I agree that this is incredibly useful, and the only way to learn proper reasoning and argumentation is to practice it.
That being said, I studied history and learned those exact same things. I have nothing against philosophy, but there are other disciplines that will teach you to reason equally well. Some will also teach you other things (languages, research skills, etc.) that philosophy doesn't teach.
If someone is specifically interested in the questions philosophy grapples with, that's a good reason to study it. But there are other (and I'm personal inclined to say better) ways to learn argumentation.
This is good to know - I also commute by bike, hence my concern about build quality.
Incidentally, I'm overwhelmed by the response rate to my question. I posted it two hours ago, expecting to be ignored as a newcomer, and went off to do some reading. I can't thank everyone enough for the feedback, although I'm still on the fence.
Get a padded sleeve for your laptop. I paid $9 for a Timbuk2 sleeve at REI on sale. I've taken some whoppers on my bike with my laptops in my messenger bag (enough to put me in the hospital) and the sleeves seem to do a really good job of protecting them.
If you are in the market for a new messenger bag, the re:Load people have a particularly thick sleeve that they used to offer at a discount when you bought one of their bags. (which rule)
Yeah, I'm noticing a pretty even split between the MB/MBP vs ThinkPad. Guess that means you can't go wrong either way unless the type of work you'll be doing depends on an OS-specific feature.
For example: Consider what mobile platforms you will be developing for. If that includes iPhone, an MB/MBP will be essential (iPhone is probably not a market any of us want to ignore at this point).
If you're open to different operating systems, and a student, it sounds like you could tolerate a not-so-premium setup if it came to that. I'm guessing you're not really a gamer, and probably not doing extreme graphics or video work. In that case, a Thinkpad or MBP might be overkill. Alternatives:
1. Look for cheaper Linux laptops from Dell or HP. I get the feeling that the laptop as we know it is going to change significantly within the next couple of years, at the very least with solid-state hard drives, so why bother with a top-of-the-line machine right now? And, you'll probably be making a lot more money once you're out of school, so you'll be tempted to splurge then anyway.
2. Get one of these newfangled ultra-portables like the Asus eeePC or Everex Cloudbook. (I've been eying the Cloudbook myself.) If this programming thing becomes a habit for you then you might also develop the habit of collecting computers. In that case you could have a "serious" (but still semi-cheap) desktop computer at home, with a decent-sized display and hard drive, do most of your work on it, and also use it as a server of some sort in your home. The ultra-portable would be for, ya know, laptop stuff.
(Disclaimer: I'm laughably frugal, and my company also supplies me with a real laptop -- a Thinkpad R61 -- which I like.)
Unless you plan on replacing your laptop regularly or not taking it places, buying an HP or Dell may not be the most frugal decision. Apples and Thinkpads have metal frames that keep internal components from flexing and breaking solder joints[0]. Dells, HPs and most other cheaper laptops don't. I don't have any hard data for it, but I think laptops with frames last longer. I know several people who's computational needs aren't demanding who are still using iBooks and Thinkpads made in 2000.
[0] iBooks seem to break the BGAs on their video chips a lot anyway, but I don't think any new Apples have that problem.
While the Times article certainly has an alarmist tone, American fertility rates are an anomaly in the industrialized world.