So, for shits and giggles, I decided to install Windows XP Pro on the laptop. The installation process was really pretty painless (probably due to the fact that I’ve rebuilt all of my systems a couple times in the last 3 months, and I’ve got that shit down to a science).
So, after about 3 hours or so, I’m ready to say it’s done. In fact, I’m posting this from it.
So how do I like XP you ask? It’s OK, I guess. Except for some of the (*ahem*ugly*ahem*) UI tweaks, it’s really no different than 2000. The good news though, is that my laptop is finally behaving normally. When I tell it to sleep, it will (as opposed to going to sleep for 10 minutes, and then come back on); when I tell it to hibernate, it does (as opposed to blue screening). The power consumption is still a problem (i.e. 30 minute battery life), but I'm thinking that it might be the battery itself.
All in all, not too shabby.