I am a heavy consumer of lap top computers. I upgrade about once a year but don't throw the old ones out as they can easily cope with domestic applications.

I current have a newish high-spec Acer which is spectacularly badly designed and extremely fragile. I am reluctant to take it out in public in case savvy computer people see it and laugh at me. I'm typing this on an old IBM notebook as the Acer is currently cooling (if you leave it on for any length of time the battery gets hot and the machine smells).

I got the IBM at the IBM scratched and dented store in suburban Toronto, it was new but cheap because there was no box or manual. I've had it a while; I threw it out of a hotel window in San Jose before the dot com boom collapsed and it still has sand in its slots. Nonetheless, it marches on.

My next machine will be an IBM. Everyone should try an IBM. Once you use a clittoral mouse all other pointing devices seem crude and cumbersome.

OK. I'll rise to the bait. Explain yourself.

Gmlphf! I've just experienced a coffee, keyboard interface moment!
(Dell Latitude D410, small and the battery is crap if anyone wants to know but does have clitoral mouse albeit in blue rather than pink)

I only have the 2 sony ones i mentioned to choose from. i have now found out the best one at where I work is the Sony Vaio VGN-N31 Z/W its a core 2 duo with 1.66ghz and 2048 mb memory. And a 256 graphic card.
My current desk top which is 4 years old is a pentium 4 with 2.4 ghz and 1028 memory. Has a 128 graphics card. All my software runs nicely on it and I want a laptop that does the same or better.

I dont know but I am hoping the sony one is good and will be able to do same or better job then my desk top. I mainly plan on just usign it for odd graphics and showing customers things on the road and maybe playing dvds etc. I will have a desk top at my new job in canada and will buy a desktop eventually for the home. For now though I need a laptop. So what you think guys will the sony one be good enough?

IBM machines have a red button thingy to use as a mouse (as well as a touchpad), the red button thingy is sensitive, pleasing to the touch and although initially difficult for a man to master, inifintely rewarding once he does. What would you call it?

Innuendo, in spades.

Just phoned the sony center and acted like I was buying directly from them even though I am not lol. Manage to ask them many questions and compare my desktop to the VAIO N31 ZW and sounds very promising. They said they did not have it in stock yet as its new and comes in 2 weeks so is top of that line. I think it should be fine for what I want. So gonna buy it from costcos where I used to work and my dad still works. So get a nice discount Will have to wait a week or so to get it but when I do will let you know if I made the right choice. Lets hope Its the right choice. As long as it works and performs fast and smooth will be fine.

I'm using a white MacBook (non-pro). It runs Mac OS X and Windows XP very well. It's pretty small (not necessarily a bad thing), but the display is excellent and the keyboard responsive. It's got a built-in webcam amongst all the other usual gubbins and battery life seems very good; although it can get a bit too hot for genuine "lap-top" use.

Thanks for the input on MacBooks - maybe we should really look at getting one we we realise ours can't be mended - already been in the shop for a week - the guys said it should be done in a week - ho hum - not looking forward to traipsing round all the electrical retailers looking at the blinking things again - one of those rare females - don't like shopping and would rather be looking at bathroom fittings if we have to do any shopping...