Honestly I would say leave it at home. Also they are kind of heavy and take up valuble space in luggage as well it’s just one more thing that can get stolen, lost etc. etc.. As far as keeping in touch with people you can go to internet cafes for a small fee or some hostels even have computers you can use.

I’ll second that, leave it at home, besides every hostel I have ever been in has internet access, sometimes for free. Also there aren’t very many free wireless hotspots in Europe and you will always run the risk of somebody stealing it.

Unless you are a professional author/reporter, it will be useless. Leave it.

I take the laptop only if I’m going to be in one place for 1 1/2 weeks or longer and I know I will have a decently priced, fast internet connection.

If you are brining a laptop just to use the internet I don’t think its worth it.  Its difficult to find a hostel that doesn’t provide a computer with internet, some are free, some are a little pricey (usually the larger hostels charge).  Some hostels will have wifi, some will not, some cafes will charge for it, some will not.  Unless its necessary for work or some serious digital photo editing/proofing, I think its best left at home because its too heavy and too risky. 

     One of the main reasons I wanted to bring it was because I need to plug in my camera to upload pictures (unless I want to purchase more memory cards but in that case I can’t send pictures.), and charge my camera (major pain w/o my camera programs).  But I guess if its really that bad an idea…

If you want to dump photos get an epsom P-3000 or P-5000 you can dump a lot of images into one and it’s cheaper than a laptop, or buy more memory cards, they are dirt cheap nowadays, or you could go into any photo shop and get them to download your memory card to CD roms for you. As for charging you camera it should have come with a mains power charger, just get a set of adapter plugs and you won’t have to use your laptop.

Most hostels also have cd burners and cds.  A card reader might be a good purchase though. 
What the hell kind of camera do you have that is a pain to charge w/o programs???

Perhaps by this:

Im leaving sunday for a couple of weeks around paris & london, im taking my mac with me so i can upload pics, charge phone/camera, keep people posted and i guess ill do a picture blog as i travel around. It will also be nice for those inbetween train/flight times, it stays in my day pack which will be attached to me at all times so i dont think im going to have much to worry about theft wise

Justin