Laptops are tools.: Jeff, your points are valid from your point of view. I bought a used Toshiba Portege for my personal use for well under a $1000, so cost wasn't a big factor. I often use it to check email, work on my finances, and write short documents near my family as they watch TV, etc. I also use it as a client on my small home network to try out various things (usually after I've reconfigured the server somehow). I find the laptop affords flexibility, so that I have more time available for other recreations.