strange new problem

my Oct 2008 macbook pro just started to have a very strange problem today.

I cam back today and found the machine hung - ie couldn't enter a password or get the keyboard or mouse to work. Powered it down hard - no other option.

I rebooted several times and after a few minutes it seems to hang and I'm unable to use the keyboard or mouse. I rebooted into safe mode and had the same problem.

Right now it frozen while I was in Firefox and I can scroll around in a page, bit I can't command tab or 4 finger to reach another app. Also the menu bar at the top is not working. I can't click on the apple icon or select bookmarks etc. Lastly, I can't launch anything from my dock.

Any ideas about what is causing my mac to hang? reminds me of my windows days.

 

Even more strange - got up this AM rebooted my MAC and everything is back to normal - obviously something ran overnight and resolved the issue.

That wouldn't happen with Vista