You'd be surprised - Mark & I usually have Sony laptops that I switch out every 2 years (so always in warranty - 1 yr from Sony & 1 yr from the credit card) - I sell the old ones on Ebay. So average cost of a new one is $700 and the old one sells for $300-400 on Ebay - net cost for the new one is $300-400. Mark's new computer was a total "home run" - got the Best Buy black friday mistake for $400 and sold the old one for $340.

Back on topic, I see the iPad as a good alternative for my iPodTouch and Netbook which would reduce my traveling electronic "stuff" by one piece.