Which laptop?

Windows 7 is an Operating System. Do you mean that you want it to have Microsoft Office ( Excel, PowerPoint, Word )? DVD-RW is pretty much standard equipment these days, so don't worry about that...

and..."Budget" is subjective... ~$500? ~$1000?

I have had an IBM laptop and a Dell laptop in the past.  They were both okay.  I finally bought a Mac Book Pro!!!   WOW!!  Talk about fast & do everything, easy to use and with parallel will do ANYTHING a pc will do PLUS.  Best money I ever spent on a computer.

Macs are excellent not really budget though.

I HAVE A MAC DESK TOP I USE FOR MY BUSINESS,WHAT LAPTOP DO I

NEED TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH MY BUSINESS WHEN ON THE ROAD.

NOTE LOTS OF PRODUCT PHOTO'S.

hi work at sears. i would like to buy a sony laptop 14 inches. i would like to know how many percent discount is,

 If she's used to using WINDOWS, a WINDOWS PC might be best to stick with, also MAC s are high end, there are no deals for new -Apple controls the price, only place u might get a smidegeon of price diff is if u have military benefits & can get one thru your PX. That said, I've had a DELL laptop for 5 yrs or so now -it had all the bells & whistles I wanted then & have been nothing but happy with it from DAY 1, & just now looking to upgrade & upsize--also DELL's warranty is advantage if she is going away to college, they have warranty option that specifies if over the phone assistance doesn't solve the problem, they will send a tech to you-where ever u are (does not have to be home address) they also offer coverage for spillage damage as option in warranty. BOTH r options very GOOD college student. Their outlet has some scratch& dent & refurbished models at lower prices, but last time I checked it they were mostly all older models w/ smaller hard drives, but it changes all the time.  More on sources later.You said budget but no $ range, if it is within ur budget I would highly recommend trying to make the stretch for a PC w/ the Intel core i7 processor (currently the fastest on the planet-s should serve her well 4 some time to come-- see articles in CNET & LAPTOP mag on line) We have the i7 in our desktop (DELL) & it's ALL I will consider 4 my new laptop now that they are finally available in laptops, I'm so glad I stumbled onto articles about it when crash forced us into the new desktop market. They weren't advertised AT ALL. Be sure to get as much DDRAM DDR3 RAM as u can (it is pricey) I would say min 4MB (6 is better but will add $150 - $200 to price-altho' they say upgradeable  to 8MB-sounds good, but known precious few to do add it later so try to start w/ 4 but 3 is absolute minimum to me), if possible-esp. for a student get a 9 or 12 cell battery (might can start w/6cell & up to 9 later) ;Screen size, will prob depend on what she will be studying & if she has preference & how much weight will be an issue, since it will be her main PC at school- personally I would want a 17-18"- but I wouldn't plan on toting it to class every day. (Dell did have a deal w/ one of their 17" laptops that u could get a companion smaller laptop - 10 -13" (dont remember exact on size)for an additional $200- so u might check around for specials DELL runs several thru out the year. There is also a new "pen" that is similar to a flash drive - but MORE-- u can take to class & whatever you write + the verbal lecture, stays in the pen & then you make the connect when back at the dorm & it all is downloaded into ur PC)  U  will want a minimum 512 MB or 1GB graphics card (the graphics card affects more than photos & pics & has big impact on speed of other functions esp. web pages- also think 512 might b min recommended w/ WIN 7, The AMD processor costs less than the Intel, but having had both , I think the Intel is WELL worth the extra (Might Look for Intel Core 2 duo if not the corei7 - BUT go to Intel web site good info on the dif -(but their links to "laptops with that processor" is incomplete).

Toshiba is another option that has gotten good reviews & long been know for good reliable laptops & has some good options at a fair price.  But both Dell & Toshiba have had a lemon in their line up at some time , but only about 1 ea from my recollection amongst a pretty broad product line. (Let me know if you think any further  info may help you in your quest. )

Belle

PS  

I must say all of the above info is PURLEY my personal opinion & based on the scope of my personal knowledge (such as it is) and research, & experiences & others may have entirely different opinions & experiences, I replied merely in an effort to share w/ you what my rather extensive recent to past 8-9 mos. research has uncovered (was about to write the ck, for a laptop when our HP desktop crashed suddenly & severely, so..) Also I have NO connection w/ any of the manufacturers , retailers or any of the other companies I might have mentioned or not mentioned for that matter (self employed)  other than that of a past, present, or future, customer - just to be clear. :)