.

I am not one to buy extended warranties. I feel a manufaturer should warranty their product without extra payment. But I KNOW that this warranty was well worth the extra $350 I paid for it. A laptop is portable, she will carry it in her arms with other books. She IS GOING TO DROP IT! I would pay a little less for the laptop and make sure I paid the extra for the warranty. I've already also had my entire laptop rebuilt, and because they ran out of the basic screen that came with my model, they had to give me the next higher up. It's gorgeous!!

Buy the Complete Care warranty! You won't be sorry!