Shopping list
This is for student laptops, though based on the tools I have found so empowering.
Macbook (the artist formerly known as an iBook) with the usual stuff including the full iLife suite.
Apple Care
.mac account
QuickTime Pro licence
Snapz Pro
MS Word
iSight camera (unless it’s built in)
Firefox for the browser
And here’s an impressive argument from Gary Stager - a whole website seemingly devoted to selling the concept of 1:1 laptops for learners.