If you want to stay under 1k, a good deal is a Dell w/core 2 duo, 17" for $749. If you want to go really cheap, over at MicroCenter they had an Acer 15.4" dual core, 1M Ram for only $379.
Take a look at The Toshiba Satellite's. No need to go nuts on a laptop. I am very happy with mine, lightening fast and cost me $650 including tax, shipping. BUY.com has a bunch at competitive prices.
say it once and again...a $499 compaq is just fine...very serious...that is what I trade with and all you need...no joking here
Agreed. Unless you plan to drive multiple monitors, keep you hard drive busy or enjoy gaming while trading, a cheap non-emachine laptop is all you need. Just make sure the ram surpasses the OS+platform+chart requirements. If on Vista, turn off all indexing. Also, do not schedule maintenance or antivirus scans during trading hours. I trade on a laptop and would never go back to being stuck to an office. The beach chair/biz class airline/deck swing is a much nicer desk.
and listen to gemantrader...he throws 1000 cars at the ES (per his other posting)...he is a serious trading dude...
More serious some days than others. Hard not to be serious when your wife wants another vacation with you and the kids. If a trader needs more than a laptop to trade, his systems are far too complex to trade reliably day-to-day. Been there, won't go back. Use alerts for crying out loud, no need to ruin your eyes on a wall of monitors after your systems are designed and tested. And that is up to 1000 cars, Mr. IN. Believe it or don't. Doesn't cost me either way.