I am a finance doctoral student and want to get a good desktop replacement notebook to build my research databases and run MATLAB, SAS programs over the next few years. I am currently looking at 2 HP machines with the following config: HP zd8210 -512MB 400MHz DDR2 System Memory, -Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630,SpeedStep®, and HT* Technology, 3.0GHz, -17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition(g) BrightView Widescreen, -60GB 5400 Hard Drive -800MHz Front-side Bus -ATI MOBILITY RADEON X600 with 128MB DDR HP zv6170 -AMD Athlon™64 Processor 3800+ with PowerNow -15.4” WXGA High-Definition* BrightView Widescreen -1024MB 333MHz DDR System Memory -100GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive -ATI RADEON® XPRESS 200M IGP with 128MB DDR -Up to 2000MHz system bus I expect to use it occasionally for gaming and movies but the main idea is to have a fast processing machine that lasts the next 3 years atleast. What would you recommend and should I be looking at other brands as well. Thanks!

My friend's son just got the HP zv6170 for college and I was VERY impressed.

AMD CPU would be faster,as would 1024 of memory, the Intel system has a faster Hard Drive. Both have slower Hard drives than what could be offered. Try to find a System that has faster HD and Memory of at least 400Mhz.And a Hard drive with 7200 RPM and 8MB or 16MB cache. <===Lefty=== AMD 64 3200+ 200 GB WD Geforce 5500FX 256 MB 512 MB Ram Needs more. Windows XP