I'll tell ya - if you are going to shell out for a laptop - BUY A THINKPAD! I have had several personally, and I am currently using 3 (Home, travel, and one for my business,) set one up for my wife, and will be getting one for my oldest son soon. I have never been anything but pleased with the ThinkPad series laptops, they are very easy to work with, good stable OEM configurations, excellent choice of factory accessories, and the factory tech support (which I have only needed twice in ten years!) has come thru for me quickly! I actually had to send one of my machines in - IBM paid shipping both ways (both times,) turned it around inside of a day, and got me up and running each time!
The IBM T20 (my current 'main' machine) has taken care of me very well. Accessories:
Multi-port USB hub - with LPT, COM, 2xPS/2, 5xUSB
6XDVD-ROM
32X/4X (?) CD-RW
USB FDD
Second HDD adapter for UltraBay 2000
And that's just the stuff I have RIGHT NOW. Mre to come sometime soon...
I use the second ThinkPad (600E) for storing the bulk of my MP3 collection on for long trips - it plugs into my CD player in the dashboard of my truck. The third unit (760XD) I use for business - I don't need a fast modem for it, and it gives me the means to operate on the road AND have a completely segregated system for inspection purposes...
FFZ