Taxes on bringing a new laptop back from the U.S.

I'm headed back to the US for a working vacation, and I was thinking of upgrading my MacBook to something bigger and better while I'm there. I would be carrying both computers back with me on the plane. (Yes, I know that I should just buy it here, but I get a student discount so it's much cheaper.) Has anyone else done this? Are there any rules/regulations that I should be aware of? I've already searched the laptop threads, but they mostly discuss shipping laptops.

Ship the contents of the new laptop stuff back via mail and bring both laptops back with you in your carry on. Why would they care that you carry two laptops when you travel, right? Don't pack the old laptop in your checked baggage. They hate that and will open your bag and leave you a little reminder that all laptops must be carried on.

Thanks!

Make sure you unwrap all the accessories before sending them back to yourself, by the way...

Make sure you don't bring back any of the packaging that the new laptop came in...

The tax is 19% plus a 3% import tax - I checked recently.

I would make sure you use the new computer and put on some older documents, localise to European time and generally make it look as if it has been used. You may also need a good story ready for having a US power lead (or no power lead) and why anyone would lug two laptops around with them.

Option two is to take your European power cord (assuming it fits the new laptop) and leave the old laptop at home (then send all the manuals and cables back). If you buy the new one straightaway you will be "connected" and you could back up the old data on a USB stick and copy over. This would be almost bullet proof.

Okay, everything is unwrapped and I've gotten rid of the packaging. I also have conversion plugs for both machines, which I'll put on before I travel. All of my documents were migrated over so both computers have the same thing on them though I'll probably do some trimming on the old machine to limit files to essential back-up items. I'll also slap on a few stickers on both machines for good measure.

As for the excuse, I work in Academia so it's not completely uncommon to have multiple machines. Indeed, at one point my boss offered me a second PC since it's often cheaper to install programs on departmental rather than personal machines. I don't know if this is a valid enough excuse for carrying two computers back though.

@RT Option 2 is infeasible given that I'm already here and I needed my old computer for work before I switched over. I don't recall re-entry security being particularly stringent. Is this the case or have I forgotten something?

Good luck! You should be ok.