I have been planning to replace both desktop and laptop. Do I need to make both choices at once? Are there compatability concerns?

I'm planning on XP Home, have basic DSL, only use wireless by-the-day sometimes when away, and need the two machines to somehow communicate. (Currently I use dial-up from the laptop and email accumulated laptop material to myself when I get home. That's sufficient.)

Laptop use is word processing, writing email (which I send at home), sometimes using an htm editor (for reports which I upload from home). Most important is weight, and a keyboard on which I can touch type.

Desktop is similar, a bit more software, etc. I don't do music, movies, ... I do get frustrated with slow web access, so memory matters, ...

I'm looking at the Sony T series, Averatec 1040 and Panasonic R4 for lightest laptops, have not at all made any choices for desktop (that seems just a box), have a keyboard I like, use a track ball which I might upgrade, and will purchase a flat screen monitor which I haven't researched either (past ones after looking at several, have been Sony).

And I guess upgrading most of my non-Microsoft software too.

Input?

Sylvia