I do like a good lap dancer

[bluegargantua]

Hi,

So I'm in the market for a new laptop. Actually, I've been in the market for a new laptop for awhile, but thanks to my smart savings strategy (overpay on my taxes a bit so I always get a nice refund), I can now actually afford to get something that isn't a glorified Speak-n-Spell.

I am strongly considering getting a mac. I really like asciikitty's and it certainly fits my needs for a laptop. I am also considering getting a 15" or 17" -- mostly because the only thing I really don't like about her mac is the small screen size. This also means that I'm buying a pretty beefy machine. That's not a terrible thing since I tend to change laptops pretty infrequently so beefy now keeps it in the game that much longer.

But I still have a few questions. So for those of you who drink the Cupertino Kool-Aid regularly, I put forth the following:

1.) How likely is it that the current crop of MacBook pros will be replaced with a newer model in the near future? Like all laptop makers, Apple comes out with new versions on a regular basis and that's fine. I'd just hate to buy the current round just a few months before they replace it (and/or price drop the current round).

2.) How important is picking up an AppleCare package? Frankly, I doubt most laptops will blow up in the first 3 years of their existence which is why I never bother too much with extended warranty packages, but I've heard that dealing with Apple Repair can be a complete PITA and if you don't have AppleCare, they use the end with the Flange.

3.) Is there any software that I should buy right off the bat? Probably my biggest question in this regard is a decent word processing package, but is there any other "must-own" software that isn't free?

ETA -- 4.) Along those lines, are there any must-have accessories, peripherals that I should pick up to go with it?

I think that's it, but any other helpful advice you want to give will certainly be appreciated.

later
Tom