Authoritative help reqd.. Quality of laptops

Hi
i after buying a laptop in the coming week. I am from Melbourne, Australia..

As i was shopping around i found the ASUS G1 to be the best match to what i want. My requirements were as follows:

-Core 2 Duo (2.0Ghz)
-2 Gb RAM
-decent graphics card (256 would be enough)
-less than or equal to 15.4 screen
-I DO NOT use it for gaming. but for some research programs.. which do require some processing power.. C2D 2.0 is enough..

BUt when i when to few dealers they informed me that if i want a 'reliable' computer, ASUS us no match for Toshiba or HP or the like..

though i agree that Lenovos are better built.. (and toshibas are good ones too) i did not agree when he said asus are not as reliable..

1] can anyone comment on the general quality of G1 or asus in general.. can i invest austrlian $2700 to buy this one which comes with C2d 2.0Ghz, 2GbRAM, 512 nVIDIA, 120GB HDD, vista ultimate, (in aus) (other laptops suggested were the T60<bad config at that price>, Toshiba Tecra M5)

I am a bit confused.. and frustrated as this search is going on for ages... i am more than happy with the config of ASUS .. wil buy it if they are reliable enough to last for atleast 2-3 years.

2] are there any comparable laptops in similar range?

3] ONE more last question if I do get it with vista can i dual boot it with windows Xp? (some of my progs dont run on vista)

4] sorry for the long mail guys.. i am not fom IT.. i come from Biology background and this is my first post.. so my apologies if i am being a pain.....

Thanks!!!

THANKS GUYS!!!

I am convinced that G1 is the way to go.. i have already paid the deposit.. and am expecting deliver nxt week (as soon as shipment rrives Australia)

and as far as tech support goes we have an asus repair centre in melb.. close to where i work.. (hopefull the service is good.. of which i have no doubt)

my only concern now is taht it comes with vista ultimate.. how can i dual boot it with windows xp????