What Laptops do you recommend?

[synth3tk]

Oh, ok. I don't know why I thought you were actually upgrading the system. Yeah, that's a steal for the price.

As for the wireless card, I see no reason to change it unless your connectivity needs are different. From what I read on Dell there's two Intel cards. One adds 802.11a support (pffft) and the other adds draft-N. The key word in the latter card is "draft". I'd avoid going with this one especially since it's built into a laptop. I say this because the specification for N isn't set in stone yet, as it were. Bottom line, you may end up paying for something that won't be very compatible with the final routers at all. Not that I'm implying it won't for sure, but the possibility is there.

And the one with A? Please, what consumer really uses it? Just save money and go with the Dell.