Okay, finally got past the issues in my previous post. How? By buying from another seller. Cost me an extra 75$ but ah well, at least the laptop’s on the way!

So, what’d I get?

This puppy.

Here’s the Sony page on it.

As always, here’s some logic behidn what I was looking for.

First, I wanted a computer with enough power to run Vista when it comes out. So a dual core was a must. 2GB of RAM was must (in this case I’ll upgrade it as soon as it gets here).

Beyond that, I was looking for some key features:

- EVDO / EDGE integration: I travel so much, that the laptop’ll practically pay for itself in not paying airport and hotel WiFi fees
- Decent graphics card: I don’t game a lot, but I wanted the option. In fact, this laptop has both a graphics card AND an onboard one. So I can use the onboard one (to save power) when I’m not gaming.
- DVD burner
- Under 5 pounds
- camera
- finger print scanner
- 100GB+ HDD

And all for under 2500$ (all in (shipping and taxes)). The problem is that while I’m partial to Vaio’s, I couldn’t actaully find a system out there that met these requirements outside of the SZ series from Sony. I looked. Several Future Shop, Best Buy’s, Staples later. Nada.

Once I get the laptop I’ll be upgrading its RAM, getting a new laptop mouse, bag and headset (this one has blue tooth, w00t!) and probably getting a docking station for it.

All in all it’ll come in around my original budget, but I’m getting a hell of a lot of machine for my buck. Fingers crossed, it’ll be here Friday or Monday.