Good stuff FrankMA
Go to any vendor such as Dell, HP for example and build a custom laptop. start with a low base model, usually around $399. Then add components to fit your budget.
My suggestions:
Windows 7 Home Premium (32bit) Get 64bit if you can afford (its totally worth it)
Max out the RAM on the machine (4GB)
i3/i5 processor
at least a 250GB hard drive
As FrankMA said, dont worry about upgrading the video card
Most important: upgrade the warranty, get at least
3-year accidental damage plan (adp) warranty. it may add $250 to the cost, but it is a 'bumper to bumper, no questions asked' warranty. in a 3 year warranty (ADP), means in 35months you can throw your laptop into the gutter, watch it bust up in a million pieces, then put it in a bag, ship it back to the vendor and they will ship you the same unit back, or an equivalent - NO QUESTIONS ASKED! in a regular warranty, items such as the screen may not be covered, and they can sometimes cost $599 (just for the screen). Also batteries are considered consumable parts and are not covered under a regular warranty. a replacement battery can cost you $96-$120, or you can get a free replacement with an ADP warranty.
Microsoft Office Student Version is a good choice, you may also get away with a free alternate solution with Open Office. Check it out, it may be sufficient for your needs, and best of all, its free! it has word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc (sound familiar?, heh)
OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite
Points to remember:
max out the RAM
intel i3/i5 processor
Max out (per your budget) the accidental damage plan warranty
A 3 year ADP means you will have a working laptop for 3 years and you wont have to put anoter dime into the maintenence for that 3 years. If you bump it to 4 years ADP, then 4 years with nothing to shell out for repairs.
note:
for what its worth, I have worked in the IT industry since 1997. System administation, active directory, networking, etc.
