Thanks. This one is only about 15 months old, but I tend to replace every 18 months or so. It's my second 17" and I've adored them.

Oh, I hear ya. I LOVED mine. I was able to get two and if absolutely necessary, three pages of manuscript on the screen, which rocked when doing revisions, but like I said, the hauling around was a pain. If they ever make one that's a bit lighter, I may just go back to it. Also, as Vortex said, it's a pain to find bags that will accommodate them comfortably.

I'm looking at all three breeds of MacBooks, and I honestly have no idea which one to get. I've never used a laptop before, and I have no idea how I would use it. Do I want something to carry around with me? Do I want a desktop replacement?

It doesn't help that the high-end MacBook, the low-end Pro and the Air are all at approximately the same price point.

It doesn't help that the high-end MacBook, the low-end Pro and the Air are all at approximately the same price point.

Get all three and make them fight!

I like laptops as my main computer for their small, mobile profile... on my dining room table. OK, now that I have wireless it also moves to...a tv table in front of the couch. Only one piece I can close and not look at. I really ddn't like having a monitor on the table when the old laptop screen went on the fritz. I've never travelled with one yet (but the old one was tethered to a phone line, no wireless.)

I would have to say that for someone who wants basic functionality, and compatibility with the world, and lives in an XP environment, XP is probably the way to go. I love my underpowered Linpus notebook, but specifically for very light use.

Shir, if you are that un-tech, I'd say look again at MacOS

I'm hardly familiar with Macs. They're really not common in Israel, since Apple doesn't have a good local support for them here and the lack of Apple stores. We can't even have iTunes, for instance - Apple doesn't accept Israeli credit cards.

Again, there is a lot to be said for using what everyone else uses. For the one thing, you have lots of sources of support in your time zone.

I mean if you know a lot of Linux geeks, then it might be worth considering Linux. It might well do everything you want. But if you know a lot more XP experts than Linux gurus, that is a good argument for XP.

Yep, and one of the reasons I'm gonna get a Lenovo is the great recommendations I got about them from my friends.

I'm just not sure which model to get, that's all.

Yeah, ND, I'm a big fan of the 17" screen, too. It is fab, and I don't mind the extra weight. Well worth it for my functions.

Shir, what are you needing to use it for specifically? Will you want to do a lot of media stuff on it? Lots of processing? Just data stuff like word processing & spreadsheets? How much of a music junkie; do you need a lot of hard drive space?