[Ashur]

Processor: no celeron no atom, make sure it has power saving option i.e. frequency stepping

GPU: best to have have dual so you can switch between integrated to higher performing once depends on usage. if you have single GPU please stick with nVidia or ATi; also look for HDMI output if you got a big flat TV, and I recommend to have VGA output too especially if you need to connect to a projector for a presentation

RAM: 3GB will do perfect, 2GB works and 1GB is not enough (heh 4GB maybe bit too much) then what's better to have 2x1GB or 1x2GB if you got 2 sticks and has dual channel well that's nice but with 1 stick power usage would be bit less

HD: SSD is safer and usually faster than HDD if you need extra space get an external if you're getting HDD green over performance if you care about battery and heat issues

Optical: blu vs DVD? meh whatever I still don't have a single blu yet and you always can get an external one later

Screen: LCD with LED back light, 17" is nice and big but 14" is more light and portable

Battery: longer life usually bulky and ugly vs you can have an extra slim battery?!?! or 1 slim and 1 bulky

USB: at least 2 port, 3 is nice and 4 just awesome

Firewire: do you need that?

Wireless: Don't care much about, it should be fine with whatever you'll get

Ethernet: 1Gbps is a standard nowadays

56k: do you need that?

Audio: controls, pick what you like buttons vs knob vs touch slider, microphone is a must

Webcam: 1.3MP well if you can get you a 2MP it would be nice

OS restore: install DVDs vs HD partition restore vs nothing

OS: Win7 or linux or OS X?

PCMCIA: heh whatever maybe card reader would be more useful

Warranty? best warranty in town is from Asus and Lenovo (IBM), HP does well too but not as fast in shipping

heh that's i thought about so far

you pick and choose till you get $1000 system

oh i like my IBM ThinkPad because it has LED light