Compaq Presario 3050us

Memory Upgrade for Compaq Presario 3050US Laptops

Presario 3050US Memory Specifications Standard Memory 512 MB = 256 (removable) + 256 MB (removable) Maximum Memory 1.0 GB Memory Expansion 2 sockets Memory Comments PC2100 DDR SDRAM SODIMMs CPU Type 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 Model Comments SiS 650 Chipset

Memory Upgrade for Compaq Presario 3050US Laptop, the Compaq Presario 3050US Laptop takes the PC2100 DDR SDRAM SODIMMs Memory Type, and comes installed with 512 MB = 256 (removable) + 256 MB (removable) of Memory. You can upgrade your Compaq Presario 3050US Laptop to up to a maximum of 1.0 GB Memory, the system has 2 sockets to install Memory, already with 512 MB = 256 (removable) + 256 MB (removable) standard Memory installed. For best Laptop performance use the maximum amount of allowed Memory per slot for your  Laptop. Choose the following Memory Upgrade for Compaq Presario 3050US Laptop.

Compaq Presario 3000 Series 3050US laptop screens are available from LCDs4Less. Plastic display assembly, frame brackets, and screws not included. Usually ships the same day you order, based on when the order is placed. International orders accepted.

We have extensive knowledge of the laptop-screen industry. Please contact us should you have any questions regarding Compaq laptop screens, as our knowledgeable sales staff are laptop screen product specialists.

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Apple PowerBook G4 1.0 17" (Al) Specs (M8793LL/A)

The PowerBook G4/1.0 17" (Al)

features a 1.0 GHz PowerPC 7455 (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit, 256k on chip level 2 cache, and 1.0 MB level 3 cache, 512 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM, a 60 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (4200 RPM), a slot-loading 2X DVD-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive", a Firewire "800" port, built-in Bluetooth 1.1 and AirPort Extreme (802.11g), and NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go (4X AGP) graphics with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM in an attractive aluminum alloy case with a 17" widescreen TFT display (1440x900 native resolution). Custom configurations also were available.

The PowerBook G4/1.0 17" was the first notebook to ship with a 17" display and a fiber optic based "ambient light sensor" that automatically "measures ambient light and works with integrated software to adjust keyboard illumination and screen brightness based on user preferences". It also was the first Mac to include a Firewire "800" port.

Also see: What are the differences between the original 12-Inch and 17-Inch PowerBook G4 models?

Apple PowerBook G4 1.0 17" (Al) Specs (M8793LL/A).

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Alienware Area-51m

The Bottom Line

Alienware's Area-51m is built as a mobile gaming platform and it excells at this application. The systems high performance comes at the price of portability and the pocketbook.

Pros

• High Speed Pentium 4 CPU with Hyper Threading Support
• Excellent Graphics Processor
• User Upgradable Graphics Module

Cons

• Expensive
• Wireless Not Standard

Description

• Pentium 4 2.8 GHz Desktop Processor with Hyper Threading Support
• 512MB PC3200 DDR Memory
• 20GB 5,400rpm Hard Drive
• 24x CD-RW Combo Optical Drive
• 15.4" WXGA+ (1600x1050) Wide Screen LCD and ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro with 128MB
• AC'97 Audio
• v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and Optional 802.11a/b/g Wireless
• Three USB 2.0 Ports, One FireWire Port, One Type II PC Card Slot
• 13.8" x 11.4" x 1.6" @ 7.5 lbs. (w/o battery)
• Windows XP Home Operating System

Guide Review - Alienware Area-51m

1/19/04 - Alienware's Area-51m is an ever evolving product. The latest incarnation offers a lot of great improvements to what was already a very good product. On the visible side of things, the system now features a wide-screen LCD panel which stretches the dimensions and weight of the unit. But it is the interals of the system that have really improved.
Powering the system is a Pentium 4 2.8 GHz desktop CPU. As an added bonus, the laptop now supports Hyper Threading for added performance. Matched up to this is 512MB of high-speed PC3200 memory. Most manufacturers are still using either PC2100 or PC2700 memory.
Storage on the system has also been upgraded somewhat. The system still ships with a 20GB 5,400rpm hard drive standard, but an option for a 7,200 drive is available. The optical drive has been upgraded to a much needed 24x CD-RW Combo drive.
Graphics have seen a huge improvement. The Area-51m now features a user upgradable graphics module. With the ATI Radeon Mobility 9600 Pro 128MB standard, most users won't have a need to upgrade. This GPU provides desktop level performance with DirectX 9 support at the portable level. The new 15.4" wide screen LCD display features a high resolution 1680x1050 resolution.
There are a few drawbacks to this otherwise excellent system. Most notable is the price. This is easily one of the more expensive notebooks available. Also, it would be nice to have wireless networking included instead of optional.

 All the hardware is seated in an Intel 915P motherboard that supports PCI Express and you can have dual disk drives (2 x 60GB, Hitachi 7,200rpm ATA100 drives) in a RAID 0 array for so-called 'Extreme Performance'. There are dual optical drives as well so you can presumably burn or play CDs and DVDs while you're cracking on with your game.

Good graphics and frame rates are only part of the story when it comes to satisfying gaming; what about the sound? Well, 7.1-channel surround sound comes as standard, though only four speakers and a subwoofer are supplied, so you're encouraged to plug in to an external Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX system or go one further with a ZS PC Card. Even without the Audigy supplement though, most gamers will be reasonably satisfied with the quality of onboard audio.
As you'd expect, there's a healthy collection of peripherals in the shape of four USB 2.0 ports, Wireless 802.11b/g, two IEEE-1394 ports, 56kbps modem and Ethernet connections, video in and out, PS2, LPT, DVI and COM Ports and a 7-in-1 memory card reader.
The AC adapter looks like a brick but it's another reason why you'll be less likely to balance this machine on your knees; the battery life is only around an hour and there's a notable drop in frame rate when you switch over from mains power.

