Laptops can be used BUT require set up to avoid problems with the power saving features. I have run a mill from a HP laptop with a PCMICA card for the parallel port control and it worked fine. CAMBAM and ArtCAM are both good programs. There are a few out there that are good and there is also some stinkers as well. Look at the forums here and a few of the other ones on the net and you will find out quickly which are which. Good luck and have fun, just to let you know that yes the learning curve is steep but worth it (I am biased).

Michael