Which model are you referring to? The Dell 600M? The Compaq X6000?
The Dell 600M is an older laptop that was designed for Pentium 4 but then switched to Pentium M. It's under 6 lbs so that makes it quite portable. It has a square 14.1" screen so you have to decide what you like better. The tiny 12.1" widescreen or a larger 14" square. I believe it has as-good or better battery performance than the 700M, which is interesting. of course the 700M is sub-5-lbs and is tiny and sexy.
In either event I would wait 1-2 months for Dell to include the new Sonoma Centrino technology in both the 600 and 700m.
If you were referring to the Compaq X6000, forget it. You said the word "portable". The X6000 is NINE POUNDS. 9.3 to be precise. It's a BEAST. It has Pentium 4HT which means bad battery life, but it does have a 17" widescreen, which is delicious. However, being an outgoing college student m'self, I find you can't lug one of those huge things around in a normal bag, even if you could stand the weight.
Me, I went with the Dell 8600. It's just a hair over 7 lbs, and it has the 15.4" widescreen, which is the maximum to be portable, in my opinion. I needed the widescreen, though. Had I not, I would have gone with the 600m or possibly a Toshiba Satellite. I do Digital photography and graphic design so I couldn't use the small 12.1" screen . . . for class notes it would be GREAT, but for anything graphical its just a tad small.
I am trying to decide which would be the best choice. They are about the same price. I need something portable for class notes and digital photography. What have you heard about the 6000? Good? Bad? Thanks for any info.

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