thanks for the info.
yes, i do plan to stay away from qatar for a year. so i gues int'l warranty is a must.

regarding the drivers, lemme jus list them here: motherboard, graphics card, modem, wi-fi and ethernet.
i've seen hosts of other drivers on laptops (like the one for the tracking pad). are they really unnecessary?

any recommendations on the brands? i need one with good power performance, not jus for entertainment.

"Life is Fragile, Handle With Prayer"