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Acer TravelMate 430

Features

This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance Intel® Desktop P4P CPU with packing mPGA 478 package PC2100 DDR SDRAM, Maximum memory up to 2GB (with two 1024MB SODIMM when available)Internal optical drive (swappable with optional drive) Removable PCI Bus Master Enhanced IDE hard disk Li-Ion main battery packPower management system with ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface)
Display Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal display (LCD) displaying 32-bit high true colour up to 16.7
million colours at 1024X768 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution for 14.1”/15.0” or
1400x1050 Super eXtended Graphics Array+ (SXGA+) for resolution for some 15.0” models
(specification varies depending on models)3D capabilities Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support S-video for output to a television or display device that supports S-video input “Automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and
conserves power Dual display capability
Multimedia Realtek ALC202 AC’97 Codec audio Built-in dual speakers Built-in microphone High-speed optical drive Direct CD Player
Connectivity High-speed fax/data modem port Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port 3 USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) ports IEEE 1394 port SD/MMC memory slot Memory stick slot Acer EasyPort port replicator Wireless LAN ready (specification varies depending on models) Bluetooth ready (specification varies depending on models)
System Specifications
Chapter 1
2 Chapter 1
Human-centric design and ergonomics

 4-way scroll button

 Sleek, smooth and stylish design

 Acer FinTouch full-sized curved keyboard

 Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device

Expansion

 One type II CardBus PC Card slots

 Upgradeable memory

Keyboard and Pointing Device

 Acer FineTouch keyboard: with 5 curve

 84/85/88-key windows keyboard, inverted “T” cursor layout, 18mm spacing, 2.5mm (min) key

travel

 Built-in touchpad with ergonomic buttons and 4-way integrated scroll key

 12 function keys; 4 cursor keys; two Windows keys; hotkey controls; 4 launch keys, including

Internet browser, email (with LED for received mail), and 2 user-progammable keys

 Embedded numeric keypad

 International language support

I/O Ports

 One type II CardBus slots

 One RJ-11 modem jack

 One RJ-45 network jack

 One DC-in jack for AC adapter

One ECP/EPP-compliant parallel port

One external monitor port

One headphone/speaker/line-out jack (3.5mm mini jack)

 One microphone/line-in jack (3.5mm mini jack)

One S-video-out (NTSC/PAL) port

Three Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports

One IEEE 1394 port

 100-pin port replicator connector for Acer EasyPort

 One SD/MMC slots

 One memory stick slot

Red More

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MSI has a gaming laptop line

MSI HAD THE usual raft of new things to show at Computex, three of which stood out, gaming laptops, a high end mobo, and dual GPU graphics cards. Let's dive in and look at the high points.

The flame stripes look good on most things painted black, 1990s Hondas being one of the exceptions. The MSI GX series of laptops are not one of the exceptions, they are black with red trim and have flames accenting the cover and the wrist rest.
There are four models, the 600, 610, 700 and 710. 6xxs are 15-inch screens, 7xx are 17-inch, x00s are Intel, x10 are AMD. The one with all the goodies is the 600, a P965 based Merom notebook. The nice feature? A turbo button, simply press it and it goes from 2GHz to 2.4GHz, a 20% OC. None of the other models have this, but they still look spiffy.

Next up we have the MSI X38 Diamond, aka the MS-7353. This is a run of the mill X38 based DDR3 board, but it has a twist. The Diamond line is the upscale version of the Platinum, the not quite as high end high end board.
This Diamond has a four character LED status readout so you can say 'bork' instead of the usual hex B7. Your board can now taunt you with a 'ha ha' directly instead of sending you to the manual to look up the code that is causing the smoke. Come to think of it, there are a lot of four letter words that are suitable for such a situation.

Last up we have the MSI Geminium, a dual ATI 2600XT card. MSI is far from alone with this one, there were at least two others at the show with similar beasties on display. MSI had by far the most interesting cooler though, this may be a reference board but it wasn't the stock part.
One other thing to note about the board, it is a single slot card, even if you do need one really tall case. A little more confusingly, this card only has two DVI outs, all of the others had four. That blows out the possibility of a single slot solution, but I don't think many people would cry over a slot in trade for two more DVIs.

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Acer Aspire One 751h-1545

The definition of a Netbook keeps getting fuzzier around the edges, with displays growing from the original 7-inch designs, and the selection of CPUs expanding to include Intel, AMD, and Via. If we are to take 12-inch systems such as the HP dv2 and Samsung NC20 as Netbooks (we've so far let them slip in under the wire), than an 11.6-inch model is a sure thing.
We found the slightly larger chassis of the $379 Acer Aspire One AO751h-1545 to be an excellent compromise between size and usability, and we could see this becoming a popular choice. The catch is that Acer has decided to use the 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 as its CPU, instead of the faster (and much more common) 1.6GHz Atom N270 version.
It doesn't make for a huge difference in raw performance, but in an already pokey Netbook, and powering a higher-res 1,366x768 display, it made the Aspire One AO751h just slow enough to be noticeably annoying--so much so that we got frustrated with it on a regular basis.
Interestingly, Acer is working on a potentially much faster 11.6-inch system with an Intel ULV processor, purportedly to be called the Acer Timeline 1810T.

Price as reviewed	$379
Processor	1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520
Memory	1GB, 533MHz DDR2
Hard drive	160GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Intel SCH US15W
Graphics	Mobile Intel GMA 500 (integrated)
Operating System	Windows XP
Dimensions (WD)	11.8 x 8.5 inches (8.8 inches with battery)
Height	1.0 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	11.6 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	3.0/3.6 pounds
Category	Netbook

Starting with a body that reminds us the newest generation of slimmed-down Netbooks, such as the Asus Eee PC 1005HA and the Acer Aspire One D250, and stretching it to accommodate a larger display, Acer has managed to create a system that's nearly as thin and attractive as the very expensive ultraportables of old (if only old in laptop industry terms). Our matte gray and glossy black review unit had a buttoned-down, businesslike feel, as opposed to the bright colors used on some of Acer's traditional 10-inch Netbooks.
The wide, flat keys are similar to what you'd find on Apple and Sony laptops--or current Netbooks from Asus. The keyboard extends nearly edge-to-edge, so there's enough room for full-size Shift and backspace keys, as well as dedicated page-up and page-down keys. The touchpad, however, was surprisingly small--it's usable, but we're currently partial to the oversized one on the Toshiba NB205.
The 11.6-inch wide-screen LED display offers a 1,366x768 native resolution, which is a nice upgrade from the typical 1,024x600 found in most Netbooks. On the larger 11.6-inch screen, it gave us enough desktop real estate without making text and icons too small to read. Sony is moving in the same direction and is planning to offer 13x7 displays in the upcoming 10-inch Vaio W Netbook.

