Why does Airport suck on my PowerBook?

Hmm, if you're talking about the AlBook 15" in your sig you shouldn't be having these problems. My PB12" picks up networks all over the show and like yours it has it's antenna mounted on the sides of the screen. How do you have the Airport configured? Do you have IPv6 turned off? Is Interface Robustness off?

Just a guess here, but I think I've heard that the aluminum casing on the PB and MBP models blocks it's Airport signal. The cheap crappy Toshiba is probably made out of plastic. I could be completely wrong here, though.

i think it feeds off of other open wireless signals and provides the signal you are running off of a little extra juice to fill in any spots that the second wireless might be stronger.

IMO, Airport on my MacBook sucks when it comes to no-fame router brands that doesn't follow up on Apple's technologies. My university's Wi-Fi network uses access points from a provider company called Symbol Technologies and it's been mean to my MacBook, refusing to reconnect after putting it to sleep. However, my MacBook is working like a charm with my Linksys home router.