Liberator: yeah i use powerDVD on the laptop too

Actually i've watched a few DVDs, and as long as i set the power settings on 'high' (high processor speed, high monitor brightness, etc.) the DVDs run fine! if i set it on a lesser setting,then it does lag a bit. i usually just plug it in

but yeah i had intended upgrading the RAM one day.
Strattcom: I'm not THAT n00b you know
but a lot of non-custom built computers, Compaq, HP, Toshiba, etc. both laptop and desktop, particularly back a few years, didn't display information at startup, they'd display the brand name, and then just start the operating system. most times the company had their own little custom-BIOS and everything. pissed me off, which is why every computer since the first one i've built myself.