Laptop purchase help

Got a friend who needs to buy a laptop for their son who's going to college.

Will be using Office and downloading music, I'm sure.

They don't have big bucks so I'm thinking $1000 or less.

Any brand you would recommend? Any you wouldn't?

They don't want to do the "over the Internet" thing so Dell is out.

Also, Can you still buy w/ XP or is everthing Vista now?