Losing iPhone apps across 2 laptops

Question

I recently bought a 3GS, and bought several apps from the app store. This was done on my new 17" MacBook Pro. Everything worked fine. Then I had to go on a business trip and I took my older Powerbook. Everything seemed fine until I sync'ed, and then, lo and behold, the little box at the top told me that it was literally sucking back every new app that I had purchased. And when I re-synced they were indeed all gone. Help?

Answer 1

Thanks again, Alan.
I'm afraid, in my view, these limitations ARE staggering! I know I'll get shot down for saying that here, but there you are.
I have said before, I abolutley love the iPhone and wouldn't be without it, BUT, this whole thing with iTunes is frankly a pain in the a**.
I have come from 2-3 years of Windows Mobile devices, and despite it's many annoyances and fiddly button-based UI, I at least had freedom to do what I wanted with my phones. I could just drag and drop any files on any computer that I wanted.
Some of the issues I have are
1) I can only sync with one computer's library, so if I'm on the move, I'm stuffed.
2) I have had issues with the same computer being authorised several times to take me up to my limit of 5. Apple said that iTunes should recognise the same hardware and not count an authorisation again - it doesn't.
3) My children have had issues with their iPod Touches in as much as their apps have been wiped by iTunes, and they've reached their 5 computer limit for the same reason as me. Also there is no indication that we can see to say whether the computer you are on has been authorised or not, as both 'authorise' and 'de-authorise' are both available on the menu. Would be more useful, like in other apps, to grey out one of the options which obviously then shows whether the app has been validated/authorised or not. (Try getting Adobe to clock up more authorisations if you exceed 2!)
I realise that a lot of this may be down to us all being Apple novices, but I have had many years of computer experience, and never have I had so many issues with what I view as restrictions on my freedom to do what I want with electronic devices.
I'm not trying to be awkward or negative here, just giving a users opinion.
(Stands back.....!)
As I said earlier, iTunes aside, I love the iPhone.