If you had $1500 for a laptop and gear, what would you buy?

[joel]

I am planning to spend about $1500 for a new laptop, primarily to use MS Office software, Quickbooks, and similar programs for my business. However, I also want it to be sufficient for making basic sound recordings to burn spoken word audio CDs and to produce a fairly basic podcast (also mostly spoken word such as interviews, discussions).

The challenge is this: If you had ~$1500 for a laptop and gear (sound card, mic, etc), what would you buy to get the most bang for your buck?

Thanks,
Joel in Maine

[X Pat Radio]

A computer with Firewire, a Behringer FCA202, Shure SM57/58 and all the rest on the computer, probably a Lenovo if I could, or look at the newspaper ads on the weekend for deals.

[kevdo]

A MacBook with a Samson C01U mic.