Come on though, how useful is having a big old laptop at a meeting?? For note taking? Presentation? If you're sketching and such an 11x14 pad of paper makes a lot of sense, but the difference between a 12 inch and 17 inch laptop seems tiny as far as usefulness is concerned. You can type just as fast on either. And with the 12 inch you don't have to peer over a goddamned 17 inch laptop to talk to someone. Why not just supplement your sketchpad with a voice recorder. You'll be all set.