Cool. I use my cell phone for everything and I'm tired of all the hidden charges and stuff on my landline bill. All I really need the line for is FAX and occasional voice calls.

Re: Applecare. One good thing about Applecare is that you have 1 year from your time of purchase (of your computer) to buy Applecare. I recently used this option as it's nice to not have to front the entire cost.

Also, if you are deciding between a 15" and 17" powerbook, I strongly suggest you physically see/hold both before buying. I have a 15" instead of the 17" because the 17" is just too big for where I generally want to use it.

The 17" are quite wide and deep, that is very true.

I was looking at 15's when I got mine, and thought that the 17 would be too unwieldy. The thing that Apple got so right is making the 17 so thin. I carry it with me all over the country and have been quite amazed that the size hasn't bothered me.

I ended up on the 17 because the extra screen real estate trumped the potential hassles of a big machine. I do audio editing and being able to see a few more tracks on a mix is worth so much to me. I also do a lot of remote desktop control where I'll have up to 5 computers controlled from my laptop and again the extra screen area makes a big difference.

I need to stop by my local Apple store and touch them both. I don't want the laptop to be a) the "little" computer or b) so large it never moves. What's the selection like on computer bags for 17" laptops? Getting better, I figure. I'll need to track down a knapsack.

I like my 12" iBook because it is so small. Oddly enough, the 14" iBook has (or had when I bought it) the same screen resolution, even though the screen was bigger....

I've got one of the Brenthaven bags designed for the 17" PB's and it's quite nice. They are a bit pricey though. I think mine was around $170.

Like ND, I have the Brenthaven backpack, although mine is for my 15". I love it very much and take it with me everywhere.

I think ND is right on when it comes to the screen. When I do audio/viedo editting on my laptop, I'm always wishing I had a larger monitor (although it's okay w/a 15"). However, I edit maybe once a month while I need to fit my laptop plus textbooks on the table in front of me at school everyday. I think the choice is highly dependent on what you plan to use it for.

Lee's got a 17" Power Book.

I got the Linksys PAP2 and the Vonage service for my FAX line and it seems to be working quite well.

I am upstairs, on the Internet, on my Mac.

I am as a god among men.