Need advice with Laptop re-purchase :(

[twister]

I recently ordered and received yesterday my new Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop (P4 HT 3.2GHz, 15.4" WSXGA+, 1GB of 400MHz DDR ram, 60GB 7200 rpm hard drive, 128MB ATI 9700 mobile video card, 8xDVD+RW dual layer, built-in 802.11 b/g). This is a powerhouse and surpasses some of the desktop configuration. But, it comes at a price of being very heavy (almost 10 pounds) and extremely thick (2" in height). This was supposed to be my dream machine, but after playing with it for a couple of hours yeasterday, I found my wrist falling off It is very uncomfortable to use. So, I will have to return it back, even so I got a MAD bargain deal on it of only $2,150 including 3-year warranty.

So, please, can anybody recommend me a good powerful laptop you are using which is actually COMFORTABLE to use for long hours (and under $2,500)? I guess this Dell machine is huge because of desktop processor and video card fans, so I might have to look for Centrino based laptop? Also, I would really like to have that thumb-stick pointer built-in the keyboard (like Inspiron 9100 or any IBM Thinkpad have), its very helpful for precise mouse movement Any advice would be appreciated.

[bioroid]

Why not hook up a normal keyboard/mouse to the laptop? I do that because I can type about 3x faster on a normal keyboard that on a laptop keyboard. If you get a USB keyboard [with usb ports on it] and a USB mouse you daisy chain them and only worry about one USB cable going into the laptop.

Martin
bioroid

[PugFace]

Forget lappies as ergonomic they are all flat. Like the last post. Hook up a normal pc keyboard.

[Tribal Wolf]

I am personally using a Dell Ispiron 8100, and I use it for hours on end. I do use an external mouse, but any time that I get tired of using the laptop keyboard I connect a keyboard and mouse to a Y adapter, so that I can use both.

You could also get a docking station, or port replicator. from Dell.

Another option is to get a USB mouse and plug a keyboard into the port.

[VariKusBrainZ]

Have a serious look at Toshiba, though you pay for what you get