Fusion eh? I'll have to remember that.

[N3B]

My laptop arrived today:

2.4 ghz C2D processors
4 gb ram
512 mb geforce 8600m gt
Vista home premium x86
- fingerprint scanner
- 2.0mpx web cam
- cooling dock

I also got a 320gb external HDD, a pretty snazzy 6-button laser mouse, a new microphone headset (it has vibration functionality, but that aside it's a really good headset, and very affordable too), a Nostromo n52 game pad, and a printer/scanner/copier thingey.

I wasn't all that interested in getting Vista because of all I'd heard about how problematic it is, how much of a system hog it is, and backwards compatability issues with older games, but the university just about requires Vista to use their Internet. Thus far I've found some very nice features that previous version of Windows didn't have, and the only somewhat annoying thing I've run into thus far is the UAC which prompts me for almost anything I do and can get in the way with installing certain game software.

[niff]

that is pretty sweet, i gotta say. i guess now you can run Crysis when it comes out.

[N3B]

I suppose I can indeed run Crysis. I just bought Bioshock so we'll see how that runs when I install it sometime soon .

Meanwhile, I'm posting from my dorm room -- extremely difficult trying t figure out a way to use both the keyboard and the mouse at the same time.

That said, I'm not a big fan of laptop keyboards because they don't feel as responsive as what I'm used to, but that could change with more use. I bought a Nostromo gaming pad specifically so I could put the laptop on the desk and use the keyboard tray for the pad + mouse (too small for a regular keyboard + mouse). But as I later found out Belkin hasn't and likely won't update the drivers for it to make it Vista compatible, so I gotta order one off the net and deal with it 'tilll it arrives.

Any suggestions for anything similar to the Belkin Nostromo n52?

[Ranger]

where did you get the rig and for how much

[N3B]

Got it off XoticPC.com for a little over $2000 (like $2150 or something). It's the Sager NP2090 if you wanted to do a web search.