Resolved New Laptop purchase?

Getting back some $ from taxes and interested in getting a Laptop for my wife. She has Progressive MS and is bedridden so I want to get a Laptop to keep her mind stimulated and have the ability to contact her friends.

Screen size 15-17 ", Windows7 Home Premium, 300+HD, 4GB ram are my starting points. If you would suggest brand, wireless, and other items I would appreciate it. I have an extra wireless mouse if she has trouble with the pad.
I am open for suggestions as I will have $500-600.00 to spend on her laptop.

Thanks in Advance.

 

B2G,

I bought a Dell Inspiron 1545, Windows XP Pro, last spring and have been very pleased with it. Couple of items I would consider:

I didn't think about dialup when I ordered mine (didn't anticipate needing it) and it came without a phone modem. When I did need to use dialup, I had to go to the local dealer and spend about $50 to get a USB modem - which works OK but not great. I did a quick look at the Dell site and that may not even be an option with a new unit now.

I would definitely get an integrated webcam. With Skype, your wife would be able to enjoy one on one contact with family and friends - I noted that you do have DSL/Cable internet. I looked at the webcam options at the Dell website and the plain webcam add on is $25 and the one with face recognition is $50. I would assume that would be similar for laptops other than Dell.

 

Here's one in today's paper at Fry's a Toshiba for $550.00.
Your input is valuable


Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-330M Processor, 2.13 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache

Graphics: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD with 32MB-1696MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory

Memory: Configured with 4GB DDR3 1066MHz (max 8GB)

Storage Drive: 320GB (5400 RPM) Serial ATA hard disk drive

Fixed Optical Disk Drive: DVD SuperMulti drive with Labelflash® supporting 11 formats, CD-ROM (24x), CD-R (24x), CD-RW (24x), DVD-ROM (8x), DVD-R (Single Layer, (8x)), DVD-R (Double Layer, (6x)), DVD-RW (6x), DVD+R (Single Layer, (8x)), DVD+R (Double Layer, (6x)), DVD+RW (8x), DVDRAM (5x), Use Labelflash® media to burn high quality labels directly to disc

Display: 15.6” diagonal widescreen TruBrite® TFT LCD display at 1366 x 768 native resolution (HD), 16:9 aspect ratio

Sound: Built-in stereo speakers

Webcam: Webcam and microphone

Networking: Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n)

Expandability: Memory Card Reader - Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Mini SD Card, Micro SD Card, Memory Stick™, Memory Stick PRO™, Multi Media Card [shared slot]

Ports: RGB (monitor) output port, Microphone input port, Headphone output port, 3 USB v2.0 ports (2 USB + 1 eSATA/USB combo), RJ-45 LAN port, RJ-11 modem port

Battery: 6 cell (4400 mAh) Lithium Ion battery pack