If you are not in a hurry, go to Fatwallet.com and to the hot deals forum. You'll need to check daily and it might be a few weeks before a real good deal comes along but they are your best deals if not in a hurry...
I bought one for work (Dell 6000) where I had a $750 off $1500 or more laptop. That coupon is rare, comes out a couple times a year and you literally have 6-12 hours to buy it before this particular coupon expired but I told my boss it was coming. My Hardwareslutability saved the taxpayers a few bucks
Whatever you do, be ABSOLUTELY sure that you get a 3 year warranty on a laptop.