Inexpensive Laptop Wanted for Wife

[zenmaster]

Wife's laptop finally went Ka-Put and I need to buy her a new one.
I know this is for home-built, but this is the closes forum I could find.

I would like to get SLIGHTLY upgraded graphics - I.E., no built-in Intel graphics.

How well do the ATI 1300/1400 work?
What are some of the other good low-end graphic cards?

Is there someone besides HP or Dell that you would recommend looking at? (Yes Dell, They are cheap :>)

 

[ArbY]

HPs are definitely quality laptops for good prices. I customized one for a girlfriend last year and she hasn't been disappointed.

Myself, I was looking for a gaming laptop, so I went the Gateway route. Unforunately, Gateway uses cheap components in their notebooks and I've suffered quite a few head-aches with this thing over time. Dell is good as well, but I've had no personal experience with that company.

Best question I could ask now, what's your budget?

 

[zenmaster]

I "WANT" to spend about $1000 or maybe a little less.
But I can spend what I need to spend to get what she wants.
A happy wife is a happy husband :>

I don't need a really fast CPU, but dont want to do any celeron variation.
I don't need high-end GPU, but I would like a minor upgrade.
I would like a RW DVD so she can save her digital pics.

15.4" is probably a good size for ease of typing.
17" tend to be too big and bulky for her.

(The Bigger, Heavier, Hotter, the better for me :>>>>)

It will not be used for a lot of gaming/fast 1st person action games, but I could envision her wanting to play MYST or something like that. Primarily it will be used for Y! games and managing digital pics.

 

[sailer]

Cyberpower has an AMD laptop for $989. If you can manage a bit more, they have a few in the $1100-$1200 range.

Good thought, "A happy wife is a happy husband". Keep her happy.