To give me a final option, I want to look at a laptop. Again, for the missus and as such, inexpensive options are best.

I don't know much about laptop specifications but definitely not a netbook. Really confused on processors. Is Core 2 Duo the way to go at all levels ? What about AMD ? Are Celeron and Pentium single cores just yesterday's technology and really just fit for the bin ?

I'm caught between absolute basic at the very cheapest price and paying a couple of grand more for something passable which will have a longer shelf life.

Came across this and would some appraisal please http://www.notebookspec.com/notebook/2677-...MA4500M-HD.html Seems it would do the job but I don't know where it is good and where it falls down. If I could learn what is important and what is not, then I'd have a better chance to make a decision. CPU Intel Core Duo T4400 (2.2 GHz, 800FSB, L2 1 MB) Chipset Intel GL40

HWHinter have these http://www.hwhinter.com/price_show.php?type[]=notebook

PRESARIO CPQ510 VW409PA#AKL Core2Duo T5870 2.0GHz 1024MB 320GB DVD-RW 14inch Dos 1 Yrs. HWH *16900

LENOVO Thinkpad SL400 #2743QNT Core2Duo T5870 2.0GHz 1024MB 250GB DVD-RW 14.1inch BT Dos 1 Yrs. HWH *16900

LENOVO Ideapad B450/T4400 #59030984 Pentium Processor T4400 2.2GHz 2048MB 320GB DVD-RW 14inch WXGA LED GF G105M 256MB Dos 1 Yrs. HWH *15900

ACER ASPIRE 5530G-844G32Bn/X041 AMD Turion X2 Ultra DualCore AZ-84 2.3GHz 4096MB 320GB BlueRay 15.4inch WXGA HD3470 256MB VistaPremium 1 Yrs. HWH *16900

ACER ASPIRE 4540-301G32Mn/C023 AMD Athlon II Dual-core M300 2GHz 1024MB 320GB 16.9inch 1 Yrs. HWH *14900

ACER ASPIRE 4736Z-442G32MN Pentium Processor T4400 2.2GHz 2048MB 320GB DVD-RW 14inch LX.P540C.024 1 Yrs. HWH *15900

I know there are more but these seem in my price range. Price link above.

Invade has http://www.invadeit.co.th/product.aspx?pid...92-299bc949b369

Compaq Presario Notebook CQ40-514AU AMD Athlon (Sable) QL-46/1024MB DDR2/250GB/14.1"WXGA/DOS

http://www.invadeit.co.th/product.aspx?pid...b2-2f75e880e10b

Acer Aspire 4540-301G32Mn/C023 AMD Athlon LL dual-core processor M300/1024MB DDR2/320GB/14"HD

What are the AMD Athlon QI-46 and AMD Turion X2 RM-75, AMD M770 processors which keeps coming up ? Can't work out from googling. Are the Core 2 Duo T4400/5870/6750 processors just better than the rest. Not expecting i3 stuff on this budget.

Sure I'd love one for 10k but I'm realistic. Sub 15k would be ok but if paying more than I want really, then some level of future proofing would be useful.

I'm way out of my depth her so please chip in with any ideas. Thanks.

PS. what about makes ? does it matter that much ? what is the difference between Thinkpad / Ideapad ? Cheers.

Start here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Laptop-netbo...fo-t319781.html

I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks.

ig C are doing a special offer on E Machines laptop, down from 13,990 to 12,790..

Lenovos, in my own personal non soliciting way, are generally of good build quality. IMO better than other brands.

The best builds are Thinkpads, so from your shortlist I would choose the LENOVO Thinkpad SL400.

It's worth paying the extra few thousand. You should get 3 years international warranty, legendary Thinkpad build quality and durability and best of all, one of the best keyboards built by man.

It's a business grade laptop at budget prices.