Laptop Suggestion Help

Hey I have a computer illiterate friend who is getting sent off to Iraq here in a few months and they asked me to help them find a relatively inexpensive laptop top (less than 800 dollars) that will be good for playing DVD's and playing some games (e.g. Sims 2). Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experience with shopping for laptops, so I was wondering if you all could help me / my friend out by pointing us in the right direction or if any of you all have suggestions it would be much appreciated.

Some of the laptops that I am currently looking at are:
~TOSHIBA Satellite A135-S2266 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114335 )

~TOSHIBA Satellite A135-S4527 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114343 )

~ASUS A6 Series A6RP-AP067A ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220134 )

I'm leaning towards the Satellite A135-S2266 , I've had a bad experience with a Toshiba in the past but some of my friends have had good experiences with Satellite series. Anyways, if anyone can comment on that or give any suggestions it would be a great help. Thanks in advance with any help you all can give.

I've never had a laptop by any of those companies, but we were talking about something similar recently here

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic72629.html