Need detailed laptop purchase advice?

Have an HP Pavilion ze2000 laptop purchased around '05 during walmart blitz for $400. It's VERY SLOW and out of date: Mobile AMD Sempron Processor 2800+ 1.59 GHZ, 224 MB RAM 37.2GB hard drive capacity with 20.3GB free. Windows XP '02 SP3. (can give more info if needed) I do photography on the side and use photoshop alot. I'm also online daiIy so need a faster computer. I can't use both photoshop and internet or one will lock up. It takes forever just to edit one photo since my computer is so slow. Yes I've kept up maintenance and removed unused programs. Just Needing to know what to look for. Sofar I've been looking at a dell that has 4 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive.Want a new laptop that will LAST me as long as possible but be fast enough to multitask. Screen size and weight doesnt really matter, but would like battery to last atleast an hour, CD/DVD reader and burner (you know atleast the basic extras). Don't mind to spend IF it will last me longer than this one without being overpriced for it's features. Processor (Intel or AMD)? Memory Size? Hard Drive Size? XP or Vista? HP, Dell, Apple, Toshiba, Gateway, Acer? Anything else that will help?

Public Comments

1. I would suggest getting a macbook.
2. look at this link it might help you http://computershopper.com/
3. you are going to want something like this intel core2 duo, around 2.0 ghz 2 gb ram hard drive around 250 gb vista and i have a dell but there all good it should cost $800 ish
4. I would recommend a Macbook as well. For what you need it for it will give you value for money.
5. personally there are good computers out there for cheap, u just have to look. money aside here is some general things i would look for processor: i have always liked intel (just my personal opinion), and make sure its dual or quad core also it should probably be over 2.0 gh memory: if u use photoshop i would probably get 4gb hard drive: photos can take up a good amount of room so at least 320gb (that would probably be fine, if u need to u can always get an external hard drive, but 320 should be fine) : although vista wasnt the great operating system people were hoping for, i would still get vista, because it is new and software/ updates are made for it rule of thumb: apples work extremely well. if u like the apple setup, i would get apple, they are more expensive, but very good ... having said that if u plan on running windows an apple may not be your best choice because mac osx doesnt need as much memory/hard drive/cores/etc... as windows, so apple is good for their osx other wise dell is good, hp is good, toshiba is good. my opinion = acer is cheap and low quality and wont last long
6. i prefer a intel processer but i like amd more because it makes your computer boot up faster. (get AMD for a laptop Intel for a desktop) get over 2 gb of RAM because vista takes up a lot of RAM get a 320 gb hard drive since you have a lot of photos that you can store Vista is great for photos! Get a HP laptop they are really good dell will rip you off the hp is good for photography! I sugest you get the hp pavilion dv7 it has a 2.0 ghz amd turion dual core processer / 4 GB of RAM / ATI Radedon 3200 graphics/ Windows vista home Premium 64 bit color/ a optical drive with light scribe/ a 320GB hard drive and it is enegry star qualified It also has plenty of memory card slots so you dont have to fool with a camera software! Hp is awesome i hope this helps good luck!
7. Macbook or Macbook Pro with 2 gb of ram and at least 2.0 ghz intel core 2 duo. At least 160 gb hard drive.
8. hey, sounds like your heading down the right path so. I'll try be as clear as I can for ya. When laptop shopping brand is personal preference, all the brands you listed are all good. Just off what I have used I am currently an owner of a HP Laptop and have had no complaints to make on it. I have also used Acer laptop's and desktops and they are pretty solid too. I'd stay away from Dell but that's my opinion because I've had to many issues w/ them. Gateway is kinda bottom of the line as far as I'm concerned, I'm still kinda leary of their products and Toshiba I haven't had any experience with other then knowing they are pretty expensive. And for Apple you could very easily go w/ Apple and be just as happy as long as you have some familiarity with Apple products. If you don't mind spending the money then with you working on photo shop and doing photo editing I would say for you to really look at going w/ a Apple. They are geared toward doing what you are planning on doing so I think you would def. benefit from that. But if money is your concern you can get a laptop will run photo shop and do all the same things as a Mac would and you wouldn't be spending nowhere near as much. If your going to stick w/ non Mac then you would def want a Intel Processor, Core 2 Duo for sure, Memory, I would say 3gig or higher, nothing lower than 3 for sure. Hard drive size anywhere from 320 GB on up and make sure it's faster then 5400 rpm if you can get it, 5400rpm is ok but you'll def want a faster hard drive for sure. If you can still get it w/ XP then I would do it, stay away from Vista if you can, and the most important thing is video card, you will need something w/ some fire power so 512meg or higher video card would be good also. And last is the battery, if you can get a 6cell or higher, start there, 6cell should get you 2 to 3 hrs of battery life, and then anything higher then that the life gets longer, and it also depends on how much your using it and what all your doing. Hopefully this is a good starting point for ya and helps ya in your search for a laptop, anything you buy today should last you a while, the normal life of a laptop is about 4years 5 if your lucky. Good luck w/ your hunt, and if you have any other questions let me know......
9. well, i personally use a middle of the road toshiba and ive had no problem with the machine, vista was a bit picky at first, the service packs fixed 99% of my problems, with the roll out for windows 7 gets near, windows 7 is awesome, at least 4x faster than vista,and XP support will go away. I like the AMD processor, add some more ram, the hard drive will be pretty big on vista, but external drives are not that expensive(I have 4)I don't like dell, had to many problems with the last 1. Acer is getting good revues, HP is a good machine, love my toshiba .hope that answered a few questions. Also you can go to www.tigerdirect.com and they will have lots to chose from