Al, thanks for the warning. :) The Dell is no doubt going to be pretty cool but I always go for what works best for my work scenario and right now that’s the HP. As for the optical drive, the one in the HP base station is only 7 mm thick so it could easily be taken on trips should the need arise. Personally I don’t like them integrated in my tablets as I want thinnest and lightest possible.

Don’t do it!

How could it be better than the Lenovo? Don’t you just HAVE to wait to see what Dell comes up with? And altho it’s pretty…there seems to be a lot of l’il things missing. And how come…to this day…Apple can fit a full-power optical reader/writer in their skinniest laptops and HP and Lenovo can’t??

Wow…a wave of curmudeonliness came over me!!

That’s cool Rob. I noted that the CDW prices are higher for the accessories- $213 for the slice battery and a whopping $345 for the base.

and same config….

That’s the same price I bought mine for several weeks ago – it is the Smart Buy deal.

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1247737

The trackstick is very well implemented.

I am trying to decide between the 2710, a custom built mini-desktop, or a consumer-design HP laptop. My only real concern over the 2710 is whether the lack of touchpad is going to be fustrating while traveling. Thoughts?