i just ordered this:
Inspiron E1705
Intel® Core™ Duo Proc T2250 (1.73GHz/533MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache)
LCD Panel 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
Video Card 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory
HDD 60GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Combo/DVD+RW Drives 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Wireless Networking Cards Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless
Primary Battery 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Hardware Warranty 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support

my goal was to stay around 1200 and get a decent graphics card, 17" screen was optional but i got it with XGA+ screen, and 1-2gb memory(got 2Gb)

This should be a great machine since i can be plugged most of the time, just needed portability ability to crunch 3d graphics, and medium gaming, Flash and photo work

would have liked to get better battery, 7900GS go card, and 7200 speed drive but these were minor sacrifices

I am superstoked!

putting off that new car for a bit i think.

My current homemade rig is getting a bit dated even though i got it tuned to the edge it is only:

AMD 2600+ processor
2 gigs PC 100 ram (233 FSB)
ATI 9200 PRO video
2X80 GB IDE drives

been a good machine and I enjoyed building it and working on it.

Now to make my old PIII 800 into a Digital video recorder and Ill be all set for anything