go for Sony Vaio if it is within the budget. new models come frequently so can't say about the present ones, but opt for the latest. if it doesn't fit to the budget, HP could be the next best choice.

Recalculating Price Inspiron 14 Starting Price$719 + Tech Specs As low as $22/month*1 Apply | Learn More Discount DetailsPreliminary Ship Date: 1/22/2010 My SelectionsAll Options [Disallowed String for - ] language="javascript">if ( typeof ( ctabInit) != 'undefined'){addOnLoad ( ctabInit );}Inspiron 14 Date 1/13/2010 10:00:40 AM Central Standard TimeCatalog Number 29 Retail 19Catalog Number / Description Product Code Qty SKU IdColor: Obsidian Black BLK 1 [313-7929] 10Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6600 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache) MAT6600 1 [317-1427] 2Inspiron 14: Inspiron 14 Notebook ALB14HN 1 [224-5913] 1Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English W7HP6E 1 [330-6222][330-6372][420-6436][420-6576][420-7938][420-9100][420-9691][421-0092][421-0187][421-0323][421-1193][421-1367] 11Office Productivity Software: Microsoft Works IWRK9 1 [420-8051] 22Hardware Support Services: 1 Year Basic Mail-In Service Plan ST111RR 1 [950-9057][960-2780][990-7989][994-5000][994-8417] 29Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed): McAfee SecurityCenter, 30-Day Trial MC1030D 1 [410-2184] 25Battery: 37 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (4 cell) 4BAT 1 [312-0134] 27LCD Panel: 14.0” High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™ 720LED 1 [320-0810] 5Memory: 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz 4GB 1 [317-1437] 3Hard Drive: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) 320GB 1 [341-0357] 8Video Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD INTAC 1 [320-0812] 6CD ROM/DVD ROM: 8X CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) W7DVDRW 1 [313-8851][421-1362][421-1445][421-1582] 16Wireless: Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini-Card DW1397 1 [430-2929] 19Camera: Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam CAM 1 [313-7933][421-1009] 21<img src="http://i.dell.com/images/globa..."

Oh there are so many options, what size, portability, how you use it. with out those info, its hard to recommend anything. Just go to cnet.com look for editors reviews. P.S if you are a Mac user, pony up a couple of hundred dollars and you have yourself the new unibody macbook.

I have sony vaio , bought nearly 5 years ago. Excellent condintion, paid 1475 then. selling for 700 now. I said it is in excellent condition, mean it :) wanna buy???