Thanks again for the suggestion...but my GF found a leather Perry Ellis briefcase-style bag with detachable shoulder strap discounted way down to $49.99 at the local Marshall's. The new PB fits perfectly - and the case smells great! (If I need a backpack, my old one will do.)

This is being typed on the PB, using the built-in Wi-Fi to go online. The light-up-in-the-dark keyboard is way cool and may help keep seatmates happy when I type on night flights. It's an expensive toy, but I like it.

Now to install some more software...

Me: Aluminum Powerbook 15" 1.25 Ghz 512 MB Superdrive

Wife: Aluminum Powerbook 12" 867 Mhz 512 MB Superdrive

We both use the Sleeves from Waterfield Designs. These are great for carrying it around and not worrying about it being scratched. It also pretty much fits in any bag.

I use a Tumi bag (when not carrying the sleeve alone) and am in the market for a new wheeled model that has a separate carrying case.

I've been a Mac user since 1984... (Mac SE, SE HDFD, IISi,IIFx, IICi, IIVx, Quadra 650, Umax S900, C500, Performas, Powerbooks 140, 145, 160, 165, 5300, Pismo, Bronze, Wallstreet, Titanium and Aluminum). I have a PC for games.

While I, too, have been a Mac fanatic since '84, I've been disappointed with Apple's year-after-year unwillingness to issue a truly low-weight laptop. Broke down and got my first Redmond-OS machine, Sony Vaio TR3A and love it for travel. It's 3.11 lbs fits my needs fine for business and leisure. Sorry, Steve, I waited as long as I could.

Those Sony TR3s are hot machines. The Japanese versions are even more loaded than the US models and are available at Dynamism.com. A friend got a Japanese model from there and loves it.
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I run an iMac and and IBook at home and (due to the corp policy) a Toshiba portege for work. The portege is super light with an excellent keyboard and doesn't come with a CD/DVD drive - but I don't want one on the road.

If I want a machine I need to watch a DVD on, or my small child needs to watch a DVD on, I take the bulkier iBook.

My dream machine would be a light apple accepted by the corporate purchasing gods.

I'm not sure if Apple uses me of if I use them. You might say it's symbiotic.

We've got a bit of a collection:

1 AppleII+ wth graphics tablet salvaged from the 'rents' garage
Some old Quadra out in our garage
2 Wallstreet PowerBooks
1 Lombard Powerbook
1 Shiner AIX server once used in some capacity by Tech Support, was replaced with an XServe
Several Newtons: 100, 120, 130, 2000 that was upgraded to a 2100
1 QuickTake digital camera
1 Ti Powerbook, currently in use by my SO
1 iBook 14" 700 MHz in use by me
1 G4 450 tower for remote work, from the office. 4 years old, still works great!

oh- and a 1st gen iPod.

We also have a couple of racks' worth of other non-Apple stuff for my bf's lab. I dunno what it all is. It's just noisy.

-S