...buying a computer should be an experience somewhere between buying a car and buying a chip. The key word is "research."

There are two entries into a single site that have reviews of lots of computers:

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/?tag=zdfd.header6

http://reviews.cnet.com/?tag=cnetfd.sb

Go have a look at what they have to say. I'd also like to say that I like Don's idea of having a laptop as a sole computer. You can get a docking station and connect all of your peripherals and you won't see the difference. Then you can pop it out and take all of your chip scans to the convention.

Just like Don.

And, if you like the idea, there are now three distinct flavors of laptops... from ultraportables with 12.1" screens to desktop replacements with 17" screens (whichever you decide on, there will be times you wish you had the other extreme).

Have fun with it!