Pre-installation questions.

["blank" <simenno@optonline.net>]

Hello.
    I'm considering installing OpenBSD on my computer (possibly to replace
Debian Linux later on...).  But first, I have some questions:

    - How does OpenBSD (BSD in general?) support 'new' technology (like USB,
Merced, FireWire, DVD and other buzzwords).  I mean, how fast is the
technology adapted and how quickly does it develop?  How fast is the new
technology adapted, compared to Linux (what is the time-gap) ?

    - How is OpenBSD on a laptop -- any problems (i.e.  power-saving mode,
etc)?

    - Is TeX (LaTeX namely) supported out-of-box?

    - How many ports (packages) does OpenBSD has?

    - How's sound card support?  Is alsa or something similar available?

    - Speed-wise, how would an OpenBSD system compare to a Linux system?
Specifically, kernel-wise and filesystems themselves (ext2 vs. ffs)?

    - In debian, I can upgrade a package as a part of a batch job.  Can I do
the same in OpenBSD?

    - Upgrading packages.  The problem with Debian is that once a certain
version is released, no work (other than bug-fixing) is done.  Does OpenBSD
have something like v3.0-current, where all of the packages are recent and
updated?  (I mean the packages/ports themselves too.  Not just the kernel)

Thank you.