SEEKING INPUT ON NEW LAPTOPS

Firstly, I must apologize for being so lax lately. I have been quite busy, taking full advantage of the gorgeous weather until the last few days here.

I do have some lovely dishes to put up soon (I promise). I will soon be posting my stuffed portobello mushrooms and a gorgeous creamy tarragon chicken dish, but alas...my laptop is now more of a footrest, back support, or bun warmer (if you know what I mean) and I am in the market for a new one...

New device MUST HAVE:

• Fastest processor available to man (and woman)...or damned close! (Core 2 Duo 8600???)
• 4 Gb Ram - Minimum
• at LEAST 250 Gb HDD (500 Gb even better)
• 17" screen

Now...any suggestions are quite welcome (if you have any clue what a Gb or HDD is).

I'm actually thinking about staying clear of Toshiba as that's what crapped out after only 3 years...Lenovo, perhaps...leaning toward custom Dell Studio XPS though. Just not sure...

Tell me what you have used, trusted, hated, loved, etc., and I will take it all under advisement as I shop around. The good news, I suppose, is that the prices should be good right now as everyone and their brother wants to make some money right now, yes?

I will also be looking around in Honolulu soon for a better deal, so...new options might be US retailers and Costco?... Taking work with me, but plan to have a bit of fun as well!

(sigh) Okay, back to work...I feel a little bit better now. :o)