	Acer Aspire One AO751h-1545	Average for category [Netbook]
Video	VGA-out	VGA
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	headphone/microphone jacks
Data	3 USB 2.0, SD card reader	2 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion	None	None
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	None	None

You won't find any high-end extras in the Aspire One AO751h's ports and connection--not even Bluetooth. Hypothetically, the larger body could make it easier to include ExpressCard slots, although for less than $400, there's only so much one can expect.
What we did expect, however, was a relatively typical Netbook usage experience. That means a system that can perform basic chores--Web surfing, e-mail, some productivity apps, light multimedia--with a minimum of fuss. Instead, thanks to the slower 1.33GHz Z520 version of Intel's Atom CPU (instead of the usual 1.6GHz N270 version), actually using the Aspire One AO751h proved to be a frustrating experience.
Achieving Netbook satisfaction requires a fairly modest set of expectations, but even with that in mind, the AO751h was sluggish when compared with other similar systems. In our benchmark tests it fell well behind N270 and N280 Netbooks, and in anecdotal use it felt just slow enough to be aggravating. While the actual differences can be measured in seconds, we still felt like tossing the thing out of a window a few times.

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The Ten Most Expensive Laptops in the World

Discover the most expensive notebooks ever created, burning a huge hole in your wallet...and breaking your back!

10 Expensive Laptops

Today I bring you an article examining the cream of the crop; the most badass laptops out there, whose uber-leet status is only rivaled by the hefty price tags that each one carries. I'll briefly explore the latest and greatest from some of the boutique shops (Alienware, Falcon Northwest, VoodooPC), some of the big boys of the industry (Apple, Dell, Sony, and Toshiba), and some of the more mid-size players (Acer, Asus, and Sager).

Normally you'd see an article rounding up ten systems saying how good is laptop XYZ compared to ABC', how many FPS (frames per second)can it pull in F.E.A.R.', what is the battery life like', etc. I'm going to take a slightly different angle, however. It's undeniable that each one of these systems will eat your ordinary, run of the mill laptops for dinner (and many desktops for that matter) - that fact isn't in dispute. What is under scrutiny here is more a question of value. Are all these features and power worth the big bucks being sought by the various manufacturers? Read on to find out.

The method behind this article's madness is this - select the best CPU offered by the laptop manufacturer, pair it with 2GB of RAM, a high capacity hard drive, a wide range of graphics cards, and some of the biggest screen with the highest resolution available. The results, as you'll see, will end up putting a big dent in any buyer's wallet.


Acer Aspire 9810

CPU	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 (256MB)
Optical Drive	HD DVD
Screen Size and Resolution	20" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.7" W x 13.86" D x 2.43" H
Weight	16.98 lbs
Approximate Price	~$2600

As you can see from the specs, this is one hell of a machine, especially if you intend on using it for video playback purposes. The beefy Aspire 9810 is one of the first laptops out there to include an HD DVD drive, for all of you out there interested in portable HD video. A Core 2 Duo processor will also ensure you have plenty of power on tap for multitasking.
For all its great numbers and specs, there are some flaws with the Aspire 9810. A point of contention in my eyes is that the 9810 has a weaker graphics card than some of the other models in the roundup. Maybe it's my gaming predilection speaking, but for this kind of coin I'd like a more robust graphics card implemented so I would be able to game on a mobile solution at high resolution with all the eye candy turned up. To get an idea of how the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 performs, check out our review of the Go 7600-equipped Toshiba Qosmio AV650.
One more question abounds, and that is why Acer chose a 1680x1050 resolution bundled with that HD DVD drive, as this resolution is not true High Definition. A better choice may have been 1920x1200 which would allow 1080i/p content to be played in true high def. Another factor to consider with the inclusion of the HD DVD drive is that the high def standard has still not been decided. Whether Blu-ray or HD DVD will emerge victorious is anyone's guess, so the true value of having either drive right now is somewhat debatable. Also, the HD DVD drive doesn't record high definition video, it only plays it.
Despite these few quibbles, this laptop is one of the best bargains of the bunch. When you consider that a standalone HD DVD unit will run you about $500-$600 alone, that leaves you spending about $2,000 for a system that comes with a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, a fairly large amount of hard drive space, mid-range video card, and a big beautiful LCD, all in a package that you can still cart around to class, or on business trips.
Rating: 8/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Alienware Aurora m9700

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	15.85"W x 11.75" D x 1.85" H
Weight	8.5 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,126.00

No top ten list of expensive top tier systems would be complete without including an offering from Alienware. Billed as a high end gaming system/desktop replacement, the Aurora m9700 sports a 2.4GHz AMD Turion 64 CPU, 17' 1920x1200 screen, and two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS graphics cards running in SLI configuration. True to Alienware form, the unit is styled with the alien theme and comes in several customizable colors.
Alienware has never had the reputation of being the most affordable or cost conscious OEM. In this case, that reputation stands firm. It looks pretty with its snazzy paintjob, gills' on the top of the chassis, and contains some nice hardware inside. However even for a high end boutique system, this Alienware model could stand to have better technology for the money.
First off, the hardware is good, but not that good. Some may question why an Alienware Core 2 Duo system wasn't included instead (such as the Area-51 m5750), and it's simply because the Aurora m9700 comes equipped with SLI, which brings the total price higher. Therein lies two issues; first of all, yes, it's SLI, but it's not nearly as good SLI as some other manufacturers offer. For a price at the level this laptop commands, I would expect a 7800GTX or 7900GTX, but that may just be me. Second, running a high resolution such as 1920x1200 on a fairly small 17' screen may be rough on some users' eyes. Perhaps a more appropriate resolution for best readability would have been 1680x1050.
Since I've done a fair amount of modding in my time, I'm not easily swayed by fancy OEM paintjobs that bring a hefty price premium. I've seen many a case painted by Joe Schmoe that came out looking like near OEM quality and the styling of the laptop itself is not a compelling enough reason to pay top dollar for this system.
Rating: 5/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Apple MacBook Pro (17")

