Oric I assume you're taking your desktop to uni as well? Why do you want such a big laptop? When it comes to note taking in lecture theatres, you can only really fit a 13"/14" laptop on there.

I have a 13" sony vaio (was £900), and it's been perfect for MATLAB/coding/web stuff/notes on the move etc. It has 4GB ram, W7 pro, decent core 2 duo and ati 4680 graphics so it's pretty good all round. I certainly wouldn't want a larger laptop UNLESS I wasn't taking my desktop.


EDIT: Just so you know, I find my desktop at uni to be perfect. In halls it was great to have a proper good PC back in your room that you can run decent games/HD movies etc on. Having a bigger screen is also so nice for relaxing. I ended up watching TV/movies pretty much every other day with my mates on it with my surround sound .