[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys

I'm after some advice on laptops.

I've currently got a Macbook, running both Mac OSX and Windows. I used it in Windows mode for years, and only in the last month or so switched to OSX.
I like OSX in some respects, but it annoys me in others.

I'll have to give this Macbook back now that I've been made redundant, and although I'll probably get another laptop at a new job, I'm thinking I need to get myself a laptop (a better one than the very old Dell I've got at home from a few years ago).

I'll probably run Windows, rather than Mac OSX.

Looking in the JB Hi-Fi and Dick Smith pamphlets, there's sooo much choice. I just don't know what's good these days.

Compaq Presarios? HP Pavillions? Asus? Dell?

I don't want/need to buy the best of the best - something around $1500 is probably my budget. No doubt I'll use it for some astro stuff and image processing (photoshop, lightroom etc). Maybe the odd online game (call of duty modern warfare 2).

What are the good brands? What are the best deals?

I don't want/need a small netbook. I want something 13 or 15". I ideally want Windows 7 on it, and will need Office too.

Thanks for your help.