CPU	2.16GHz Intel Core Duo T2600
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	ATI Radeon X1600 (256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	15.4" W x 10.4" D x 1.0" H
Weight	6.8 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,099.00

The list of features, bundled accessories and capabilities of this small device look pretty impressive on paper, but let's see how it stacks up in actual usage.
Often synonymous with the word expensive', Apple makes an appearance on this list with their 17' MacBook Pro. Featuring an Intel Core Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, Apple can finally hang with the big boys of the laptop world.
The bar for measuring how much laptop you get for the money is a little different with the MacBook Pro. Normally I would fault Apple for only' including an ATI Radeon X1600 with a machine that costs $3,100 because of my gaming tendencies. Since gaming and Apple are not normally used in the same sentence (unless that sentence is prefaced with the words don't even think about'), I can't really fault the MacBook Pro too much.
I hate to say it, for fear of inciting the anti-Mac crowd, but there are few laptops that are built as well as Apple's or include as many innovative or well-engineered features. The quality here is top-notch, and the fit and finish is second to none. It is also the thinnest laptop of the bunch, besting the next-thinnest by almost a third of an inch.
The rest of the hardware specs are comparable to the other models in this article, perhaps a tad worse. The area in which this laptop really shines is the fact that you can now dual boot Windows XP and OSX with the Apple-supplied Boot Camp or Parallels on the MacBook Pro, which obviously is a feature unique to Apple products. In my mind, this feature adds a great deal of value to the MacBook Pro, especially for those who have wanted to try OSX but were afraid to spend the money on an OSX-only Mac system. This laptop allows users to run all of their favorite programs for each OS on one single machine, and to choose between Microsoft and Apple for specific tasks, which was previously unheard of.
Sure, this laptop isn't that great for gaming, but the added functionality of dual booting makes that shortcoming seem miniscule. Now, had Apple included a better video card and a Core 2 Duo CPU, then the MacBook Pro could have earned ten moneybags.
Rating: 8/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Asus Lamborghini VX1

CPU	2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo T2500
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	160GB PATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go7400 VX (512MB)
Optical Drive	4X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	15" / 1400x1050
Dimensions	13" W x 10.7" D x 1.5" H
Weight	5.3 lbs
Approximate Price	$2,799.99

Following in the footsteps of Acer's Ferrari line of laptops, Asus has teamed with Automobili Lamborghini to bring you the VX1. Available in the same yellow or black that you can purchase your next Lamborghini pasta-rocket in, the VX1 is largely crafted out of carbon alloy to reduce its weight to a hair over five pounds, a full pound-and-a-half less than the next lightest laptop, the MacBook Pro.
A standard VX1 configuration includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo CPU, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB PATA hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce Go7400 VX GPU, and a 15' screen running at 1400x1050 resolution.
The hardware in the VX1 leaves me a little under whelmed for almost three grand out of my piggy bank. The CPU isn't even Core 2 Duo, the video card is middle of the road, the DVD drive is slower than any other laptop in this review, and the screen is 2' smaller than the other guys' laptops. I know they all can't be 19'+ behemoths, because that's not the only kind of laptop there is, but for this price you'd expect a little more.
I can understand why a company would market such a laptop - it certainly looks great, it's compact and light, and comes with a nice bundle (including a Lamborghini branded mouse pad and carrying case). In this instance, you're definitely paying a price premium for the automotive paintjob and Lamborghini emblem. A similarly equipped Dell XPS would run you about $800 less, but would certainly not look as nice. You probably won't see a lot of people running around with this laptop (kind of like you won't see a ton of Lamborghinis on the road) but I think that's more to do with Asus' method of distribution than anything else.
Rating: 5/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)

Dell XPS M2010

CPU	2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA RAID-1
Graphics Card(s)	ATI Mobility X1800 (256MB)
Optical Drive	DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	20" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.85" W x 15.9" D x 2.9" H
Weight	18.3 lbs
Approximate Price	$4,649.00

Dell sort of broke the mold with this one. They're not usually known for innovative design, but this mobile' unit is like none of the others. It's a true desktop replacement solution, and runs a 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2 RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 graphics card, and boasts a 20' LCD running a native resolution of 1680x1050. It's a beast in every sense of the word- an 18 pound, almost 19' wide monster.
There's a lot to like in the M2010. If you so choose, you can boost the RAM to 4GB (and add a couple grand to the price tag in the process), run 120GB SATA hard drives mirrored in RAID-1 (as the above configuration shows), and have a great screen with a resolution that is perfectly matched for it.
There are a couple of things I question about this model, however. First and foremost, I question the usefulness of the M2010 as a mobile' unit, as it has been marketed by Dell. I suppose you could fold the screen down, pick the thing up and lug it somewhere, but its sheer size makes that seem very unlikely in real world practice. It appears like it would be more at home on some yuppie's minimalist glass desk than in a student's book bag or on a commuter train. I would hesitate to brand it as a mobile' unit as it more closely resembles an all-in-one or small form factor (SFF) computer.
Also, since the unit is so large, I don't know why Dell didn't choose a better (or newer generation) video card. They could have fit a bigger, faster card that produces more heat inside because size (and heat dissipation) is not as much of an issue when you have 19' to work with.
The system is a design marvel, but the limited mobility makes it somewhat of an overpriced desktop system, as you can get a better SFF desktop for a lot less.
Rating: 4/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Falcon Northwest FragBook DR 6800A

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 (512MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	15.5"W x 11.7" D x 1.9" H
Weight	12.7 lbs
Approximate Price	$4,943.34

You almost had to expect to see an entry from Falcon Northwest on this list. Having long been one of the premier boutique PC shops, Falcon does not disappoint with the FragBook DR 6800A (well, relatively speaking). Probably the closest competitor to Apple in the way of fit and finish, you'd be hard pressed to find many nicer looking laptops. There's a great deal of aesthetic modifications you can have done right at Falcon's factory before the laptop ships.
Inside the FragBook isn't much of a slouch either. Powered by a desktop 2.4GHz AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+, there's a ton of power at your fingertips (and a lot of heat in your lap). Coupled with 2GB of DDR RAM, a 120GB SATA hard drive, and a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 displaying 1920x1200 on a 17' screen, you've got yourself quite a system, for gaming or otherwise.
There's not a lot to criticize this system for- save the desktop processor and its heat output, the potential eye strain mentioned previously when coupling a 17' screen with a 1920x1200 resolution, and lack of SLI at this price point. Remember, this article is not really focused on whether or not this is a good system. Every laptop here is kickass. The determining factor is whether the price is justified.
Despite the fact that the laptop is a great performer and has eleventy-billion coats of nice shiny paint that you can comb your hair while looking at, for almost $5,000 it's a bit steep. For that price, I would be looking for SLI and either a Turion64 X2 or Core 2 Duo processor.
Rating: 4/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)
Sager NP5950V

