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I have a Thinkpad and my D has a Vostro. They're both fine. Keep in mind that most of these laptops are fairly generic and have the same components in them since the laptop companies generally don't actually make any of the components themselves (that includes Apple laptops). You can usually spec nearly identical laptops from different manufacturers for comparison. However, try to avoid comparing a higher end one from one manufacturer to a lower end one from another (or even within a manufacturer's line) to pick the 'better' laptop since you'll end up comparing apples with oranges (whoops - how about oranges with grapefruit).
If you plan to carry the laptop a lot consider getting a 13-14" model. If not you might want something more in the 14-15.4" range. A 17" model is too big and heavy for a laptop IMO.
Buy from a major manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.), look for good deals, consider the features and aesthetics you care about (size, weight, battery life, ruggedness, 'style') and consider the warranty. If the laptop is for college, I recommend getting some kind of accidental coverage in case it's dropped or liquid is spilled on it. Dell offers good coverage for this and their response with replacement parts is excellent in our experience.
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