We have passed "break even" conditions in a reactor for D-T for a few seconds.  The real test is getting useful amounts of net energy generation which requires about 5x break even for several minutes.<p>IMO, ITER's design should get to that point, but I don't think fusion is going to cost less than solar let alone coal for a long time.<p>PS: Using lasers to create fusion has always been more about simulating bombs than it was creating useful amounts of energy.