Three reasons to toss the keyboard: (1) bring back the joy of computing, (2) live on the edge of advances, and (3) learn to write again. When I die, they will need to wrestle my Tablet PC from my grip.

Then, with one tap of the pen directly in front of the receiver, you turn the pen into a mouse. The Tablet PC features of Windows Vista are all at your disposal at this point, too, converting your 50 cent

The basic 14-inch Inspiron 1420 is a reasonable choice for budget buyers who want something a little smaller than the standard 15-inch chassis, but this laptop has missed out on recent updates other Inspiron models have received.

marries strong performance and battery life with a compact, well-designed case.

is the textbook example of a midsize, mainstream laptop--a basic workhorse with few surprises. It may be a bit large for daily campus travel, but it should last you the full four years.