Best first laptop for secondary school?

[franticantic]

It is likely that we will have to buy a laptop for DD1 (Yr 8) sometime soon as she is at boarding school and increasingly needs to use a computer.
Should we go for the cheapest there is, or, given the scope of things they have to do - projects, graphics etc (ie far more than just word docs) should we get something like a Mac? Any tips gratefully received (she is reasonably computer literate - unlike her mother )

Are there any computers at school she can use during prep?
If so I'd be tempted just to get her a cheap netbook (about £200) as she should be able to do the more sophisticated stuff on the school computers. I doubt any school would expect parents to be getting personal licences for things like graphics packages.

Re the computers at school ... you need to be compatible

I am a Mac-Freak and would always say buy one but I do sometimes have problems interfacing with the Windows PCs at work (Teacher)

Ok we bought an ASUS notebook for Christmas from PC World £465 incl VAT- my son was bumped and the laptop cracked, now repairs will be £390 and it's taken over 6 weeks to get the quote. I'm thinking of trashing the first and buying a Dell. Best advice on laptops buy durable and buy as much coverage as you can afford.

www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/