I ended up choosing the 700m over the Vaio S170. The main reason is that you can't customize VAIO's in Canada so it was going to be $3500CDN for a VAIO with 64mb ATI Radeon 9700, and thats without an extra battery or extended warranty. Compare that to the $2800CDN for the Inspiron 700m with a slightly faster proessor and extra battery and 3 year complete care.

Now, comparing Radeon 9200 to Dells integrated graphics, check out the CNET review:

"The system uses Intel's integrated graphics processor and up to 64MB of system RAM, which is superior to the ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics chip and the 32MB of dedicated graphics RAM found in the Sony V505." (also found in the S150/S170).

I personally wouldn't go for the Sony unless you get it with 64mb of graphics RAM...

It looks like the Dell is probably the way I'll go.  I know the extended battery is a few ounces (7 oz, I think), but how does it change the factory dimensions of the unit.  CNET mentions is adds to one of the dimensions but it doesn't say which one.  I'm assuming it's the depth, is that right?

Thanks for the replies.

Many 3D gamers are disputing the Cnet artical on video graphics.  I currently have the s150 after dell delayed the 700m.  I can tell you first hand (having just sold an intel extreme graphics powered notebook with 64MB ram) that the 32MB of dedicated ram is much more powerful and  faster.  Several more experienced users and testers have refuted this claim also.  If you visit Notebookforums.com they have a whole string on this topic under their s150 string regarding the debate. According to these folks, Cnet got it wrong.  I have noticed this from them in the recent past as well.  You can also, see the PC Mag reveiw of the 700m for more comment regarding graphics.  I use mine to drive a projector and the intel solution will note even allow dual displays without flicker and skipping.  The s150 drives both displays perfectly.  I do not play 3D games, so I cannot comment on that aspect, but would suspect, as on Notebookforums, that the ATI solution to be much faster.  Hope this helps. 

I thought the Cnet review sounded strange when it came to the graphics.

Either way, had Dell made the 700m with dedicated graphics, I probably would have bought 2!

I was about to buy the S150 or S170 - but as I was considering it, the 700m debuted 7/27 and I went for it. Why?

For my purposes, the 64MB Intel graphics were plenty, and I bought the CNET review saying it was better than the Sony's 32MB ATI card. But that wasn't my main concern.

The fact that the 700m had an SD card slot opposed to a Memory stick slot was one reason I got the 700m - it works great with my Axim X3.

Another reason, the cost of getting the 700m with extended batt and DVD+RW was about $2,000, whereas for the Sony with the same specs I was looking at $2,300. That was the breaker right there.

Not to mention that I preferred the slightly smaller screen of the 700m, and it was nearly as svelte as the Sony Vaio S series laptop.

I do not regret getting the 700m for a moment!