Engineers what computer should I get???

I'm a computer systems engineer and have a thinkpad. It's a really good computer and runs all kinds of engineering programs no problem, lots of cpu and graphics power. FYI a lot of software I've used in classes is windows only, stuff like circuit simulation with PSpice, component simulation, circuit analysis (with a usb board attachment) and embedded control programs. Its def worth getting a nice PC for engineering.

I understand that you are looking for a laptop that is going to have a workhorse processor, but a good graphics card is very important as well.  I do not know how well a MAC has for graphics power, but I'm currently running an ASUS PC computer that can handle any workload I throw at it.  I would not recommend this pc to you though because you had mentioned a laptop that can handle being roughed up a little bit.  Maybe you should look into a toughbook?  I believe a panasonic toughbook is made specifically for engineers that bring their laptops to the job site.  Here is one that I found:

http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/toughbook-products.asp

There is a varying level of ruggedness that you can pick....

I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but here is a semi-rugged laptop

http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/semi-rugged-laptops-toughbook-52-details.asp

Be careful of these though, as you have noticed they are 7.5 lbs....  So they are not puny.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a good office laptop that has very good value is this following one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220495

Again you notice that this laptop is only 13.3" so ideally you would want to set it up with an alternate screen.

Don't ask me anything about MACs because I have no clue, but you should check them out too.

don't bring a laptop to a jobsite unless your company paid for it.  in fact don't bring anything to the jobsite unless your company paid for it or you can get it comped. 

macbook pro and bootcamp it

good point

just use the company laptop.

This wont be really a job site laptop. I want it more to travel with me from home to work and on trips. Like I said Im still in school but have more Co-ops coming and soon I will be graduating. I may have said things unclearly in my original post, sorry. I am seeing basically what you guys use, or have seen people using and how you would rate them. Also, should I wait for Windows 7 to come out before pulling the trigger? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks!

To those who posted advice... THANKS +++K

im an engineer major and our school requires us to have tablet pcs.  Ive got a fujistusu lifebook and like it, but a lot of people say they have problems with it.  The only problem i've had is that after a couple months it loses most of its battery life.  These are the computers that our school(virginia tech) has been pushing incoming freshman to get for a couple years.

Ive seen some nice hp tablets that people say they like.