M1710 as DTR for Gaming/Photo editing

I'm thinking about replacing my current desktop (AMD X2 4200+, 2GB DDR, 7600GT, 2001FP monitor, etc.) with an M1710 so I can be more mobile and save on shipping costs every time I move around. I only do light gaming (WoW, occasional single-player FPS), photo and video editing, and of course web surfing.

The config I'm looking at is basically: C2D 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM, 7900GS. See my other thread for the deal I found from Dell Japan. The CPU and GFX should be a little bit faster than my desktop now, and hopefully I could upgrade those in the future once the system gets a little peggish (I know the new CPUs coming soon will be 800FSB, but it should be easy to pick up a used T7600(g) in the future). I'll be using eSATA HDs and probably an external DVD-R, as well as the 2001FP as a secondary monitor.

Here are my questions before I switch over:

1) I've heard good things about the Truelife WUXGA screen for gaming, but has anyone tried photo or video editing on it? Does it have accurate color and gamma/contrast? Any color banding or lag issues?

2) I'll be working with HD video so I will be using external hard drives a lot, and USB2/FW are too slow, so my plan is to go with an eSATA Expresscard and external enclosure. In theory this should be just as fast as having a native SATA drive plugged in. However, I've heard about some problems with the Expresscard on Dell's newer laptops being slow. Can anyone comment on this? Any benchmarks of a SATA drive attached to a M1710 in this way?

3) The Dell site is vague about the audio options. Does the headphone/line-out jack also double as a digital output? If so, what cable or adapter is necessary (optical or coax)? Does the Mic-in also work as a Line-in? Digital-in? How is the sound quality?

4) Any other general comments about the M1710? Does it "feel" like using a desktop? Any big problems or regrets?

Thanks

 

Can't comment on the other questions really, but:

A. The mic input is also line-in. Once you plug something in, there's a popup that asks you what it was....

B. There is no digital out connector, but you can buy this adapter from Spare parts like I have (some have gotten one with their system):

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=310-8272

That is a coax connector.

C. No digital in support on the sound card at all.

D. The sound card is not bad (it's Intel's HD audio interface in a 2-channel Sigmatel STAC9200 chip). The internal speakers are ok, but not impressive. Unless you're working with professional audio, or 5.1/7.2 you will probably be fine.

It's certainly a fast and impressive machine, perfect for a desktop replacement that is moved once in a while.

If you get a quick desktop harddrive, the computer will not feel slow, I can assure you.