Need New Laptop

Hi. I need a laptop. It doesn't have to be spectacular. I don't want a Mac. I've been out of the computing scene for a while so I have no idea what to get. Here are my answers to some questions that may help you help me. Thanks.

1_What is your budget?

At most $1k but preferably lower.

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?

Not important for my purposes.

3_What screen resolution do you want?

Just 1024X768.

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?

Desktop replacement.

5_How much battery life do you need?

Not much. At least ~1 hr.

6_Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?

Oblivion on High settings. Newer, more demanding games on mid-low settings.

7_What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo / Video editing, surfing the web, playing music, watching movies, Etc.)

I'd like something that can play HD movies. Also, I use MATLAB.

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?

~200 GB.

9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post the links to them.

Newegg or maybe in store at Best Buy

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?

Five or Six years ideally.

11_Other stuff.

I plan on making this a dual boot machine with Windows (I guess Vista) and Ubuntu so compatability is important.

Personally, I think HP is a solid brand. I would put them in the mid-range in terms of price. If you're looking for value, Acer is a bit cheaper. If I wasn't too hung up on price, I would consider Asus (just because I like building desktops with their parts).

I've found the best option is to buy refurbished. I've bought dozens of HP Laptops through ubid.com over the past couple years... and I've scored some major bargains (30-50% off retail prices). I make a point to only look at manufacturer refurbished (warranty through the manufacturer). These laptops come with a 90 day warranty, but you can purchase a 1 year warranty through HP. In addition, you can buy a warranty through a 3rd party if you really want (prices range from $60-$140).

You should be able to find a laptop for $400-650.