Wow a big thanks to everyone commenting here!! Great recommendations so far (apart from the mac :P </troll> just joking, but for our special case is apple no option, thanks anyway!), I'll check them all! :D
PS: the link to the ubuntu page with certified hardware is great!
Write a service for people who got the same issue like you: A web(app|page), where people can submit their computer problems like "I need an application, that scans my calendar from <insert calendar provider here> and alerts me in my browser ten minutes before the event comes up". Programmers than could just pick a task from it and post the solution. The whole thing can be expanded to the maximum like payed work, featured idea's, collaboration / team finding based on activity stats .. you name it :)
I hope this helps you a bit..
./sz0ka