Looking for similar laptops that will last me all my college years

I'm going to be a sophmore this coming year in college and so I would want a laptop that will last me for the next three years (I'm already getting the 3 year warranty for any laptop I'm going to get just in case) and have looked at dell and toshiba and HP and right now HP is my favorite with these specs:
Operating system Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.10GHz)
Display 15.4" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
Memory 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Graphics Card 50% OFF 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS - For Core 2 Duo Processors
Personalization HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone edit
Networking Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
Hard Drive FREE Upgrade to 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive from 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive!!
Primary CD/DVD Drive SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Primary Battery 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
OS and Recovery Media System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
Your additional options:
Home printers and All-in-ones HP Deskjet D1455 Printer
Price $1,252.98*
Instant rebate -$100.00
Mail-in rebate -$70.00
Total: $1,082.98
You saved 13.6%


Now my questions are: Would it be beneficial in the long run to get 4 gigs of ram instead of 3 for an extra $100?
And would it be beneficial to upgrade from a 2.10 ghz to a 2.40 for an extra $125?
Those are my two big questions for this specific computer and does anyone by chance know a similar computer like this for around the same price or cheaper or whatever? I just want to keep my options open as much as possible.

It'll be a mixture of all of them, well except rendering. And I don't want to play the latest games on it but I do want it to surf the net and play older games and such that aren't brand spanking new.
Also, where did you find the coupon codes for the Dells? And are there any for HP?

If you're looking to do any gaming, get some type of 8600m card.

Yeah. Get nothing below an 8600m GS. It's nowhere near top of the line, and it should pass you by.

Awesome, thanks for the heads up on the video card. However, HP doesn't have one that goes up that far. Their dv9700t series only goes up to 8600M GS and I really don't want a 17" as it's gonna be portable a lot going to classes and such for college, so I would only want a 15", so it's hard finding something like that without costing a bundle. Any ideas?

Alright so now I see that you do have some graphics requirements. Now for dell an inspiron will not be an option because they have integrated graphics. Also for an XPS from dell customized will take you out of your price range, which I am assuming is about $1,100.

On newegg you can find many good deals.

Here are two possibilities:
#1)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6834227039
This is the iBUYPOWER CRZ-93G NoteBook
It has:
Intel Core 2 Duo T8300(2.40GHz)
15.4" Wide XGA
2GB Memory DDR2 667
160GB HDD 5400rpm
Dual layer DVD Burner
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

For $1,099.99

#2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6834115458
This is the Acer Aspire AS5920-6574 NoteBook

It has:
Intel Core 2 Duo T8100(2.10GHz)
15.4" Wide XGA
3GB Memory DDR2 667
250GB HDD 5400rpm
DVD Super Multi
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

For $1,049.99

From the first you get a better CPU but less memory and a smaller hard drive. (Or with the second you get a slightly less powerful CPU but more RAM and bigger hard drive.)

You have to decide which one is more important to you and your needs. Also take into account that RAM is usually very easy to replace/upgrade. Also you may say that 160GB is enough compared to the 250GB. Then choose #1. However you may also say that the extra CPU power is not important and you would rather have more RAM and hard disk space. Then choose #2.

Both have the 8600 so you will have enough power for light gaming.

Hope this helps.

For both of the laptops that I mentioned, they have the Intel PM965 Chipset. This means that they are upgradeable to a maximum of 4 GB (2x2GB) of RAM. So upgrading to 4GB of RAM (2x2GB) should not be a problem.

Now for the actual physical installation(upgrade) of the RAM. RAM is actually the easiest upgrade you can do on your computer(Laptop or Desktop). On most laptops these days, most manufactures put a slot on the bottom of the laptop with a few screws to have easy access to the RAM. Many tutorials can be found about replacing/upgrading RAM. Just do a google search. In simple context it is: For an upgrade, plug in the new RAM to an unused slot. For a replacement (which is actually an upgrade, but you have no open slots left so you will have to remove an old stick to put in the new stick), unplug an old stick of RAM and put a new stick of RAM in its place.

For the warranty question, I have no idea.

Also for graphics cards, you can see the performance echelon of mobile graphics cards here:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobil [...] 844.0.html
(At the top you can even set it to show F.E.A.R. and Doom 3 avg. benchmarks (in fps))

Go for it. The 9500M GS is actually better than the 8600M. You get at decent size hard drive, more ram, and a good CPU.

I say all systems go!