If you have Windows 7 Professional 64 it should work, it will run as 32 bit from what I understand.
If you have windows 7 home premium, it probably won't work.
I got a Dell Precision M6500, from their Business Outlet for about $2500, it has 8Gb ram(1333), 1Gb Quadro3800, i7(860), and 17"RGB display(1920), wifi(N), about 2.5 to 3 hours run time on batt., built very well, metal casing, you might also want to look into the Alienware laptops.
I've been...
I got the same system (Dell M6500) as fishon, only with 8Gb ram. I'm just as happy with it, it fly's....
I got mine through the Dell business Outlet for a good discount. It is built really sleek for a 17 inch machine.
AutoDesk University was this week in Vegas, they had some stunning stuff to show. The newest 2010 versions of all their software is really improved. They will be placing the videos of the classes they had and demos on the Autodesk University website in the very near future.
On youtube you will find a lot of video tutorials.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=autocad+2010&search_type=&aq=1&oq=autocad
Just do a search for Autocad and version number.
There are companies that sell video lessons, like Retreive Technologies...
I've never ever had a problem with Vista or any programs that I have installed on it. It runs about as fast as the XP machine I had at work, with the same components. I've had this Vista box for 3 years now. Vista is nothing like ME.
I think 7 is more like Vista than Microsoft is willing to tell...
The link in the attached thread will help you out, there are a lot of videos out there for free that tutor you through this stuff, most are only 20 minutes long.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=248849&page=2
