I am trying to find an affordable yet performance and portability driven laptop to use on the go and at satellite offices when i am not using my beast of a desktop.  I have looked at various laptops from HP, Dell, Acer, etc. and i feel like i might have found a good one with Acer.

Acer Aspire AS3810T

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115653&Tpk=Acer%20Aspire%20AS3810T

I am not sure who might be familiar with stock trading platforms but what i need this laptop to do on a routine basis is run Think or Swim desktop software (its a stock trading platform), Microsoft Outlook, iTunes, and web browsing all at the same time.  My desktop i built does this beautifully with no hang ups what so ever but i also spent a pretty penny on it going with Core i7, 6gb DDR3, 1 Tera-bite, Asus motherboard, dual monitors, etc. 

So when i am on the go i would like to know i have the same type of reliability and performance i can get out my desktop but without being demanded 24/7.  Does anyone have any suggestions, recommendations, or opinions on what i am trying to do here?  I would appreciate any feedback because i want to make sure i am going to be completely happy with my purchase.

**i know i could use less demanding applications than iTunes and outlook but i like them and have a solid system with them (especially outlook) so i want to keep those programs running.

Thanks again!

Well Outlook is not as demanding as iTunes is. I run both as well and iTunes is a memory hog from hell where Outlook takes only >1% of RAM.

Suggestions

ASUS F80Q-A1 Intel Core 2 Duo T6400(2.00GHz) 14.1" Wide XGA 2GB Memory 250GB HDD DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M NoteBook - Retail 699.99

 HP Pavilion dv4-1540us Intel Core 2 Duo T6600(2.20GHz) 14.1" Wide XGA 4GB Memory 320GB HDD DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500MHD ... - Retail 749.99

TOSHIBA Satellite L515-S4960 Intel Pentium dual-core T4300(2.10GHz) 14" 3GB Memory 320GB HDD DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M ... - Retail 549.99

Here are some i7s also to look at.

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thanks for that information.  I started comparing them and the HP looks like it would be a good comparison.  i noticed one of the biggest differences is the processor...HP having the T6600 2.2 Ghz and acer having the SU7300 1.3 ghz.  It would appear that the HP's processor would perform better, however, it has 2MB of L2 Cache compared to Acer's 3MB L2 Cache.  How much of a difference would there be between these two processors in what i am trying do with the computer?  I like the idea of having a the T6600 process over the SU7300 but i also like it that Acer has much longer battery life and is much lighter and more portable.

Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated.

Here are two links to performance ratings of the processors:

T66000:

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+T6600+%40+2.20GHz

 U7700 (closest i could find to SU7300):

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+U7700+%40+1.33GHz

The SU series is more like the old Celeron well that is what it took over actually and uses lower voltage which helps make the battery last a bit longer.  And trying to make it like the Atom CPU as well.

 They show the T6600 but not the SU7300 only the other SU series. I don't think they updated it yet.

http://www.intel.com/en_UK/consumer/Learn/Notebook/core2duo-detail.htm#proc-num

http://www.intel.com/en_UK/consumer/rating.htm

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thanks, it seems as though i will need 2.0Ghz at least per those links you posted and this one from think or swim on system requirements:

https://www.thinkorswim.com/tos/displayPage.tos?webpage=clientApplication&displayFormat=hide

 i came across this lenovo thinkpad

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834146516R

it seems like it would work well but i would like there to be more than 2gb of memory in it.  Plus i would rather not spend that much money.  

so how crucial is the memory to this (i have always been a believer in the more the better)? and should i just accept the fact that i cant get what i want in the laptop for around $800 or less?  If i need to prepare myself to spend more to have what i want then i will do that.  i would just rather spend as least as possible (naturally).

Well the easy part first, more RAM is better when multi tasking especially when you have ITunes open. Here are some lappys to look at and consider from 800 - 850.

 Second that is a open box item Read here first  Open Box Refund Only Return Policy. before you get too excited about the cost and read the red part at the bottom.

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