if you arent planning on playing any sort of games on the laptop, my answer will always be the same: IBM Thinkpad T42/43.

You can get a fully loaded one for < $2k...I would suggest the 14.1" SXGA+ 1400x1050 resolution. I personally think that is the perfect size. If you get the 9cell battery, it shoudl last you 6+ hours between recharges.

Regardless of who you purchase the laptop from though, always get the smallest amount of memory possible and do the upgrade yourself. It will be a lot cheaper if you do this than just have IBM/Dell/whoever else put it in for you. Seems there is almost a 100% premium when you go this route.

EDIT: lol..someone beat me to it by a few minutes. I agree with everything he says above...IBM laptops cannot be beat, even if they have been purchased by Lenovo. I second the employee discount, the manager specials are always a great deal.

EDIT2: the warranty is amazing. I've called in on Monday to report a problem, Tuesday morning I had a prepaid box on my doorstep. I had the laptop back on Thursday, with the LCD replaced.