Thank ya'll for the info!

Neroanatomist, you convinced me that 4 GB of ram will do for now. That being the case I can stay in my price range and get a 15" Pro that I can upgrade one day with more ram and an SSD.

HDNithawk, you made reconsider getting a 15" for the quad core proc and the improved graphics. Besides my eyes aren't what they once were and the screen on a laptop will be a little farther from my eyes than my iPad is, given there is a keyboard is in the way.

The numbers:
2.2GHz quad-core
Intel Core i7
4GB 1333MHz
500GB 5400-rpm1
Intel HD Graphics 3000
AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB GDDR5
$1799.00

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I only live about ten minutes from the only Apple store in Mississippi. So, I've had ample opportunity to fondle the Macs and I have to say I love the multitouch pad on them. I'm really stoked about getting one. It'll be the first laptop I've had on which I won't have to use a separate mouse!