Travel Technology - Good laptop for $1000? (give or take)

I'm hoping to get something lightweight (I guess light is a relative term) I'll be lugging it around to/from class.

I use the computer for basic use (email, excel, word, checking FT :) ) but want something that is decent.

Any suggestions?

I got a Dell about a year and a half ago ror about $500. It's nothing exceptional but I don't use it for much else than what you are wanting. I figured at the lower price I could replace it twice as fast if I lost or broke it.

Pretty much anything will fit that criteria. I'd suggest just finding something that is dual core and go with that. The usual 15inch screen should be fine for you.

I recently got an Apple MacBook with the Core Duo 2 processor and I'm loving it. BootCamp was a cinch and I can now boot into Mac OS X or Win XP Pro and they both work great! I love it!

Another bit plus, the hinges for the displays on Apple laptops are on the back of the unit, not on the top, so the screen "sits" lower...which is really handy in Y.

I recently got an Apple MacBook with the Core Duo 2 processor and I'm loving it. BootCamp was a cinch and I can now boot into Mac OS X or Win XP Pro and they both work great! I love it!

Another bit plus, the hinges for the displays on Apple laptops are on the back of the unit, not on the top, so the screen "sits" lower...which is really handy in Y.

I second that. The MacBook is a fantastic value, with great integrated features (like the built-in iSight camera) that you won't find on comparable PC laptops. Apple just came out with a MagSafe airline power adapter (finally!) so you can use these things on planes with cigarette adapters (American) or Empower outlets. Since the MacBook has a wide aspect screen, it is also slightly lower than the old school equivalent, which makes a big diff on a seatback tray. It's really nice to be able to abandon Windows when it gets on my nerves. :)

Keep in mind those are at least $1100 + tax + the cost of bootcamp/Windows XP.

Keep in mind those are at least $1100 + tax + the cost of bootcamp/Windows XP.

Bootcamp is free (beta from apple.com).

Other better alternatives, eg Parallels VMare, go to macwindows for more info.

If you're serious about buying MacBook (which I personally highly recommend but then make sure you have at least 1gb of ram), suggest you buy the eBook (tidbits.com), Taking Control: Running Windows on Mac, written by Joe Kissell, wonderful writer, easy to understand, gives you alternatives, pro/con, instructions all in easy to understand language (and he'll even answer questions if you email him).

On the other hand, based on OP's usage, he really doesn't need to set up WinXp. MS office suite for Mac will do all the things he listed, etc.