Second laptop for work

[mark_j]

1) What is your budget? less than $600

2) What size notebook would you prefer? 13" - 15"

3) Where will you buying this notebook? USA

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like? don't care

5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed? yes

6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook? MS Excel & Access, web browsing

7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both? this unit will be my exclusive travel notebook

8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games? no games...own an M17x R3 for gaming at home and traveling to LAN parties

9) How many hours of battery life do you need? 4 hours is enough

10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK? will be purchasing online

11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Screen Specifics

12) From the choices below, what screen resolution(s) would you prefer? 1080p prefered but 900p is good enough

13) Do you want a Glossy/reflective screen or a Matte/non-glossy screen? don't care

Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you? no

15) When are you buying this laptop? before the end of June

16) How long do you want this laptop to last? forever? as long as it is durable enough to travel regularly it will be good enough, will not be subjected to harsh environments or anything

Notebook Components

17) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive? 500GB or more

18) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive? yes need a DVD burner

I am thinking an inexpensive business class unit is what I am looking for but I do not know what is good in my price range. I would also like a backlit keyboard and a number keypad but neither are required. Thanks.

[mark_j]

Ended up with the Lenovo E420. Compromised on the screen resolution but it should ok on a 14". The small size also compensates for the lack of a number keypad.

I thought Windows 7 Professional, matte screen, good keyboard, and 7200rpm hardrive were a pretty good mix for a $500 laptop.