I want to buy a lap-top. Nothing fancy, but robust, and costing close
to £500. I would consider second-hand, but I also need a decent
warranty.

These compatability bits are important:

Windows XP (Home)
Internal CD-rew (with DVD/CD combined) and 
Internal modem
Standard size key-board layout of the main keys, and
the biggest screen possible.

Hard drive and RAM, A:drive, USB ports etc (and anything else) as necessary
to support this. I don’t use games/graphics/greedy stuff. I just need
some stylish back-up.

I'm also in the UK.

Thankyou

Dear cherry-ga,

The laptop that you are looking for, along with a warranty, is not
available in the price range because the CD-RW DVD drastically raises
the cost.

If you could consider changing your price range, this lap top meets
your needs:


Elite Distributors
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/elite-distributors/kds68pen10no.html

“The Valiant 681XH Notebook / Laptop Computer
Pentium III processor running at 1GHz
14.1" TFT display, 256 MB RAM, Windows XP Home
DVD+CDRW drive, 1.44 FDD, 20GB HDD
Modem + LAN, Li-Ion battery”

It costs $1,249.95, or 819.135 GBP
I converted the money using:

Universal Currency Converter
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi

You can also log on to:

New Computers
http://www.pricewatch.com

Under “Systems”, click “notebooks”. In the search engine, enter CD-RW
DVD since that is your most distinctive feature. The computer choices
are always changing, and you may find a laptop that better suits your
needs than the one I offered above.
I also researched used computers, but the ones with your features did
not offer warranties. Few were actually close to your price range.
 
Search terms used:

convert Pounds Dollars
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=convert+Pounds+Dollars&btnG=Google+Search

notebook CD-RW DVD
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=notebook+CD-RW+DVD

I hope this information helps. Please contact me if you are not
satisfied with my research. I am almost certain that you cannot find a
laptop within your price range of 500 pounds. However, I would
recommend the laptop computer from Elite Distributors that only adds
about 300 pounds to your price range. Thank you.

Best regards, 

ukiguy

So far, all my Google Answerers (and helpful comments) have been
great! None of them have actually managed to give me the answer I was
looking for, but they've provided very useful pointers to the
solution.

Great

ukiguy-ga, for example, gave lots of useful stuff, but perhaps missed
the point that as I was interested in warranties, purchasing from a US
site wasn't attractive; I don't know what the postal cost of importing
a lap top is,let alone returning it for repair, but I do know that
Customs and Excise (in the UK) charge majorly.

Some used machines:

   http://www.laptopkings.com/main.html

You may need to add a "backpack" to get the CD-RW capability.  

The laptopkings are currently listing a Dell Latitude CPX H500GT
Pentium III 500MHz with 14.1" TFT screen 128MB of RAM 12GB hard drive
space, CD-ROM drive, Floppy drive, with 56K modem, internet ready w/
restore disks and a 6 month warranty
Regular price: $1,129.00
Sale price: $749.99
six month warranty

Compaq Armada 7400
Intel Pentium II 366MHz processor with 13.3" TFT display, 192MB of
RAM, 10GB of hard disk space, DVD-ROM, floppy drive, 56k modem,
internet ready, windows 98SE with 6 month warranty
Regular price: $1,250.00
Sale price: $679.99

Neither of these machines come with XP which may be difficult to find
but have barely sufficient RAM for XP to load (forget all that 64MB
stuff)...

Good luck in your search..

seedy

It might be worth your while checking out Morgan Computers.  They have
branches in Tottenham Court Rd, next to Manchester Piccadilly Station
and in Birmingham (I forget exactly where), as well as mail order
through their web site www.morgancomputers.co.uk/ If you are flexible,
you can find some great deals there among reconditioned and
end-of-line machines.  I've had a couple of laptops from them myself
and was always satisfied.  They do give a warranty.

The only downside is that you might find some of the best bargains
have no operating system installed.  I think that you can arrange for
this to be done for you at an extra cost, as well as have other bits
and pieces fitted according to your requirements.  Also, you need to
be wary if you want a standard keyboard, as some of their stuff will
have the US layout.