My notebook can handle 3ds max and maya and photoshop cs4 just fine.
Hell, I can even use maya and photoshop at the same time. It's gpu that's making my fps drop dead. Yeah integrated sucks, we all know it.
But yeah, I have a PC to use it on, so no prob.

Wanted to know, what about IK stuff?
Is there a way to make it so for example when character walks stairs or something, his legs adjust automatically so half of him isnt floating or clipping, like in most next gen games.

you can do manualy adjusting for bones rotations (tutorial "animations/manual editing")