Laptop recommendations

[Mayhem]

Given I'm likely to need a new laptop in the next month (as I'll have to give this one back when I leave HP), then recommendations would be appreciated. Should have a few USB ports (on both sides of the machine), a CD and DVD writer, a decently powerful graphics card (as I'll likely need it for MAME use etc), at least 2GB RAM and 2Ghz processor (dual core or i3 minimum), oh and having it come with Windows XP is QUITE preferential. Not sure how many places might still do that to be honest. Or would it be easier to get a separate copy, wipe the HDD and start afresh? Would much prefer to use it than W7 currently. Then I'd have to make sure that drivers exist for the hardware bits in XP... all a bit confusing I guess, what comes from being supplied with automatically working tech for the last few years...

[abigsmurf]

price range?

The fact you want a reasonable graphics card will mean you're looking at £600. Will there be any other gaming or will it be mostly mame? Emulation speed isn't really bound to graphics cards once you reach the minimum.

[Mayhem]

Something decent enough graphics wise, but it won't be used for high intense PC gaming, I don't really do that much now. Indie games, emulation and the such... so it won't need to be uber special. Budget wise? Under £500 if possible, but I can go higher if it's something nice.

[abigsmurf]

You're going to have to go £25 over budget really. All the £500 laptops have horrible Intel graphics chips.

This is a pretty good laptop for the money: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191571

It isn't an ultra fast graphics card; geforce 310M (may play the latest games on lowish settings, should be fine for emulation and indie) but it's passable and so much better than an intel one.

[Mayhem]

Certainly looks within the scope of what I'm after... what about sourcing Win XP though? Given I suspect a lot of machines will come with Win7 as default, I'd like to still use the old school

[abigsmurf]

You could probably put XP on it but you could end up finding that there are no XP drivers for some components

[briareos_kerensky]

The notebook you linked has a Core i3 in it so you'll be able to run WinXP Mode without too many performance problems, if XP is absolutely needed. I would recommend to upgrade the RAM to 4GBs and the OS to a 64bit version though.
Have you gone to Dell website? They might have some promotions on certain notebook/laptop ranges that might help get a decent machine for less.

[Mayhem]

Been to the Dell website, only do Win7 machines so wasn't really sure, especially as the options to customise seem really down compared to what I recall before.

You could probably put XP on it but you could end up finding that there are no XP drivers for some components

Yeah, that's pretty much my only concern, hence wanting a laptop with XP on it "out of the box"...

[sj33]

I'm not even sure manufacturers are able purchase XP licences anymore.

[Mayhem]

From doing a bit of research, looks like Vista and Win7 downgrade licenses are still available. I've been having a look round the eBuyer website and quite a few laptops there come with the option for that and supply XP on a disc for you to wipe the installation if you so desire (which is how this laptop I got from work began... had Vista on, wiped it for XP). So I could start off on XP and then go back to Win7 if I so desire a couple of years down the line. Might be the optimal route, especially if I pick a model I know works fine with XP...