[maxwalrath]

Which is better...

2GB RAM, dedicated NVIDIA 256MB graphics card
3GB RAM, integrated Intel graphics card

I won't be doing any real gaming, but I will use this laptop to output tv / movies to a plasma tv via a hdmi output.  I'm not sure if I'll be running Vista or XP...I hear Vista takes a lot of space.  The price of these two laptops is about the same.  Thanks for your opinion!

[ctviggen]

I would say the first.  Usually graphics memory is faster than computer RAM. 

[srb]

The 2GB/nVidia discrete model can probably be upgraded to 3GB for ~ $30.00.  There would most likely be no way to upgrade the video in the 3GB/Intel integrated model.
 
As far as which video setup has the better video upscaling and fine tuning capability for your plasma TV would be more a function of the drivers and the age/generation of the video chips than whether it is a discrete video card with its own memory versus integrated video with shared memory.
 
But if they both have HDMI output, then they are probably both latest generation, and I would go with the 2GB/nVidia model.
 
Steve