Laptop Advice

[substratus]

I've been thinking of getting a new laptop, but I'm not sure what brands are good or what ones a junk, so I'd like some advice.

From what I've seen I'm probably looking in the $1000-$1500 range. I could go higher but probably only for custom builds (to get exactly what I want) with a payment plan.

Here is what I'm looking for
- CPU: mobile dual core
- RAM: >=1GB
- Video: either ATI or Nvida
- Form: regular Medium sized, (not tiny or huge)
- OS: I'd perfer for Pro for the OS, or possibly Media Center, I'd rather it not have Home.

[Grendel]

HP DV9000T w/ XP Pro, C2D T7200, 1GB mem, rest default -- $1650.