Newbie needs info on modest laptop speakers

Are you thinking of desktop monitors or speakers to actually fill a more or less large listening room with (or something fulfilling both requirements)?

Anyway, if you intend to build a system consisting of only your laptop and a set of speakers, take a look at this active monitor, that I found quite amazing in terms of speed, dynamics and detail (which is how I interpret "gotchas").
http://www.adam-audio.com/downloads/A5_bulletin2008_150dpi_engl.pdf

Then again, any advice is dependent on another question, though: your budget please?

NHT S00 and NHT M00

Karelfd is right..for instance, if budget is no issue, then...

http://www.headphone.com/products/audiophile-desktop/

If you're strapped for cash and are limited to mass market products, these are widely available, sound okay and if you're a Sam's Club member, only $70...

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/speakers/computer_speakers/companion_2/index.jsp

Then there are plenty of solutions that fall in between...for instance...

http://www.zvoxaudio.com/cgi-bin/Make-a-Store.cgi?item=4002215&add=1

Let us know budget, size restrictions, whether you're willing to visit a speciality store to purchase, etc and we can make some further recommendations.