Win 7 incorporated a number of changes that don’t get along with older applications. But you can run a XP VM under 32 bit win 7. I did this one time for someone about 2 years ago and she still uses it.

FWIW I bought a Dell laptop with a 17” form factor running Win 7 pro x64 a couple of years ago. Paid about $800 and it has been a very suitable portable workstation.

The thing to do with Dell is to price a platform on their web site, and then save a print preview as a PDF or similar. After that call Dell sales and ask if they can offer a better price. Get their email and send the item you saved. Unless the offer at their web site is a bottom product or at a giveaway price, they typically will beat the web site price.

PS: I don’t recommend going with 32 bit architecture at this point. It’s a dead product and very few support it plus there is 0 future.

The added cost for an x64 is trivial and helps to insure that it will get along with stuff in the coming years.