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GTX SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	19" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.7" W x 13.5" D x 1.9" H
Weight	14.55 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,474.00

A company whose large DTR designs are replicated world-wide, Sager brings to the table a great system in the form of the NP5950V. The specs speak for themselves- you can't ask for much more in a laptop. Being one of only two systems to grace this list with 19' SLI is a nice feather for Sager to stick in their cap, especially when it features two 7900GTX graphics cards, while others only' feature 7800GTX's.
Seeing a system like this makes me wish I had one when I went to QuakeCon. I could have taken it onboard as carry-on luggage, and I would have been saved from having my checked mid-tower PC destroyed by the airline (but that's a story for another day). Our only complaint is the lack of a dual core processor, but if gaming is your primary need the higher clocked Turion should work nicely. At almost 15 lbs, this system is a true desktop replacement.
The real test, of course, is the price tag. While not a blue-light special by any stretch of the imagination, at $3,474 Sager offers a very tempting package at a somewhat reasonable price. Dollar for dollar, this is probably the system with the best configuration at the best price of the whole bunch. In my opinion the NP590V gives you much more bang for your buck than any other system on this list.
I've also heard that this system overclocks well, if you're into that type of thing. Just one more reason to put it on your short list of power systems to check out.
Rating: 9/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Sony Vaio VGN-AR190G

CPU	2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo T2500
RAM	2GB DDR2 533
Hard Drive	200GB SATA (2x100GB RAID-0)
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600GT (256MB)
Optical Drive	Blu-ray
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	16.4" W x 11.8" D x 1.32" H
Weight	8.4 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,799.00

We have here a first for the mobile world - a portable Blu-ray drive in a laptop. Depending on your needs, this may not get a rise out of you, but for a lot of tech geeks out there this is a pretty cool thing. We've seen several vendors (including a few on this list) with HD-DVD capable laptops, but this is the first one available with Blu-ray.
If you set aside the fact that there is a Blu-ray drive in this laptop, the hardware doesn't seem that amazing compared to the others. The only exception is that the VGN-AR190G boasts dual hard drives for 200GB of storage. Otherwise, the CPU is a normal Core Duo, it has the standard 2GB of RAM, and the GeForce Go 7600GT is an okay choice. 1920x1200 resolution on a 17' screen again may be too small for some users, but the HD video junkie that purchases this laptop is unlikely to care.
My main gripe about this system also happens to be its biggest selling point: Blu-ray. While it is indeed cool that you can record HD quality video on this laptop (unlike the other systems that only have HD DVD players) there is questionable value in this fact. There's an interesting duality here. If you were to buy a standalone Blu-ray recorder for your home, it will run you about $1,000. Depending on how you look at it, the rest of the hardware technically would only cost $2,800, which isn't too bad for a system such as this. There's another viewpoint however, and this is more like how I see the VGN-AR190G. Since Blu-ray is waging its war with HD-DVD for the title of de facto high definition standard (this generation's BetaMax vs. VHS?), it is still too early to tell which will win, so why would you shell out this much money when down the road Blu-ray may not emerge victorious? I personally would not be a happy camper having shelled out $3,400 for this laptop, and God knows how much on blank Blu-ray discs, only to have them go the way of the dinosaurs by the end of 2007. For this reason, factoring in the current market price for normal Blu-ray recorders as justification for the price is nullified by the fact that it may be useless in a very short time.
On the other hand, Blu-ray may win and then you can have the privilege of crowing to all your buddies about how you knew it all along and were cool enough to be an early adopter. Check back later, my crystal ball's kind of cloudy at the moment.
Rating: 5/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


oshiba Qosmio G35-AV660

CPU	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	240GB SATA (120GBx2 RAID-0)
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 (256MB)
Optical Drive	HD DVD
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	16.0" W x 11.6" D x 1.79" H
Weight	10.1 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,499.99

Here we have another HD DVD capable laptop, this time brought to you by the good people over at Toshiba. With a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM, 240GB of RAID-0 goodness, and a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600, Toshiba provides a nice supporting cast of components to complement the HD DVD player. They also throw in a biometric fingerprint scanner for good measure.
If you look really closely, you will see that the Qosmio G35-AV660's specs are very close to the Acer Aspire 9810 reviewed earlier, albeit with some slight differences. That being said, Toshiba is going to have a hard act to follow considering that the Qosmio costs roughly $900 more than the comparable Acer.
Toshiba offers 240GB of hard drive space (RAID-0) in the Qosmio, which differentiates it slightly, but RAID-0 just offers more space, without any data protection benefit, rendering it near-useless as a selling point or justification for a higher price. One area that some users may find it worth shelling out the extra dough for the Toshiba is that it offers full HD resolution, instead of being limited to 720p like the Acer is. Unfortunately, the Qosmio's screen is only 17', so some users may be willing to tradeoff 1080p on a 17' screen for 720p on a 20' screen.
I'm not going to completely rehash why buying a HD DVD laptop may not be a good idea at this junction in time, except to say it may not really be a viable reason to spend money on a brand new technology that might not be around in a few years. Like the Acer before it, I'm going to put a better video card on my short wish list of things to fix about the Qosmio G35-AV660.
Is the Qosmio worth the asking price? It depends on your needs, I suppose. If you really need a high definition portable video player with 1920x1200 resolution, this may be the system for you. If you don't see the immediate need for something like this right now, you may consider the laptop slightly not worth it.
Rating: 6/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)
VoodooPC Envy u909

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce 7800GTX SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	19" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	17.5" W x 12.5" D x 1.75" H
Weight	16 lbs
Approximate Price	$5,989.25

