So no real way to get an ASIC machine right now?

I just started today and I am using Guiminer and I joined a pool called BTC Guild.  I am just using a laptop that I use for gaming with a GeForce 445m graphics card.  I can tell this is worthless as it takes hours to get .0000001 BTC. On one of the guild pages it shows who got the most share for each shift and I get 2-10 while others get millions.  How do they do it, and what, if anything can I do to increase my output to actually get something someday.  I was also wondering what people thought of the $279 5Gh/s box from butterfly labs.  How long after you order do you get it and is it worth it?  At current prices, you only need 3 bitcoins to make back your money.

I guess my question is....how do you do this effectively, or am I just late to the party and there is nothing left to do?

Thanks