opinions on xp mobile laptop?

[Gubs]

Right, I know next to nothing about laptops, but a friend of mine is looking for a budget one for general use, watching DVDs etc. (no games), so I was considering a Dell Inspiron 1000 (£491 inc.) I had trouble finding anything cheaper than that, other than some very old refurbished ones - and she wants a warranty, so second hand isn't really an option either.

I was also hunting for for Athlon-based laptops, in the hope of it being cheaper, and found this at Novatech (the cheapest of the three there, comes out to £506 inc). The main difference between this and the Dell is the processor - XP Mobile 2200 on the Maverick, vs 2.2GHz Celeron on the Dell. Given that the prices are pretty much identical, how do the XP Mobiles perform, compared to a Celeron? (plus, is Novatech any good?)

I'm also guessing that integrated graphics are all much of a muchness and are fine for anything apart from games? I think DVD-watching is going to be about the most strenuous thing this laptop will have to do.

Any opinions much appreciated!

[Jonny M]

Get the Dell, because Novatech aren't any good.

[nichomach]

This is it; performance-wise, the Mobile XP ought to completely kick the Celeron's bottom. Overall, however, the Inspiron 1000 is a good solid machine that PC Pro gave 4 stars to. I know which I'd spend my money on.

[Gubs]

Brilliant, thanks guys

[Jonny M]

Or the IBM:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=51905

Though it will need a RAM upgrade.

[shamus21]

AMD XP Mobile cpu just get to hot for lappys go Centrino.

[windog]

Get the Dell, because Novatech aren't any good.

Could you expand on this!?
I am also looking for an AMD lappy and this seemed a very good deal, what sort of things are wrong with them?

[nichomach]

I have no personal experience of Novatech products, and my wife uses an AMP XP Mobile which has been solid as a rock. That said, that's an HP, and cost rather more than the budget indicated here. AthlonXP laptops are fine as desktop replacements, but I've found the battery life unimpressive, and they do run a smidge warm for actual laptop use. Other than that, no reliability issues, performance is very good.