I've got around to buying an updated laptop. It's a Dell Latitude CPX. OK, it's not state-of-the-art, but with a PIII processor and a 6GB Hdd it's not to be sniffed at either!
The old laptop (Toshiba Satellite Pro 430CDS) really is coming to the end of it's useful life. I have to face that fact. No USB ports and no easy way to change the boot sequence either. (It really didn't like bootable CDs).
Anyway, I've ordered the replacement today and it's due to arrive on Wednesday. The plan is to install Linux on it and buy a wireless NIC and possibly a 10/100 network card. The good news is right after I bought it, I found a Linux website praising it's install capabilities!

Things are looking up.