For me laptops = lightweights. I learnt this the hardway after lugging my old 3.2KG ferrari 3000 around.
On Topic: The Satellites are really heavy (toshiba). If I could go back and buy a different laptopl/desktop I would in a heartbeat.
These two are so true, I am using Toshiba Satellite R10 which is supposed to be a lightweight tablet pc but it is just so heavy. I feel cheated because Satellite R10 costs $2000 around that time and the specifications are truly awful, I like to use Adobe Photoshop and other heavy softwares like Microsoft Visual Studio, Lotus Notes Domino etc for my study purposes, but I get blue screen everytime I start Lotus Notes Domino 7 even only with a clean Windows install (just re-formatted). With tablet pc I need to sacrifice the spec and all... I want to go for Portege but its a lot more expensive than Stellite series with the same specifications... Even with a maximum price limit of $1469 I still can't get a Portege with my needed specification. Tecra's design is ew and Qosmio is biiiig.
I like Dell, but their consumer support in my country is so bad or even non-existing. Same with Sony Vaio, Vaio is too expensive but the design is slicck~ my sister use a Vaio, the model is very good.
With IBM I heard that its only mostly used for work purposes, so if you want to have your laptop for work you better off with IBM Ienovo (or maybe ThinkPad). Don't get IBM for game purpose.
Fujitsu is the same as Vaio, overpriced.
I'd suggest an Acer.
They feel a bit cheeply made (in the case) but they're a lot sturdier than they look.
The components inside an acer are currently the best bang for your buck.
if the processor says intel centrino/core or amd turion, you're good for decent power and battery life.
(minimum 2 hours)
whatever you do make sure you remove your battery when you have your computer plugged in and the battery is fully charged.
keeping your laptop plugged in for long periods with your battery still in is a good way to shorten your battery's lifespan and ability to hold a charge.
My lecturer's Acer laptop got blew (burst? explode?) during a middle of class. Was like "phew" and the screen is black and the whole class was like "Huh?". None of my friends recommend Acer too, but I have a friend who is using Acer and is perfectly fine for half a year now
.