Look at the slating my bike has been given!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151341446785195&set=a.10150434951975195.639509.844365194&type=1&theater¬if_t=photo_comment
For a commuter bike its pretty poor. Cause its too heavy and for a mountain bike...well it doesnt even fall into the category of a mountain bike.
If you are doing any kind of mountain biking you need hydrulic breaks,I can tell by looking at the front sus its pretty poor because you can see clearly where you have pressed down and the chep grease has left its mark. It looks like a small bunch of gears on the block which will limit your range. But the tyres and the seat look nice. sorry to burst your bubble but I got caught with a sh!t "mountain bike" last year. So I am hoping you are doing a little bit of touring at the peak district.
this is part bike snobbery and part true, any bike can be used for a commute, the only difference weight makes is how easy it is for you to commute, a flat bar hybrid is generally considered the best commuter bike, although this varies on your route, for example if you're in the sticks then skinny wheels wouldn't be an option.
As for the forks, unless you're paying £1000+ stock forks are generally always sh1t, they will do the job but don't expect them to be as plush or reliable as a £500 set of fox or rockshox's.
re the brakes, you can live with v brakes, the main advantage of disc brakes is your braking surface isn't a dirty rim and the mechanical advantage, you'll be fine on v brakes just don't expect them to stop instantly.
