I use Debian 3.1 on a laptop without internet access. Is there a way to download updates for the system and specific packages without an internet connection - Perhaps like Windows SP2 installer?

Sorry sir, nothing in the world can download without an internet connection. No Windows cannot do it. If it can, please enlighten me. The bits can't fly.

You can download the updated packages on one system, burn a CD (or put on floppy or zip drive) and take them to the laptop and install them.

Sarge is 14 cd's, it may take a while to download and burn. It will be a lot shorter if you find an internet connection. You could also buy the cd's.

You could build a list of the packages you need, but there may be many dependencies. Also, I don't get what you mean by "the system".

Quick math for the whole set:
14cds x 700mb/cd = 9.8gb
9.8gb/300kbytes/second=32,667seconds
32,667seconds=9hours
14cds x 15minutes/cd=210minutes to burn
210minutes=3.5hours
9hours+3.5hours=12.5hours
--------------------------
12:30 to get the 14cd's (of which you need the equivalent of 1-2gb for a normal install)

And this assumes a constant speed of 300kbytes/second, which is about as fast as an adsl connection goes.

P.S.: If you wish to tell me that the Windows XP SP2 takes a lot less time to download, it's because it does not come with the latest versions of over 15,000 programs.