FXCW

You could always splash out on a solid state HD

What's wrong with using an adapter? You can have ones integrated into PCMCIA cards if you do not want to use a usb port on one.

The solution for drivers is to just not bother with the OEM ones, I use Nvision to get mine.

Well that sucks then.

You do not need to use the disc at all once the game is installed.

I don't know what you guys are on about, I can run Crysis on my Geforce Go 7600. Not on max settings of course but an 8400 is a better card...

You can get any laptop you like, within your price range of course. The serial port is a non issue as you can easily purchase USB to Serial port...

Well I'm afraid I know nothing about on board graphics cards, apart from the fact that they are far from ideal for games. I know that some...

Black sticks are, surprisingly ;P, easier to render than "complex" textures. Maybe the new lowest graphics options should be stick men.

This could be a driver issue. The best bet might be for you to post your DXdiag here for us to see. To do this all you have to do is use the...