The KGB Oracle Forums General Public Discussion (PUBLIC) The Pub Opinions on a build for a laptop.

I'm looking to buy an XG Action 8000 Notebook from buyxg.com

the parts are:

XG ACTION 8000 NOTEBOOK

* *BASE_PRICE: [+1335]
* ADAPTER: Universal AC-DC Adapter
* BLUETOOTH: Built-in MS-6837D Bluetooth 2.0
* BATTERY: Li-Ion 6 Cell Battery Pack, 4400mAH (MS171944)
* BAGS: Free Deluxe Carrying Bag for 17 Inch Notebook
* CPU: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Mobile T7500 Dual-Core Processor @ 2.20GHz 800FSB 4MB L2 Cache 64-bit [+80]
* CD: 8X DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE
* FREEBIE_CU: FREE! 1GB USB 2.0 Portable Flash Drive
* FLASHMEDIA: Built-In 4in1 Media Reader
* FLOPPY: NONE
* HDD: 160GB 7200RPM SATA150 HARD DRIVE [+95]
* IEEE_CARD: BUILT-IN 1394 IEEE FIREWIRE PORT
* INVERTER: NONE
* KEYBOARD: BUILT-IN KEYBOARD
* MOUSE: BUILT-IN TOUCHPAD
* MODEM: BUILT-IN 56K V.92 FAX MODEM
* MOTHERBOARD: Mobile Intel PM965 + ICH-8M Chipset Mainboard
* MEMORY: 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)
* NOTEBOOK: MSI MS-1719 Notebook 17" Widescreen WSXGA+ 1680x1050 Pixels w/ NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB Video, 1.3 Mega Pixels CMOS Camera, Mobile Core 2 Duo, & 802.11g Wireless
* NOTEBOOK_COVER: XG Action 8000 Notebook Cover (Original Color)
* NB_LCD: 17" WSXGA+ Widescreen TFT Display 1680x1050 Pixels
* NETWORK: Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbps Network Card
* NB_TRAVELKIT: NONE
* OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2 [+31]
* PRINTER: None
* PRINTER_CABLE: None
* RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
* SOFT: Microsoft® OFFICE® 2007 BASIC EDITION [+159]
* SERVICE: STANDARD 1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY AND 24/7 LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
* SOUND: BUILT-IN AC 97 SOUND
* SPEAKERS: BUILT-IN STEREO SPEAKERS SYSTEM
* TVRC: None
* USB: 4 x USB2.0 Port Connectors
* UPS: None
* USBHD: NONE
* VIDEO: Built-in NVIDIA GeForce Go 8600M GT 512MB with Turbo Cache Technology Video
* VIDEOCAMERA: Built-in 240° Rotational 1.3 Mega Pixels
* WNC: Intel 4965AGN Wireless 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N 54Mbps MiniPCI Card [+5]
* _PRICE: (+1705)
* _view_: detail

Any thoughts? You guys know of any other cheap brands or something? Or are there any parts where I might be able to save some money (for example the processor... how does core duo scale compared to single-core CPUs, is a 2.2 core duo like a 4.4 single? In that case I could probably drop down to like a 1.6 or something) ?

Also, at the moment I'm getting XP Pro, is there a particular reason to switch to Vista yet? I'm weary of all the dread stories I hear of performance in games, as well as its anti-piracy features.