looking for a new laptop

After over a month of it being looked at, we've finally learned that my laptop, while not dead now, will die soon. Along with the power port being b*ggered, the video card on the motherboard is what's really the problem. This laptop isn't even 2 years old!

So, we are looking to get a new one if we can scrape together the cash.

I'm really a Mac person but we can't afford one now. So I need advice on the minimum specs I need. Primarly I use this for web and word files. But I also need to be able to run Photoshop as I'm working on a business from home that requires it.

Obviously we want to spend as little as possible (if we can even manage this at all)! I've also heard you should avoid certain kinds of processors? Any advice there?

TIA

DH just got a Mac Book. He loves it. It is worse than a mistress.

Too bad you can't afford a mac, because I love, love, love mine!

You can get decent dell laptops though for much cheaper that should be able to give you all you need

What about a refurbished macbook?
I didn't used to be such a Mac snob... but after finally and upgrading my 2001 Ibook for the new Macbook Pro, I feel icky when I have to use bootcamp to run a Windows program.