Laptop experts

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I have found some interesting things on the net in regard to my question. Some info from Tom's Hardware and PC World. It does appear the duo core Intel processor is faster than the Turion processors. One major reason is for some reason the Intel's use DDR2 400 versus the AMD's that use 333 DDR.
However, the speed boost for me on a laptop does not appear to be enough to warrant the differences in prices. I guess when 64-bit software comes onboard, the AMD will kick ass, and from researching, it appears if I was purchasing a desktop with the Athalon processors, I would jump to AMD in a second.
Right now, I pretty much have settled on a Compaq V5000Z with XP Pro
AMD Turion 64 ML-40 (2.2 GHz/1MB L2 Cache
15.4 Brightview WXGA 1280-800 screen
128 MB ATI Radeo Xpress
1.0 GB DDR RAM (1x1024)
80 GB 5400 RPM HD
54g 802.11 b/g w/Lan 125 HSM/Speedbooster
DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer Support
$1135.14 plus good old MI taxes

The identical computer V5000T with the Intell, 1 GB DDR2 memory and a 80 GB SATI 5400 RPM HD is $1556.00 (plus MI Tax ) or $420.00 more, for some additional speed I will probably never need in a laptop.

Both include shipping and a GM discount. For some reason, the HP's are more than the Compaqs with the identical equipment.

As for why Compaq? I agree with Eldave. My big desktop is a compaq, and never had a problem in the past year, and my previous Desktop was a three year old HP and the only problems I ever had was a CD ROM drive and Floppy disk drive failed and I had to replace after warranty. I gave it to a single mom with a young kid and today, it is still running perfect.

I can't bash Toshiba though. My current laptop is a Toshiba, and the only problem in the three years I have had it was a hard drive failure the second week, and they replaced it in less than a week via UPS overnight service. It is just too slow anymore with the celeron processor and 512 MB Ram.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Now all I need is a DC to AC converter to run the laptop while traveling to Utah, so I can watch DVDs while I make my son drive (especially through Iowa and Nebraska).