[Slightly long, my apologies, but I appreciate any input people have]

I currently have a laptop from IBUYPOWER and it has treated me great, but I'm looking to expand my viewing area for playing poker, so I feel like I have a few options. I currently have a 24" samsung that I use as a dual screen when connected to my laptop. My video card is a Geforce Go 7600:

1. Buy another 24" and either a VTBook or Matrox dual splitter thing.

Pros: Don't need to buy a new laptop/computer and can keep my laptop as a screen[so total of 2 24" and my laptop.]
Cons: Spending $200ish on a VTBook or Matrox seems like a big cash sink and I'm not sure how well my video card/combination of the above mentioned things will run 2 new monitors.

2. Buy a semi-cheap computer for < $800 and connect the two monitors to this computer with some compatible video card.

Pros: Won't have to buy a VTBbook or Matrox which seems like sort of a waste of money. Will be able to use my laptop just for AIM and itunes while using my desktop.
Cons: This is considerably more expensive than buying a VTBook or Matrox. It would also require me to keep two PT databases, which could become annoying.

My final question is that I haven't purchased the 24" yet, and was wondering if other people had any more suggestions that they think are worth the money or will look better.

Thanks for your time.

Buy a 17" 1920x1200 laptop ~$850 and that way you don't have to buy the 24" or the vtbook.