Srobarts,
Thanks for your feedback - very helpful!
I've been a "nipple fan" like you for years (I disable trackpads completely, if possible), and I'm also keen on the separate numeric keypad - hence my interest in the E520 - so it's really good to hear positive feedback on that model.
Mike B
go "Professional" rather than "Home" on Windows if you can.
I agree that was certainly the case with XP, but I'm not sure it's so true now with 7 - unless you need to join a domain or use the XP compatibility mode. Win 7 Home Premium is a much more "complete" OS than XP Home, IMHO.
SD