Forgetting to include VoodooPC on a list of high priced hardware is like forgetting to buy beer for a kegger. VoodooPC is consistently pumping out high performing machines with price tags to match.
Only the second manufacturer to provide 19' SLI in this roundup, VoodooPC does so by way of dual NVIDIA GeForce 7800GTX's, and they also include a 2.4GHz AMD Turion 64 CPU, 2GB of DDR RAM, and a 120GB SATA hard drive.
VoodooPC markets this laptop as a desktop replacement, with an emphasis on it being a high end gaming machine. Like Falcon Northwest, the Envy u909 allows users to take their pick from a selection of automotive finishes for the chassis color. As can be expected, the laptop looks great.
The Envy u909 happens to be the most expensive laptop on the list. Coming from a company that once sold a gold plated case, this is hardly surprising. What may be somewhat surprising, however, is that the Envy u909 doesn't even have the best hardware out of the bunch (the Sager probably holds that crown AND is $1,500 cheaper).
Any way you slice it, the Envy u909 costs an absolutely ungodly amount of money, and the fancy paint job simply does not justify the huge markup. Allow me to illustrate just how much money this laptop costs. VoodooPC markets the Envy u909 as a gaming machine. It's a pretty big and heavy laptop, and at 16 pounds, probably not the most portable of units. I've taken the liberty to spec out a Shuttle small form factor (SFF) super-gaming system to show you how else you could spend nearly $6,000. Since the Shuttle is so small, you'd probably have comparable ease of mobility (but no battery power, though the Envy u909's battery life is nothing to write home about).
This is what almost $6,000 will buy you:

• Shuttle SD37-P2-BK-V1 Barebone System
• 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 CPU
• 4GB G.Skill DDR2 1000 RAM
• GeForce 7950GX2 Graphics Card
• 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
• Western Digital Raptor 150GB SATA Hard Drive
• Seagate 750GB SATA Hard Drive
• Dell 3007 LCD
• Logitech G7 Wireless Mouse
• Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard

This is an amazing boatload of ultra high end parts, and the sad part is, that configuration listed above will set you back $300 less than the VoodooPC Envy u909. I hope you notice that this configuration, besides being FAR superior in every single category, will give you a 30' Dell LCD to boot. That is simply mind boggling.
It would be worth it to me to sacrifice a bit of portability in order to get the above configuration in place of the VoodooPC Envy u909. I see nothing about the Envy u909 that even remotely justifies such an astronomical cost. You'd be better off buying ANY other laptop listed in this article, as they all offer better bang for the buck, and you'd also avoid having to kick your own ass because of the worst case of buyer's remorse in world history.
Rating: 1/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)
Conclusion
Where does all this commentary leave us? The fact that the average number of moneybags in the article was almost 6 shows that there are some laptops in the bunch that may warrant a closer look than others. Most of the decision about whether a system is worth the price will depend entirely on your personal needs and usage. You're not necessarily going to look at high end video cards if you aren't a gamer; laptop weight and ease of mobility will matter more to you if you're a commuter or frequent business traveler, and so on. You may place a higher value on flashy paintjobs or higher resolution screens than someone else. That's why this article should only serve as one user's point of view. My viewpoints aren't necessarily applicable to all and value is truly in the eye of the beholder.
Laptop manufacturers are going to keep pumping out models that have all the newest bells and whistles, fancy paintjobs and huge screens. These systems are going to continue to cost thousands of dollars and the decision on whether they are worth it is truly up to you, the end user. Just don't forget your checkbook; you're going to need it.





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The Ten Most Expensive Laptops in the World
Discover the most expensive notebooks ever created, burning a huge hole in your wallet...and breaking your back!

10 Expensive Laptops

Today I bring you an article examining the cream of the crop; the most badass laptops out there, whose uber-leet status is only rivaled by the hefty price tags that each one carries. I'll briefly explore the latest and greatest from some of the boutique shops (Alienware, Falcon Northwest, VoodooPC), some of the big boys of the industry (Apple, Dell, Sony, and Toshiba), and some of the more mid-size players (Acer, Asus, and Sager).

Normally you'd see an article rounding up ten systems saying how good is laptop XYZ compared to ABC', how many FPS (frames per second)can it pull in F.E.A.R.', what is the battery life like', etc. I'm going to take a slightly different angle, however. It's undeniable that each one of these systems will eat your ordinary, run of the mill laptops for dinner (and many desktops for that matter) - that fact isn't in dispute. What is under scrutiny here is more a question of value. Are all these features and power worth the big bucks being sought by the various manufacturers? Read on to find out.

The method behind this article's madness is this - select the best CPU offered by the laptop manufacturer, pair it with 2GB of RAM, a high capacity hard drive, a wide range of graphics cards, and some of the biggest screen with the highest resolution available. The results, as you'll see, will end up putting a big dent in any buyer's wallet.


Acer Aspire 9810

CPU	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 (256MB)
Optical Drive	HD DVD
Screen Size and Resolution	20" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.7" W x 13.86" D x 2.43" H
Weight	16.98 lbs
Approximate Price	~$2600

As you can see from the specs, this is one hell of a machine, especially if you intend on using it for video playback purposes. The beefy Aspire 9810 is one of the first laptops out there to include an HD DVD drive, for all of you out there interested in portable HD video. A Core 2 Duo processor will also ensure you have plenty of power on tap for multitasking.
For all its great numbers and specs, there are some flaws with the Aspire 9810. A point of contention in my eyes is that the 9810 has a weaker graphics card than some of the other models in the roundup. Maybe it's my gaming predilection speaking, but for this kind of coin I'd like a more robust graphics card implemented so I would be able to game on a mobile solution at high resolution with all the eye candy turned up. To get an idea of how the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 performs, check out our review of the Go 7600-equipped Toshiba Qosmio AV650.
One more question abounds, and that is why Acer chose a 1680x1050 resolution bundled with that HD DVD drive, as this resolution is not true High Definition. A better choice may have been 1920x1200 which would allow 1080i/p content to be played in true high def. Another factor to consider with the inclusion of the HD DVD drive is that the high def standard has still not been decided. Whether Blu-ray or HD DVD will emerge victorious is anyone's guess, so the true value of having either drive right now is somewhat debatable. Also, the HD DVD drive doesn't record high definition video, it only plays it.
Despite these few quibbles, this laptop is one of the best bargains of the bunch. When you consider that a standalone HD DVD unit will run you about $500-$600 alone, that leaves you spending about $2,000 for a system that comes with a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, a fairly large amount of hard drive space, mid-range video card, and a big beautiful LCD, all in a package that you can still cart around to class, or on business trips.
Rating: 8/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Alienware Aurora m9700

