Date: 09/03/06 (Computer Help)    Keywords: web

my nephew is planning on getting a laptop. he just needs something for WiFi, web design, file sharing, school, playing music and movies, nothing fancy

i gave him my recommendations, but I figured I would get your opinions. he wants an Alienware, but that's ridiculous and not necessary. he lives in LA-LA land and i know he's worried about status and what the other kiddies would think, but my wife and I told his parents that that crap isn't necessary, and Alienware is basically an overpriced Dell. he sent me an ad for an Area-51 m5550 Alienware, he doesn't need it. so, what would you recommend in place? he's a junior in HS and will hopefully be going away to college in a few years.

i told him to go for a 1.6GHz with 512MB RAM, Windows Office(unfortunately, but because it's necessary in today's educational world, but hopefully he'll be able to get it off someone without shelling out the dough), a long use battery, a 60GB hard drive and all the basic other stuff. a dual core processor is definitely not necessary. so, what say you? specific model recommendations would help. I haven't bought a laptop in a long time and I don't know what's reliable anymore.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/681562.html