[Sir Taliesin]

TL, I purchased a Compaq 3000 series back in July. It is a P4 2.4ghz, 60gig hard drive, 24x DVD/CD-burner, 512 mgs or ram, and a SIS 64 mg(shared) Graphics card. It comes with 4 2.0 USB ports and a firewire. Some models have wireless, but mine doesn't (didn't feel it was worth an additional $200). The big seller for me was the true 16" SXGA screen.

I have played IWD2 and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with no problem. I also use it for CADD work (Mircostation V8) with absolutely no problem. Worked on it tonight while listening to Allison Krauss and Union Stations Live CDs. Work and pleasure at the same time.

I'll never have another desktop again and while I'd love to have an Alienware Area 51, this one is doing just as well.

Draw backs to this particular one are the weight (bout 8.0 lbs) and the exterior speakers aren't the greatest. I use headphones so I really don't care.

Other laptops I was impressed with were... well besides the Area 51, the Toshiba's really impressed me, but they were about $500 more and didn't come with all the features I wanted.

Another thing that sold me on the Compaq 3000 series was that CNET gave it a Highly recommended for it's particular niche as a desktop replacement. Of the 5 laptops they gave that rating too, it was the cheapest by several Hundred dollors. That's important when you are the raising three kids on a single income family.

Any way just my two little ole pennies. If price isn't a factor then the Area 51 is the way to go. Mid price,then the Toshiba is the way to go. If your cheap like me, but still want it all, the Compaq is the way to go! Notice I didn't select a Dell. Don't think you get the most Bang for your buck and I've heard their support is as crappy as compaq's, but then no brands support is rated all that high!