Laptop had experinced me alots.
I got the third laptop now.. I purchased NOTEBOOK COMPAQ R4012 ATHLON64 3200+/ATI/[upgraded] 1280MB/80HD/DVDRW which is top selling by this year more like April appox.. anyway...
Important for you looking for:
1.Ram of memory: I suggest you grab 2 gb rams which laptop can upgrade up to 2 gb eventually
2. Hard drive: I highly recommending you, 60 or 80 hdd that what you really need for!
3. dvd rw: You buy laptop within dvd rw also, you will necessary in eventually..
4: wireless: WIFI built inside laptop is best carrying itself.. you no need to buy wifi card separately..
5. USB: 2.0 usb 3 or 4 ports built in laptop.. 
But impotant is RAM OF MEMORY how much you need. if you want to get load some program or grapic art.. ram is still count! the RAM OF MEMORY IS VERY SIGNIFICATION KEY IN YOUR LIFE FOR LAPTOP RUNNING SMOOTH AND CRASH FREE!
