You can plug any USB keyboard and mouse into it and work happily.
You should also get a Podium CoolPad:
http://www.roadtools.com/podium.html
To keep it cool/not flat on a surface and to keep it at a comfortable typing angle.
As far as losing data, same for any laptop but, there's no reason you can't burn files to CD or DVD. Or you can get a cheap external FireWire drive for backup.