Well, college laptops are supposed to be a kind of budget laptops.
I have no clue about which brand to buy in budget laptops(We got a lenovo 3000 N500 series a budget laptop with GF9300M card, works great, CPU is t3400, nice laptop)
But I can tell you the specifications required. 2 types: 1 - A laptop that can also be used as home theather laptop:
(like mine) which you can watch HD on external TV monitors, you need an hdmi and at least Intel graphics accelerator X4500MHD with an HDMI to connect to Television(Nvidia card laptops or ati are pricier but can also serve with HD movies an HDMI) which is a integrated card who is good enough for watching HD movies. You will also need a nice processor, id say around the T5xxx at least for some good processing. Most laptops that come with those specs will have an OK mobo(just what you need) a big Hard drive is also vital for some movies. (a Blu Ray drive will make it TOO pricy, by HD i meant if you have anyway to activate it from external hard drive, disk on key or warezing from internet) CPU speed should be at least around 2.20ghz
The other one is only for office works like internet and word: There is the x3100 video card of Intel(integrated) which is ok, I'd get the x4500 though, its the newer one who will be better overtime, when internet will also have higher demands from Gcards(who knows what will come after flash)
I'd also get at least t5xxx Intel processor(its core 2 duo i believe) so your pc will work in a speed which will satisfy you (We got an T3400 processor, it is very on the edge, sometimes it is a bit too slow in certain things, especially because the wear and tear of this laptop is low because we hardly use it)
Same, CPU speed should be around 2.20ghz. I also believe at least 160gb hard drive will do, although most(even cheap) laptops today come with 250gb sata easily and commonly.
About screen size, I'd get in around the 15 inch zone, since the smaller screens like 13.3 get me mad with the size of it.
And this is just me - but don't buy a lighter(in weight) laptop than 3.5 kg. It is just 3.5 kg after all, the lighter it is youll have to pay more for less, AND IT IS JUST FRICKING WEIGHT, DON'T CRY "I DONT WANT TO CARRY 3.5 KG WHHHHHHHEEEE *crying*", just get a case for the laptop, stand straight(no hunchback, damage your back overtime) maybe you will even gain some muscles. Remember - it is just weight, no need to cry about it, especially when its about money.
Also make sure the built quality is at least nice, try laptop reviews and different forums, search Google, you know the drill. Also make sure it has no cooling problems.
hope it helped,
regards with love - Sex