Calling All Graphics Card Gurus

[The Bard]

I'm interested in purchasing a 14" T60 with a standard resolution (XGA) screen. Why? Becuase I can't deal with the small fonts on many webpages. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those machines are equipped by Lenovo with the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 as opposed to a discrete graphics card.

I'll use this computer mainly for business applications, many of which are web-based, and none of which are heavy duty graphics-intensive. At the same time, this will be my primary computer, so I want something capable and relativley future-proof. Additionally, I want to be able to run at least one (maybe two) 19" external monitors. Finally, I'm not a gamer and I don't plan on becomming one anytime soon.

With all of this in mind:

1. Will the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 be sufficient for my purposes? All of the computer publications say to get a discrete graphics card. But why? What, if anything, won't I be able to do with this machine that I might be able to do with a machine with dedicated graphics?

2. Will a machine with an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (asumming I have at least 1 gig of RAM) allow me to run the full bells-and-whistles version of Vista / Aero Glass? I can't quite deciper the techincal requirements recently published by Microsoft.

3. Will a machine with an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 allow me to run dual 19" external monitors should the mood hit me?

Thanks in advance. I sincerely appreciate the help.

[astro]

Bard, w.r.t #2, this question has been asked a couple of times and there is currently a thread going on the first page about it:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24913

[heiss]

Bard, w.r.t #2, this question has been asked a couple of times and there is currently a thread going on the first page about it:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24913

Well, astro, I think what Bard asks is a bit different from the other thread.

IMO, 950 will be fine in most case. But i'm not 100% certain whether it will give quality external view or not, although I'm sure it will work well.

Also, you can increase the font size in the SXGA panel. Give it a try, if you can access one of the models; it worths it.

[astro]

2. Will a machine with an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (asumming I have at least 1 gig of RAM) allow me to run the full bells-and-whistles version of Vista / Aero Glass? I can't quite deciper the techincal requirements recently published by Microsoft.

Bard, w.r.t #2, this question has been asked a couple of times and there is currently a thread going on the first page about it:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24913

Well, astro, I think what Bard asks is a bit different from the other thread.

That's why I said "w.r.t. (with respect to) #2". I was only trying to respond to his second point.

The other thread has people talking about whether their X1300s, etc. are capable of full Aero Glass effects. It also talks about how the resolution that you want to run at relates to the hardware requirements. I think it is the correct thread for discussion of question #2.

[heiss]

fair enough. My mistake.