[Kingofl337]

Honestly pretty much anything you buy will work for programming. Resolution is important, you can fit information on the screen at once. Other than that, seeing it's not a personal laptop I wouldn't spend much. It will probably be beaten up pretty bad.

Based on my experience this is the the life of a laptop. It has been getting shorter and shorter almost every year since 2000. I think this is about right for 2009.

The life of a laptop - Some stages overlap
1. Oh it's new a shiny, be very careful with it. (1-6months)
2. Small dings and scratches, that's ok, try to be careful (4-12months)
3. Loaded with a bunch of software, staring to slow down (6-16months)
4. Laptop is starting to feel really slow (12+ months)
5. Try uninstalling all the "Un-needed software" (16+months)
6a. Format the drive and reinstall the OS (16+ months)
6b. Install more memory (16+ months)
6c. 5a and 5b will both happen (16+months)
7. Laptop will be replaced. (24 months)