Laptop deals:

Watch out for the 4GB of Ram trickeration (http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html).

Here's one parting bit of advice: if, like me, you're planning to stick with a 32-bit operating system for the next few years, don't waste your money on 4 GB of RAM. You won't be able to use it all. Buy 3 GB instead.

Dell Outlet (http://www.dell.com/outlet)

Where I got mine for half off, works fine. It was purchased by a company that went out of Business before they took delivery, returned and then sent to spend life with me.

Watch out for the 4GB of Ram trickeration (http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html).
I should have mentioned that the Costco laptop has the 64 bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium...but I've run into this problem before, and it's a real pain...

That Costco Acer one looks solid -- trying to decide if it's too heavy to lug around.