Alright, I am looking for the best notebook I can get for anywhere upto or slightly above $3,000.00 (canadian). I am looking for something with a longer battery life (so probably an intel) but I really don't know alot about laptops, so I am open to any suggestions.

Light weight is also a requirement. I will be using a wireless network, and I am not sure if you can get it built in to laptops, but if you can, please include that in the specs.

Thanks in advance for any advice or help.

This will not be used for gaming, so I am sure that you guys will (likely) come back at me with an option that is significantly under the $3,000 budget, but that is what the client has given me (by client I mean my mother). It will be used for office applications and web browsing mostly, and watching DVD's as well.

You want a Centrino notebook. does Dell ship to Canada?

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Well if you want portability then I recommend Fujitsu S series or E series. Those fellas are real light. They also look real nice and sleek. You might find the 13 inch display versions to be a bit small though. Haven't used one for extended periods before so I can't comment about the battery life.

:evil:

I am having a little trouble choosing this still. I have gone to the dell website, and they looked at the current models. I assume that a centrino just means that it has a Celeron on board.

When I look at the <A HREF="http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/notebooks?c=ca&cs=CADHS1&l=en&s=dhs#tn1" target="_new"> Dell Canada site </A>, I can see a few options (for those of you who don't want to use the link):
1. Inspiron XPS Gen2 - This has a Pentium M 760 2GHz processor
2. Inspiron 9300 - This has a Pentium® M 730
3. Inspiron 600m - This is the only one with the Celeron 1.5 GHz

The part that confuses me, is that when you try to customize the Inspiron 600m it only gives you Pentium M processors to choose. I don't get it, cause I thought I wanted a celeron. Right?? Should I be talking to a Dell rep??

P.S. This is well bellow the budget that my mother gave me, and I really want her to be happy with it. So if anyone wants to help me customize it that would be great, maybe you could just tell me what options you would get on it if it was for you.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Starfishy on 03/14/05 11:13 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

No no he doesn't mean celeron. Centrino is basically a intel certified mobile package. It combines the Pentium M (dunno if Celeron M is included) with an Intel wireless card and an Intel mobile chipset.

My girlfriend has the 600m and I feel that its not quite robust. When I press behind the screen I can see the pressure marks on the LCD. And the plastics feel soft too. Since you have the money to spend the I suggest getting a latitude instead of inspiron.

:evil:

Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology represents Intel's best technologies for notebooks. More than just a processor, it features fully integrated wireless LAN+ capability and delivers excellent mobile performance while enabling great battery life in lighter, easier-to-carry notebook PCs.

Intel Centrino Mobile technology includes the following components:
Intel® Pentium® M processor
Mobile Intel® 915 Express chipset family or Intel® 855 chipset family
Intel® PRO/Wireless Network Connection Family


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Ok, that sounds exactly like what I want. But now I am having the difficult job of finding it on the Dell website. Or I guess, they almost all fit that description. So which Inspiron should I be choosing. And even after I have chosen it, I'm sure the options that I choose will affect my battery life right?? Like if I get a 2.0 GHz processor, it will likely consume more energy than a 1.5 GHz right??

Thanks again for all the help, it really is helping, and I appologize for the lack of knowledge on my behalf in this area.

Yes at peak power, but at idle they are essentially the same power draw. Be sure to get upgraded larger battery.
I would look at the 6000d for portabilty, but would prefer the XPS2 for performance and 17" screen.

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Alright thanks RichPLS, I needed the help.