Core2duo or AMD

Look around at what others use and what you use today. Use that as a guide for your next machine.

Hello, funny I just bought a new laptop. When ever I am looking for a machine it is hard for me to find reviews of laptops that cover the hardware demands of my skill set. Most reviews are either multimedia, gaming or just plain internet browsing. So I can tell you of my own experience.
I currently have an
HP 6910P
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.20Hz Processor
4Gig Ram
320 Scorpion 7500 HD
ATI X2300 128mb Discrete video mem
(by the way stick with Pentium for sure, I tried to save some money about 3 years ago and ended up taking my machione back for a pentium).
I basically use VB.NET, T-SQL, Oracle SQL VBSCRIPT and VBA. I do multiple testing of remote software where I create a Host environment and emulate the user experince with the software I create, so I need to have enough hardware power to run my laptop as multiple computers on one compiuter.

1) Discrete video memory is important, it afford you the ability to have multiple screens open and helps in the redraw and takes the pressure from the processor, especially when you are compiling code or testing in multiple environment. Size of video memory is not that important depending on if you are programming pixels or not.
2) Ram is really important, you need to have a machine that is at least able to be upgraded to 8Gig. I currently have Vista 64 as my host machine and I have 2 client machines on my laptop that are 1 gig each, so when I have all operating systems running simulateously for testing client/host program/database comunication is need at least 3 environments open. With 1 gig for each guest OS, I like to have at least 4Gigs for my Host environment leaving me with the much flexibility for programming and testing.
3) Hard drive space/speed. When you, if you are using multiple enviornments harddrive space becomes extremely important you need 320 Gigs at the least.
4) You put all of that together with a pentium Core 2 Duo 2.20Ghz or greater.

You see my specs and I do not experince any lags or issues. I have however posted for some recommendations for a laptop because I wanted something more fun to use and that is one thing I strongly suggest to you as we tend to spend long periods of time on a computer and aethetics does come into play at some point and time and you want to have a little fun.
I think you should follow the above rules (if you are comfortable with the DELL then I strongly sugest that you stay with the brand that you like the most).
Oh and make sure that they have good accessories (which Dell does) and if you can stick with the Business machines, they tend to be more chock full of nuts.
Good luck...