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	15.85"W x 11.75" D x 1.85" H
Weight	8.5 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,126.00

No top ten list of expensive top tier systems would be complete without including an offering from Alienware. Billed as a high end gaming system/desktop replacement, the Aurora m9700 sports a 2.4GHz AMD Turion 64 CPU, 17' 1920x1200 screen, and two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS graphics cards running in SLI configuration. True to Alienware form, the unit is styled with the alien theme and comes in several customizable colors.
Alienware has never had the reputation of being the most affordable or cost conscious OEM. In this case, that reputation stands firm. It looks pretty with its snazzy paintjob, gills' on the top of the chassis, and contains some nice hardware inside. However even for a high end boutique system, this Alienware model could stand to have better technology for the money.
First off, the hardware is good, but not that good. Some may question why an Alienware Core 2 Duo system wasn't included instead (such as the Area-51 m5750), and it's simply because the Aurora m9700 comes equipped with SLI, which brings the total price higher. Therein lies two issues; first of all, yes, it's SLI, but it's not nearly as good SLI as some other manufacturers offer. For a price at the level this laptop commands, I would expect a 7800GTX or 7900GTX, but that may just be me. Second, running a high resolution such as 1920x1200 on a fairly small 17' screen may be rough on some users' eyes. Perhaps a more appropriate resolution for best readability would have been 1680x1050.
Since I've done a fair amount of modding in my time, I'm not easily swayed by fancy OEM paintjobs that bring a hefty price premium. I've seen many a case painted by Joe Schmoe that came out looking like near OEM quality and the styling of the laptop itself is not a compelling enough reason to pay top dollar for this system.
Rating: 5/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Apple MacBook Pro (17")

CPU	2.16GHz Intel Core Duo T2600
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	ATI Radeon X1600 (256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	15.4" W x 10.4" D x 1.0" H
Weight	6.8 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,099.00

The list of features, bundled accessories and capabilities of this small device look pretty impressive on paper, but let's see how it stacks up in actual usage.
Often synonymous with the word expensive', Apple makes an appearance on this list with their 17' MacBook Pro. Featuring an Intel Core Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, Apple can finally hang with the big boys of the laptop world.
The bar for measuring how much laptop you get for the money is a little different with the MacBook Pro. Normally I would fault Apple for only' including an ATI Radeon X1600 with a machine that costs $3,100 because of my gaming tendencies. Since gaming and Apple are not normally used in the same sentence (unless that sentence is prefaced with the words don't even think about'), I can't really fault the MacBook Pro too much.
I hate to say it, for fear of inciting the anti-Mac crowd, but there are few laptops that are built as well as Apple's or include as many innovative or well-engineered features. The quality here is top-notch, and the fit and finish is second to none. It is also the thinnest laptop of the bunch, besting the next-thinnest by almost a third of an inch.
The rest of the hardware specs are comparable to the other models in this article, perhaps a tad worse. The area in which this laptop really shines is the fact that you can now dual boot Windows XP and OSX with the Apple-supplied Boot Camp or Parallels on the MacBook Pro, which obviously is a feature unique to Apple products. In my mind, this feature adds a great deal of value to the MacBook Pro, especially for those who have wanted to try OSX but were afraid to spend the money on an OSX-only Mac system. This laptop allows users to run all of their favorite programs for each OS on one single machine, and to choose between Microsoft and Apple for specific tasks, which was previously unheard of.
Sure, this laptop isn't that great for gaming, but the added functionality of dual booting makes that shortcoming seem miniscule. Now, had Apple included a better video card and a Core 2 Duo CPU, then the MacBook Pro could have earned ten moneybags.
Rating: 8/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Asus Lamborghini VX1

CPU	2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo T2500
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	160GB PATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go7400 VX (512MB)
Optical Drive	4X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	15" / 1400x1050
Dimensions	13" W x 10.7" D x 1.5" H
Weight	5.3 lbs
Approximate Price	$2,799.99

Following in the footsteps of Acer's Ferrari line of laptops, Asus has teamed with Automobili Lamborghini to bring you the VX1. Available in the same yellow or black that you can purchase your next Lamborghini pasta-rocket in, the VX1 is largely crafted out of carbon alloy to reduce its weight to a hair over five pounds, a full pound-and-a-half less than the next lightest laptop, the MacBook Pro.
A standard VX1 configuration includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo CPU, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB PATA hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce Go7400 VX GPU, and a 15' screen running at 1400x1050 resolution.
The hardware in the VX1 leaves me a little under whelmed for almost three grand out of my piggy bank. The CPU isn't even Core 2 Duo, the video card is middle of the road, the DVD drive is slower than any other laptop in this review, and the screen is 2' smaller than the other guys' laptops. I know they all can't be 19'+ behemoths, because that's not the only kind of laptop there is, but for this price you'd expect a little more.
I can understand why a company would market such a laptop - it certainly looks great, it's compact and light, and comes with a nice bundle (including a Lamborghini branded mouse pad and carrying case). In this instance, you're definitely paying a price premium for the automotive paintjob and Lamborghini emblem. A similarly equipped Dell XPS would run you about $800 less, but would certainly not look as nice. You probably won't see a lot of people running around with this laptop (kind of like you won't see a ton of Lamborghinis on the road) but I think that's more to do with Asus' method of distribution than anything else.
Rating: 5/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)

Dell XPS M2010

CPU	2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA RAID-1
Graphics Card(s)	ATI Mobility X1800 (256MB)
Optical Drive	DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	20" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.85" W x 15.9" D x 2.9" H
Weight	18.3 lbs
Approximate Price	$4,649.00

