Laptop Choice - advice please

[Namsnik]

I want a 17" laptop better than 1440x900 resolution reasonable graphics so my teenage kids and I can do mild gaming for a few years (will also have a desktop or two for harder gaming).
I am looking at a Dell Vostro 1700 or Inspiron 1720 (not quite worked out the difference), 256mb 8600m graphics, 160Gb drive (will have network drive available for file storage). Guess I'll go Vista HomePremium as XP seems to be extra and I guess is the future.

Will be used for mild gaming and heavy office use (big spreadsheets, often have multiple applications open though only one is usually doing anything at a point in time.).

Processor choices (ex VAT) are:
Celeron 550 2GHz
T5270 + £90
T5470 + £125
T7250 + £180
T8100 + £190
I don't really understand enough about the performance to know what to choose from the above. Will the T5*** be noticeably slower than the Celeron 550 if I restrict myself to single applications?
I don't really want to push the budget to the T7250/T8100 but I do want a laptop that is future proof despite two teanagers.

Also (i) I have not yet found a 10% off discount code that works - are there any about currently
(ii) just registered at Quidco. If I go in that way can I retrieve from my saved items or does that affect Quidco?
(iii) I seem to have lost free shipping with N0417002. Is that because I have gone in via Quidco?

 

[Namsnik]

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't spotted Office in the Spec as an Accessory. That only comes with the higher spec dual core as far as I can see. Helps the decision even though I have Office 2003 professional Acedemic 3 PC licence already

If I configure afresh I am not picking up free shipping or £50 off!

I didn't really want to spend this much but I am determined to get a laptop that will be able to run the software I will be using in 3 years time. That probably means that if it can run 90% of this years games at low/med res then it will be good enough.

Prices I have found are as follows

Vostro 1700 250GB, 1920x1200 Ultrasharp
A. £639 C2D T9300 2.5GHz 3Gb Office2007Basic N0417010
B. £740 C2D T9300 2.5GHz 3Gb Office2007Basic (identical but no discount - why?) N0417010
C. £664 C2D T7250 2GHz 2Gb N0417002
D. £609 C2D T5470 1.6GHz 2Gb N0417002
E. £484 Celeron 550 2Ghz N0417002

I am going for Option A later tonight unless someone can identify a better deal for me.... I will try via Quidco to get another 5%.

 

[Namsnik]

Oh, the OH says it sound great so long as it is pink!