Laptop DIED ... Need to buy new laptop AND addtl. monitor!!

My laptop died and I'm looking at the following replacement:

HP nx9420 Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz / 802.11a/b/g Wireless / Bluetooth / 17-Inch WSXGA / 1GB DDR2 / 100GB HDD / DVDRW / Windows XP Pro / Notebook PC

Maximum resolution: 1680 x 1050

Graphics Description
Integrated Graphics

GPU/VPU
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

Video Memory
DVMT Video RAM
256MB

FIRST ... Thoughts on this as a mobile photo-editing laptop?

SECOND ... I would like to purchase a 2nd, 'better' monitor for use when I'm back at my desk. Recommendations, please. Is there any advantage to having a 2nd monitor from the SAME company ... e.g. in this case, HP?

THIRD ... I spoke w/ the Gretag Macbeth (XRite) who had no laptop recommendations/specs, but said they were 'fond' of the Apple Cinemas, Sonys and Viewsonics as separate monitors.

Thank you in advance for any and all advice!