Replying to MBP Problems

I'm having some problems with my MBP, wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing:

1) Backlight for the LCD is skimping out on me and the left side of the screen gets dark after using the laptop for a few hours straight. It's a come-and-go problem but when it comes it is extremely annoying.

2) Lately when running on battery power there will be a "click" and then the laptop will just shut off. It's happened 3 times and each time it's been at or around 50% battery power. Yesterday it shut off at exactly 50%. It won't turn on afterwards, I have to plug it in for it to work.

I've got a 15" MBP, the second one to come out (2.0Ghz). Bought it in July, looks like I'm going to have to send it back but I'll have to buy an external HDD to store all of my stuff on, first. Soooo bummed on this.