I agree on the desktop comment.   I'll not buy another desktop except for using in a bank of test machines that all share the same monitor, or for an imaging server requiring lots of add-in drives.    We've been picking these ZD7000's up on eBay for about $700... 512mb to 1gb ram, 80gb drives, dvd burners, built-in wireless, etc.   Ready to go, out of the box.   I love them.

 I thought the 8000's did away from the built-in numeric keypad.   I don't find them on new machines at Best Buy any more.

Ohhh... I refuse to use the touchpad.   I got along fine with the pencil eraser meeses, but can't manage a touchpad.   Have a small bluetooth microsoft mouse that goes wherever the machine goes... even works on the armrest of an airplane seat.