Expert: Bob - 2/8/2007

Question
The AutoCAD 2007 system requirements include "Intel Pentium IV recommended". What problems will I have if I try to run 2007 on a laptop with a 1.7GHz Intel Celeron M 390 or maybe an AMD processor with equiivalent speed? I am not an AutoCAD user, but am shopping for an inexpensive new/used/refurbished laptop for field use by our AutoCAD users.

Answer
OUCH!  -- unless, since you do not say what is to take place in the field, I mistake you.
Please do not buy a secretary computer for graphics use. Your people will be paid to stand around cursing you while it limps along, slowing down work.
If they will be doing only small revisions or markups to 2D work on simple projects, with few XREFs, you might get buy, but why chance it?
If they go in the field just to show the work and mark it up, they could make DWFs of the drawings and view on a cheap machine with a free Autodesk viewer.
Get a Dell refurb -- and tell the salesperson what it is for. Minimum 512 ram, any P4, good graphics card, large screen is important.

BUT -- Vista is here****, and AutoCAD 2008, Revit, etc are coming. If you definitely need only one laptop, I might get one that runs Vista,  and is overpowered for AutoCAD 2007, since you are likely to upgrade software in the life of the computer. But we wont know for several weeks what the AutoCAD 2007 patch is for Vista, so you have to wait.
If you are likely to need a second one, get a refurb now that is "good enough but not top of the line" -- easy to look up in Autodesk Discussion groups. (have a user do it) or ask Dell. Dont waste money and time on a cheapie -- you are in this for 1000-1500 bucks, for a good refurb.
Again, you were not specific  -- if you have very very simple work,  you can dial back down a hair -- my best shot!

BOB

***** Vista is going to mean new machines to use it well, apparently. It will eclipse XP within a year or so, and the various AutoCADs will evolve to use it, taking more power.