HELP: Choosing a Notebook for me

[Sharp Canadian]

Hey,
Im thinking about buying a laptop but I know just over nothing about them. I've read the How-to-Buy guide on PCWorld and some things on CNET. Im looking for some help in picking out a good notebook that I can afford. I have a budget of about $1200 CAD(it could go higher by a couple hundred[$1500]). Im In grade 11 so I need it for some homework(Word/Internet) I plan to take a VB and C++ Introductory course in grade 12 which would mean I may need those programs on it as well. I would also plan to play a few games on it, it doesnt need to be top of the line but capable of playing newer games(screen size doesnt matter it can be small.) I'd like to be able to hook it up to the TV and desktop PC as well.
If you can, I would like any suggestions on what would be a good laptop for me. I would also like a good guide on notebook processors and video cards as I have no clue about those. Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions :)

[Jaggannath]

Look on Dell (http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/notebooks?c=ca&cs=CADHS1&l=en&s=dhs), you'll find plenty of good deals there, and they have a very good support system. The Inspiron 9300 is a very good laptop, but is large and heavy, and quite expensive. I'd suggest the next one down, which is the Inspiron 6000.
They have some reasonably good deals on at the moment in fact, go look now (you're not going to get a rig with a good video card or RAM amount for gaming for your budget btw, but they might suffice)

[Sharp Canadian]

Ok thanks ill check out dell now. I know I wont get a good gaming rig like a desktop PC but Would I be able to get a 512 MB RAM and about 50-60GB HDD for my budget?
I've been looking at processor speeds and they are all about 1.5-2.0 GHz some higher, how do these rate compared to desktop PC CPU's?
I have an AMD Anthlon XP 1800+ 1.53 GHz what processor would match that or beat it on a notebook? would I be able to afford it in my price range?

[Tecmiami]

the best way is go slickdeals.net once a month dell get $750 off of $1500 the best part is you can customize the laptop. my sugestion is next. processor. pentium m. memory 512mb not share with the video card in one slot not 256+256 why? only 512 one slot in the future you can add another 512mb buy the processor and the best video card. because in the future is not easy to upgrade. but the memory and the hard drive is more easy.get a dvd burner. my suggestion dell 600m runs great. check sliskdeals.net

[Sharp Canadian]

I got a few questions about laptops.
1) How does the internet work do you pay for a subscription from someone like aliant or roadrunner?
2)Who makes the better CPU's I know that for PC AMD is best for gaming and Intel for multitasking but what about laptops what are the advantages for both? I see way more intel laptops then I do AMD.

[Jaggannath]

Most laptops come with Intels because traditionally AMDs had heat problems, which Intel didn't, although AMD recently rectified this problem and if they can negotiate any deals you may see them appearing more often.

And if you look at the system I suggested in Dell, you'll find it comes with exactly those as standard with options to upgrade

[Sharp Canadian]

I looked at the one on dell for $1299(The notebook Jaggannath suggested) that came with 512MB RAM, 80 GB HDD 1.60 GHz processor, and a dvd rw drive. It's probablly the best one I've looked at so far within my price range. I mlooking at it's wireless Networking Card and it's a "Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless (802.11 a/b/g, 54Mbps)" what does that mean? If I am in a wireless enabled environment am I able to get internet on it? and do I have to pay a monthly subscription?