... c a u t i o n ...
i noticed dell is offering supposively great (?) deals with 2g of mem, & the duo processors, for $599, yet, they are 'only loading win xp', 'not' vista. this implies, there may be significant bugs remaining in the heavy vista program, even with 2g of mem, and duo processors. vista may so big, such a mem hog, so slow, so heavy a program, that todays lower cost chip/board technology can not satisfactorily handle it yet.
... conclusion: if you already have a computer thats working ok, or don't really need a laptop, it may be prudent to simply wait to buy a laptop at next year's black friday sales, when vista bugs can be further worked out, more streamlining can be added to vista, and more powerful/lower priced new tech comes along that can better handle the memory hogging vista.
... it may be best, for this years christmas gifts, if in tech, to be something small, like an under $25 or so mem upgrade, or an under $20 flash drive memory usb plug-in bullet (if needed ?), or just skip computers and tech entirely this year, and buy other non-computer gifts.
... or if you have no computer, and need something, go ahead, cautiously, with one of two computers mentioned in this thread, and be prepared to possibly remove vista, and load up xp, which would give good power for most common non-game uses. you will have to check, if or how to get the xp for no charge, if you take delivery of a vista product. i'm not up to date on the vista to xp cost, copyright requirements, special reload procedures, etc., if any.
.. merry Christmas ..