I'm lazy, but don't want to waste money.  So, rather than scour all
kinds of sources for advice, perhaps a google researcher can help
solve the problem for me.
It is time to replace my laptop (a mac powerbook 3 years old).  I do
not do much 'fancy stuff', just word, excel, office stuff, and wish to
access my company's server from wherever I am.  I travel a fair bit,
and am very rough in my handling of the computer -- sometimes it goes
unprotected into a backpack for a motorcycle ride!  Wish to use it in
a wireless configuration to high speed internet at home, and in
travels.  No particular brand preferences or loyalties, provided the
qualifactions above are met.  I live in Canada but (if the savings are
great enough) can purchase in the U.S.
So, two questions:  
1.  Specifically which laptop (with 'extras') do you recommend?
2.  Where should I purchase it to get the best value.  (Note that the
best 'price' may not be the best 'value' if service, reliability,
etc., are not there.

---

Request for Question Clarification by till-ga on 13 Apr 2003 23:38 PDT

Having read your question I could not find out if you are looking for
a mac laptop again.
So please clarify, in case you are not fixed IŽd have a good
recommendation for you.

till-ga

---

Clarification of Question by marbuck-ga on 14 Apr 2003 05:50 PDT

I am not brand specific (does not need to be mac).  Notably, my
current mac is certainly more durable than its forgettable (brand
forgotten, even) predecessor in the sense of being able to take
physical abuse, but has been plagued by frequent crashes I think
because of some software incomptibilies.  Never got to the root of the
problem, so just reboot, over and over again.
Lightweight status would help but durability counts more.  Reviews and
independent verification of the laptops quality obviously are most
helpful in sorting through the hype.

---

Request for Question Clarification by till-ga on 14 Apr 2003 06:29 PDT

Sorry, but still I doubt if weŽre not talking on cross terms. What I
wanted to know is if you want a windows/ibm or an apple (mac) OS type
laptop.
I donŽt know if thereŽs a software emulation of a windows system on a
mac laptop that brings satisfying results.

till-ga

---

Clarification of Question by marbuck-ga on 14 Apr 2003 07:29 PDT

Again, it doesn't matter (provided reliability is there).  The
software I am currently using is entourage (office for mac) but office
xp on windows will provide all the functions we need.  I need to be
able to access remotely our windows based server from the office.

---

Clarification of Question by marbuck-ga on 16 Apr 2003 03:50 PDT

Thanks till-ga and others for your observations.  I will now close the
question.  The toshiba reference is validated by consumers report, for
which I paid about $20 to gain online access to their recommendations.
 Gateway comes a close second, they say.

Now it is time to go shopping.

marbuck...

See if this previous answer about laptops may be of value to you:
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=63030

If so, let me know...

sublime1-ga

two i think best fit our Question 1 is the (2*pc 2*mac)

Panasonic Toughbook 72 (CF-72X3JUZKM) PC Notebooks $2205- $2707 
 
http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Panasonic_Toughbook_72_(CF_72X3JUZKM)~FD-9007~PD-20718489

or the

Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 (470050-887) PC Notebooks Base Price $2200-
$2481
 
http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Compaq_Tablet_PC_TC1000_(470050_887)_PC_Notebooks~FD-9007~PD-20270920

for mac

Apple iBook (M8860LL/A) Notebooks Mac: Product Features $994- $1095

http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Apple_iBook_(M8860LL/A)~FD-460~PD-20270700

or the

Apple iBook (M8602LL/A) Notebooks Mac $1070- $1194

http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Apple_iBook_(M8602LL/A)~FD-460~PD-20247386

Toshiba
=======
I bought a Toshiba laptop in 1993 and it lasted for five years,
through airplane trips and lugging around buses and trains. It was
recommended to me by friends in the business as "the IBM of laptops".
    Eventually, I gave it away because its technology was out of date;
and last year bought another laptop:
Toshiba Satellite 1415-S173 (1.2-GHz Celeron, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard
drive).

    The Toshiba laptops seem to be heavier than the average, but
lightweight versions are available.

    A friend of mine who has a hewlett packard costing $3,000 with a
Pentium chip (Pentium 4, I think) says mine is better; if there's a
difference in speed of operation, it must be a fraction of a second;
and you can watch movies on it without speakers. I've seen complaints
on the 'net that the sound was 'tinny' and visuals not good .... That
has not been my experience.
    This particular model, has got many high-end features for a budget
price, around $1,200 including a year's warranty (c.$240 to extend the
warranty by two years, which Best Buy calls "a three-year warranty").
Even if you're not interested in this model, I do think that Toshiba
as a brand are worth looking at.

Where to buy: 
Obviously, you can buy online at www.shoptoshiba.com, but my
particular make was not available there, although it had been
recommended on tech tv and elsewhere. Mine may be too heavy for your
purposes, think it's about seven pounds.
I bought at a Best Buy store, and so I got a chance to get the look
and feel of the computer before I bought it; and I'd also checked out
the computer magazines to see their recommendations, and the
advertising deals available.

As there are some very informative comments that reflect my opinion
ord recommendations about laptops I think it were unfair to post an
answer that costs you money.
Just one hint: toshiba produces laptops of outstanding quality,
several scientits I know (who travel around the world a lot) use them.
But they are quite expensive. From my experience another really good
choice are acer laptops. For your purposes (office applications and
online) a high end laptop is not necessary at all. So please look at:
Acer Travelmate 230
( http://global.acer.com/products/notebook/tm230.htm )
were to buy:
( http://www.acer.com/app/akc/internet/aacpubli.nsf/allDocs/RWP20519B40433679F888256A53006B5A99?OpenDocument
)
phone contact:
1.800.637.7777

comparing prices:
( http://www.pricewatch.com/ ) 
select notebooks - then see brands -then select acer


I hope this helps.

till-ga