Is 14.1" laptop to big for portability 1640

depends on your intended use. if you want to use your laptop to watch dvd movies while traveling then you want it integrated. i find some of the super small models pretty awkward to have to carry around an external cd-dvd drive (and ironic when a small laptop becomes big and cumbersome when all the appendages are brought along).

i think the square format makes sense for web surfing (research), and word processing. the wide format 12.1" and 14.1" help with spreadsheet use and watching movies but not much more. when you get to the +15" wide screen you are both adding a lot of weight and burning a lot more battery to keep it lit up.

whatever you get you should spend the extra money on the 9 cell vs. 6 cell battery... they provide about twice the run time when on battery. for a student who will regularly run on battery it is very important.

now go to a store like best buy or circuit city and get a sense of the size of these machines then look at the dell specs for the different weights and pricing.

good luck.