my search for a "good" "cheap" notebook

[pre1014]

Well, i started on my quest to find a new notebook. I currently have an hp with a 1.13 tulatin celeron. i would be ok with it but after resoldering the ethernet jack and power jack and not being able to use a battery for some unknown reason (one of my former roommates took my notebook, came back and NO battery works in it) and replacing the screen. I'm looking to replace it.

Not looking for an ultra portable nor a DTR just a machine that i will like and perform well enough for me ([H] internetting and watching x.264 encoded rips basically). in the far future i would like to upgrade to basically a 533mhz fsb capable intel machine or either an a64 or turion machine. want ok graphics but onboard is ok. Battery life doesn't matter at all and size doesn't matter at all (to me at least). anyways, here is a list of a couple i've been considering and their flaws and whatnot. just looking for opinions.

compaq m2000z and v2000z both have the skt 754 turion processor and radeon xpress 200m video. obviously no dual-channel and i don't know how well those processors really perform but i'd be comparing it to the last machine i list.

compaq r4000/hp zv6000 have a skt 939 a64 processor, but decided not to put the second channel traces on the mobo (only single channel) probably would have it if that wan't true.

gateway: most in my price range (as far below 1k as i can keep it) either have really crappy onboard video or only support 400mhz fsb pentium m processors (or both)

dell: like the 600m but 400mhz fsb only.
the 6000 series is also only 400mhz fsb.
the business class latitude d510, however does do 533fsb and it has intel GMA 900 video for only $699 with no mail in rebates. I figure you could upgrade to a pentium m 780 a couple years down the road when it isn't a grand.

anyways, I'm po' and this seems to be a good buy, any thoughts other recommendations?

 

[omega-x]

good and cheap do not really go together.

you get what you pay for. the ONLY exception to this is alienware. where you get far less than you pay for.

 

[numbers]

If you're not doing anything video card intensive (high resolution output, video games, etc i dont think codecs will strain it much) then an integrated graphics solution wont hurt you, it'll also keep cost down. Check the dell coupons, if you cant get the price lower than the hp, go with that. Since you dont seem to be too worried about hardcore graphics perfomance, i think I'd go with a turion machine, just for the fun of having a 64bit capable machine.