Here is a name brand laptop for $999. The Gateway Solo 1200 has a In Intel® Celeron™ 800MHz Processor with 128K Cache, 10GB Ultra ATA hard drive, 128 MB SDRAM, a 12.1" XGA TFT Active Matrix screen, Internal V.90 56K Modem, Internal 10/100 Ethernet, CD and floppy drives, 2 USB ports, and the other items you would expect. The only two short comings are no serial port and a NIMH battery instead of a Lithium Ion Battery. Quite a deal! From the Gateway site at http://www.gw2k.com.