I'm venturing into this thread rather warily, since I lack tech-experience with anything computer-related, other than knowing how to turn the thing on and use it in not much more than its most basic way. However, I've finally decided I have to upgrade my 2000 Dell (with WindowsME) with my first notebook, since I'm hoping to start grad school in the fall (program through the internet, with occasional visits downstate to attend school in person). I just filed my taxes, and I'll be getting about $700 back, so I'd like to keep the price at about this level or, at most, $100-200 more.

I know I'd like a CD/DVD player/burner (so I can finally get iTunes loaded up and burn some CDs--no MP3 player to dowload into--and possibly eventually DVDs if I get a digital video camera someday), and I'd like to be able to continue using my monitor so I don't have to squint at the small laptop screen when I'm here at home. I know I should have as much RAM as possible, but I've been told it's relatively easy to install an upgrade myself for cheaper than it's usually available pre-installed. Other than that, I don't know what I should be looking for!

I have been looking online, and found these two that look in my price range and might be decent quality. Any opinions on these choices would be greatly appreciated!!

The last two days at work, I've started Firefox (2.0.0.1) only to see it stuck at using 80% or more of the CPU, making it a huge PITA to use. Each time, I've restarted Firefox and it's been fine.

I'd go with the Toshiba, Kathy. NoiseDesign has been using Toshiba laptops, and had good things to say about them.

I've heard that Toshiba's can be pretty good--thanks, Sean! I was leaning towards that one since it is $100 less than the Gateway. But, do you think I could request Best Buy to reinstall XP and take away Vista? I've been hearing nothing but bad news about that OS, and definitely don't want to be screwed like I was with my desktop and its WindowsME.

KathyA, have you considered a Mac?

OhMyGod, I've turned into one of those people who tries to talk people into buying a Mac!

Anyway, the cheapest MacBook is $1099.

I don't know the reliability of the current Gateways, but but the Gateway does have a meg of RAM and a bigger hard drive.

Anyway, the cheapest MacBook is $1099.

Which is why I can't consider a Mac! I spent some time looking at the refurbished ones on the Apple website, and would love to consider it, but just can't afford it (too many expenses this year, what with school and my sister's wedding this fall). If it wasn't for the WindowsME interfering with my cable modem connection, I'd consider just relying on the desktop and saying screw the laptop, but I can't have my connection lost in mid-class, which is more than likely to happen.

ETA:

but the Gateway does have a meg of RAM and a bigger hard drive.

Do I need that bigger hard drive? I barely use half of my current one, which is only 40 GB. I figure I can always upgrade the RAM on my own (my stepsister's husband was telling me at Christmas that he's very inexperienced around computers, but was able to install his wife's RAM upgrade by himself, which he was very proud of).

Yeah, there are some (relatively major) things about the Toshiba that make it a better buy than the Gateway, but there are other things (memory, hard drive) that you might want to upgrade, which would push the price comparable to or above the Gateway.

And, as you say, you can probably install more memory, and even a bigger hard drive yourself later, though ND can probably speak best as to how easy either of those things are to do yourself.

do you think I could request Best Buy to reinstall XP and take away Vista?

I doubt it, unfortunately -- my last Windows machine was a Dell that I ordered when they were still offering Win98, but they screwed up the order and by the time they replaced it, all I could get was WinMe. But it's definitely worth asking about, since even if Vista winds up being the Best Version Of Windows Evar like Microsoft promises, it won't be nearly as stable as current versions of XP for several months. (IIRC, they already announced the release date for Vista SP1 -- September, I think? I wouldn't upgrade until at least then.)

I haven't owned a Gateway machine in almost 10 years, but I remember them being almost freakishly unreliable.