i recommend ... Asus F series with an intel cpu. quiet, fast, decent battery life etc. mine runs Max and Maya happily for hours, doesn't overheat, doesn't weigh too much, gives me 1280x800 pixels on a 15" screen - it was under 600 including vat. I've had mine a few months and nowt's gone wrong with it. laptopsdirect seem to have decent prices - i got a bag and mouse thrown in with mine. you'll get a better machine than this for the same money now - just don't touch the AMD versions