Need help with Dell Studio 17 configs...

I have a few questions in regards to the Dell Studio 17. I can get the laptop fully loaded at $1,244 in either of these configs:

1.) 56 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell), McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days, 2Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis

OR

2.) 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell), No Security, 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty and Mail In Service


Mind you, this is fully loaded excluding Blu-ray drive for DVD drive and the Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache) instead of the Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache).

Option 1 REQUIRES a security software option, and what I listed is the free option (bloatware to me, I rather load my own). It also features the 6 cell battery, but the better deal is the 2 year warranty InHome.

Option 2 does not require security software, because I would rather load my own anyways. It features the 9 cell battery but only a 1 year standard warranty as listed.

Questions:

1.) I have everything plugged into a Backup UPS battery anyways (printer, modem, router, etc..), is the 9 cell option better than the 6 cell, like better air flow?

2.) Will the T8100 be good enough or is a T9300 really recommended? I want it to run fast and "future proof", but gaming is something reserved exclusively for my PlayStation 3. How vast is the real world differences we are talking here between the T8100 vs. T9300?

3.) Is the Sound Blaster Audigy Software Edition worth the extra $25, does it make that big of a difference, and does anyone know how much of an improvement on sound it makes (I know it is a software upgrade, not hardware)?

4.) I'm tied between Midnight Blue and Ruby Red for lid cover, what stands out more and what goes better with the system?

 

The speakers sound like poop. Software won't help that.