To the original poster:
Whatever you get, don't pay more than ~$500 for it.
The video card fried on my old dell last year, I paid 2000 for the computer when I bought it July of 2007. It lasted me about 3 years.
I got a $400 HP for Christmas last year and it is significantly better than the dell I bought 3 years prior (specs wise).
Just get something with at least 2GB of RAM, Windows 7, and run Chrome browser on it.
You will get at least 3 years out of it and when it runs out of juice you can get a better laptop for even cheaper.