Looks like I have finally been dissatisfied enough to take this laptop back … I am now installing the XP Home that came with the machine and all of its drivers, etc … If the Toshiba’s Line-In isn’t in stereo, oh well, but the headphone port is certainly identified as stereo in every description I’ve read about it … The other determining factor is that I have searched the Internet, and it appears that HP laptops are shutting off unexpectedly the world over in all sorts of scenarios … It seems I bought into a bad line of laptop so I am getting out while the getting is good (within the 14 day return policy) … The Toshiba has done me fine the last 3 years, so I expect the same reliability fom a new one … I have decided to go with the one linked below since it has a line in as well as a 17″ screen … oh, and that stereo thing … How can HP release (sell) a laptop that doesn’t have a stereo headphone jack? Isn’t that just wrong? … and how much money could that possibly save in the production? Oh well …