Best choice for buying laptop for college?

Given how similar these 2 are, that's my decider. The unit with C2D also has N networking, and is more portable due to the 16 inch screen.

If you have lived with a 17 inch machine...

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290
Bob

I would go with the Intel based unit for two reasons. One the Intel processor has a better architecture and all other components being equal will give you better battery life because of deeper sleep states. (your processor is actually idle much of the time your notebook is on so you want it to consume as little power as possible when idle.) Two, even a 16 inch screen is going to be a bit heavy if you have to hustle across the campus, so go lighter. Hope this helps.

TimWoodChuck

#ignite

Disclosure:
TimWoodChuck is an Intel employee and aspirational sponsor of tomorrow

Thanks for all the help. I wasn't sure if a larger hard drive on the 17" would be more useful or needed, but I noticed that the 16" had an Intel processor, and I've heard additional positive reviews about it.