[GeeTwo]

We've often used regular full-size laptops to do the programming. We've used many brands and sizes (usually the team members' or mentors' personal lap tops) and the two main features you're looking for there are general usability (placement and feed back from keys, good pointer solution, wide angle screen) and performance (RAM, CPU, disk). However, when we go to competitions or demos, we always come back to the clasmates (we have three now) because most laptops aren't built to handle the same level of stress. Whatever you get, make sure that your competition/demo computer is at least as rugged as the classmate.