"Anyone who has both a desktop and a laptop computer can attest to the headache of synchronizing information between the two, not to mention keeping both systems running efficiently and free of spam, viruses, and spyware. Then there's all the space that having two separate systems takes up -- who among us wouldn't welcome a bit more elbow room? Small wonder, then, that more and more people are deciding to dump their desktops for good and become full-time laptop users.

But using a laptop as your sole computer can be tricky. It all boils down to The Rule Of Portability, which states that, inevitably, there are tradeoffs in price, performance, and usability when computers and other devices become smaller and more mobile. In addition, there are security issues related to leading a laptop-only life that you don't face with desktops.

I had been considering the switch as I found that the time I spent managing three home desktop computers and a laptop was increasing. Plus, I've become increasingly mobile. So I consulted a few experts about the best way to lead an all-laptop life. Here's what they had to say about how to live happily -- and securely -- with your full-time laptop."

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More on how to get that Laptop Lifestyle going at Information Week