How long do you plan on being in the Middle East? A couple of years, get the laptop in North America and convert the power. Longer get it here.
Cell phones, get a quad band phone for a GSM network, it will work anywhere in the world by changing the chip. When I go back to USA, I use a Cingular chip, for rest of the world, I use my Qtel chip. Carry the extra chip in my wallet, change at the airport when I land.
How long do you plan on being in the Middle East? A couple of years, get the laptop in North America and convert the power. Longer get it here.
Cell phones, get a quad band phone for a GSM network, it will work anywhere in the world by changing the chip. When I go back to USA, I use a Cingular chip, for rest of the world, I use my Qtel chip. Carry the extra chip in my wallet, change at the airport when I land.