I would like to buy a new 10-12" laptop w/Windows XP and a DVD/CD RW builtin, price range $800 - $1100, preferably w/a color. I have done some research piecemeal but it is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Any gurus out there who could simplify my search? Or suggest a retail outlet in L.A. CA.
Have researched Averatec, Compaq, Lenovo and Acer. Any reviews I will appreciate.
Susan

I have been researching laptops of this exact description or smaller for the last year. I currently have a Toshiba U205-5002, which has a dual core 1.66 centrino processor, 1 gig of ram, and a 100 gig hard drive. It has XP on it, because I did not like Vista, so I switched back to what was on it when I got it. I love this laptop because it is light, but not so light that the wind would blow it off my lap, the keyboard is not too small, and it has a fingerprint reader. I would recommend it over the new Toshiba laptops because the keyboards on them are very flimsy feeling, and overall they just are not as solidly built at all. I know you have not mentioned Toshiba, but I picked this one out of every option available, and have never regretted it for the last year. There are newer models of this same style, but they all start with u205 and then have a dash and four more digits, the highest being the most recent.

I would never recommend a Compaq or Acer, and Averatec, I'm not totally sure about either. Lenovo makes a good solid laptop full of features. The 12 inch Lenovo 3000 v200 was my next choice, but again, no color options.

A good retail outlet would be microcenter. Here is a link to their location page:
Micro Center - Store Locations
They have Santa Clara(Silicon Valley) and Tustin(Orange County) listed there.

Tech product reviews for cell phones, computers, MP3 players - CNET is a good site to compare models and get reviews and user feedback.

Hauser5,
Wow, what a great e-mail and answer. I also gave you a rating. Thank you, thank you. I have a computer friend who is helping me as well. I will forward this to him as well. Before I proceed with further investigation, roughly what price range am I looking at for what you are recommending?
Thanks Susan

I suggest a dell m1330 (currently has a deal on it). The dell is 13.3"...

it's a little hard to find a laptop 10" - 12" that's within your price range...i wanted exactly what you did, but settled for the dell instead. i love it.

if you're absolutely strict about the 10" - 12", as hauser5 said, lenovo has good computers, so does the sony tx series... but both are between 1400 - 2000 loaded.

I was going to mention the Sony TX series, but their keyboards are so compact, you can't type easily on them. And as "I Sneeze Funny" said, they are out of the price range. I failed to mention that the Toshiba U305 series are the new 12 inch laptops that I would not get, when compared to the U205 which I love.

I got my Toshiba which was an open box special at Circuit City and holds the same warranty as an unopened purchase, out the door for right at 1,000 dollars. This was February 2007. I suggest Circuit City and their open box or display models any day for the value you can get on any product. I called all the area stores and asked what they had, and ended up driving 40 miles to get this one!!