I'll speak up for the Hi-Grade/ASUS range although the customer support left me a bit grumpy.
The 8400 range would do the job; they are clunky but very robust. DVD/CD drive and Floppy drive are integral. For his room he would run off the charger so battery life not too critical.
I passed on my 7400 to No 3 son at Uni; when I used it I liked to warm my fingers in the airflow from the vent on the left side and coming up through the keyboard.
New, they're expensive at £1200 or so but you may get a used one for less. PC World bulk buy from Hi-Grade/ASUS and put their own badges on. Worth a look. If I wanted similar again I might be tempted to try another one.
Lacking a Firewire Port but has double PC Card slots.
An ideal solution for a student in a small study bedroom