Lenovo Thinkpad T500 -
LinkNot the best looking laptop but who really cares about that anyways. This thing is the most bulletproof computer I've ever used. My favourite feature besides it's resistance to impacts is that red dot in the middle of the keyboard. It's a mouse kind of thing, I'm so used to it that I literally can't use a laptop without one.
My university gives every student a Thinkpad at $1500/year out of tuition. Not worth it if you're in science, business, health sci, or anything except engineering really. The engineering software that comes loaded on mine would bankrupt my parents in one blow so $1500/year is quite reasonable. At graduation we get to keep them after a formality payment of $1. I'm definitely gonna do that and after that I'm never buying any laptop except a Thinkpad. They're bloody expensive (anywhere from $700 to $4000) but totally worth it in durability alone.
We get IT support year round and we're allowed to have one major incident per year. Mine fell of my bed last year and totally slaughtered the motherboard. They just give you a loaner laptop and send it off to be repaired.
Specs:
XP Pro SP3
Intel Core Duo 2.4 GHz
3GB RAM
C-Drive = 90.4 GB
D-Drive = 58.5 GB
DVD CD-RW burner
1680x1050 resolution
I don't know what kind of motherboard or video cards and all that other jazz I have because well, I don't really care. The hardest thing I do with it is use CAD/CAM software and download video and whatever I have works well with those.