laptop

<p>I'm ordering a laptop from dell and i'm trying to budget. I'm majoring in engineering and i dont play games. I was wondering:</p>

<p>Is Windows XP Home edition ok or is Pro better?
Is 512mb enough ram or should i spend an extra 100 for 1gig?
If i get 512mb with one Dimm slot can i upgrade it through time? Although this voids warrenty.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>many college networks require students to be running XP pro.</p>

<p>many colleges who have that requirment can sell you XP pro VERY CHEAP.</p>

<p>get 512 with an empty slot and immediately buy another 512 from newegg (should be about $50 instead of the 100 they want to charge you).</p>

<p>This WILL NOT void your warranty...where would you get that idea? RAM is user servicable</p>

<p>i figured that you'd have to open it up and that would void warrenty. I didn't know that, thanks.</p>

<p>ok well i'm planning on getting the dell inspiron 6000 if anyone has any incite. I'm getting the Pentium M 730 processor, 60gb hard drive, 24x CD Burner/DVD combo, Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless (802.11 a/b/g, 54Mbps), ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X300 64MB HyperMemory™ , and upgrading the battery from 6 cell to 9 cell. I was also wondering if i can replace the hard drive, and replace the cdburner with a DVD burner. I'd do that through time though because those are not my main concerns for a laptop. I'm also not sure about the extra 83 dollars for upgrading the screen from WXGA to WSXGA+. I have a coupon for 750 dollars off laptops that are 1900 dollars and up. So I want a laptop between 1900-1950 before the discount if possible. I'm not sure about the warrenty though because its expensive. Maybe i'll do 2 year limited warrenty.</p>