Dell sort of broke the mold with this one. They're not usually known for innovative design, but this mobile' unit is like none of the others. It's a true desktop replacement solution, and runs a 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2 RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 graphics card, and boasts a 20' LCD running a native resolution of 1680x1050. It's a beast in every sense of the word- an 18 pound, almost 19' wide monster.
There's a lot to like in the M2010. If you so choose, you can boost the RAM to 4GB (and add a couple grand to the price tag in the process), run 120GB SATA hard drives mirrored in RAID-1 (as the above configuration shows), and have a great screen with a resolution that is perfectly matched for it.
There are a couple of things I question about this model, however. First and foremost, I question the usefulness of the M2010 as a mobile' unit, as it has been marketed by Dell. I suppose you could fold the screen down, pick the thing up and lug it somewhere, but its sheer size makes that seem very unlikely in real world practice. It appears like it would be more at home on some yuppie's minimalist glass desk than in a student's book bag or on a commuter train. I would hesitate to brand it as a mobile' unit as it more closely resembles an all-in-one or small form factor (SFF) computer.
Also, since the unit is so large, I don't know why Dell didn't choose a better (or newer generation) video card. They could have fit a bigger, faster card that produces more heat inside because size (and heat dissipation) is not as much of an issue when you have 19' to work with.
The system is a design marvel, but the limited mobility makes it somewhat of an overpriced desktop system, as you can get a better SFF desktop for a lot less.
Rating: 4/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Falcon Northwest FragBook DR 6800A

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 (512MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	15.5"W x 11.7" D x 1.9" H
Weight	12.7 lbs
Approximate Price	$4,943.34

You almost had to expect to see an entry from Falcon Northwest on this list. Having long been one of the premier boutique PC shops, Falcon does not disappoint with the FragBook DR 6800A (well, relatively speaking). Probably the closest competitor to Apple in the way of fit and finish, you'd be hard pressed to find many nicer looking laptops. There's a great deal of aesthetic modifications you can have done right at Falcon's factory before the laptop ships.
Inside the FragBook isn't much of a slouch either. Powered by a desktop 2.4GHz AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+, there's a ton of power at your fingertips (and a lot of heat in your lap). Coupled with 2GB of DDR RAM, a 120GB SATA hard drive, and a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 displaying 1920x1200 on a 17' screen, you've got yourself quite a system, for gaming or otherwise.
There's not a lot to criticize this system for- save the desktop processor and its heat output, the potential eye strain mentioned previously when coupling a 17' screen with a 1920x1200 resolution, and lack of SLI at this price point. Remember, this article is not really focused on whether or not this is a good system. Every laptop here is kickass. The determining factor is whether the price is justified.
Despite the fact that the laptop is a great performer and has eleventy-billion coats of nice shiny paint that you can comb your hair while looking at, for almost $5,000 it's a bit steep. For that price, I would be looking for SLI and either a Turion64 X2 or Core 2 Duo processor.
Rating: 4/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)
Sager NP5950V

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GTX SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	19" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.7" W x 13.5" D x 1.9" H
Weight	14.55 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,474.00

A company whose large DTR designs are replicated world-wide, Sager brings to the table a great system in the form of the NP5950V. The specs speak for themselves- you can't ask for much more in a laptop. Being one of only two systems to grace this list with 19' SLI is a nice feather for Sager to stick in their cap, especially when it features two 7900GTX graphics cards, while others only' feature 7800GTX's.
Seeing a system like this makes me wish I had one when I went to QuakeCon. I could have taken it onboard as carry-on luggage, and I would have been saved from having my checked mid-tower PC destroyed by the airline (but that's a story for another day). Our only complaint is the lack of a dual core processor, but if gaming is your primary need the higher clocked Turion should work nicely. At almost 15 lbs, this system is a true desktop replacement.
The real test, of course, is the price tag. While not a blue-light special by any stretch of the imagination, at $3,474 Sager offers a very tempting package at a somewhat reasonable price. Dollar for dollar, this is probably the system with the best configuration at the best price of the whole bunch. In my opinion the NP590V gives you much more bang for your buck than any other system on this list.
I've also heard that this system overclocks well, if you're into that type of thing. Just one more reason to put it on your short list of power systems to check out.
Rating: 9/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


Sony Vaio VGN-AR190G

CPU	2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo T2500
RAM	2GB DDR2 533
Hard Drive	200GB SATA (2x100GB RAID-0)
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600GT (256MB)
Optical Drive	Blu-ray
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	16.4" W x 11.8" D x 1.32" H
Weight	8.4 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,799.00

We have here a first for the mobile world - a portable Blu-ray drive in a laptop. Depending on your needs, this may not get a rise out of you, but for a lot of tech geeks out there this is a pretty cool thing. We've seen several vendors (including a few on this list) with HD-DVD capable laptops, but this is the first one available with Blu-ray.
If you set aside the fact that there is a Blu-ray drive in this laptop, the hardware doesn't seem that amazing compared to the others. The only exception is that the VGN-AR190G boasts dual hard drives for 200GB of storage. Otherwise, the CPU is a normal Core Duo, it has the standard 2GB of RAM, and the GeForce Go 7600GT is an okay choice. 1920x1200 resolution on a 17' screen again may be too small for some users, but the HD video junkie that purchases this laptop is unlikely to care.
My main gripe about this system also happens to be its biggest selling point: Blu-ray. While it is indeed cool that you can record HD quality video on this laptop (unlike the other systems that only have HD DVD players) there is questionable value in this fact. There's an interesting duality here. If you were to buy a standalone Blu-ray recorder for your home, it will run you about $1,000. Depending on how you look at it, the rest of the hardware technically would only cost $2,800, which isn't too bad for a system such as this. There's another viewpoint however, and this is more like how I see the VGN-AR190G. Since Blu-ray is waging its war with HD-DVD for the title of de facto high definition standard (this generation's BetaMax vs. VHS?), it is still too early to tell which will win, so why would you shell out this much money when down the road Blu-ray may not emerge victorious? I personally would not be a happy camper having shelled out $3,400 for this laptop, and God knows how much on blank Blu-ray discs, only to have them go the way of the dinosaurs by the end of 2007. For this reason, factoring in the current market price for normal Blu-ray recorders as justification for the price is nullified by the fact that it may be useless in a very short time.
On the other hand, Blu-ray may win and then you can have the privilege of crowing to all your buddies about how you knew it all along and were cool enough to be an early adopter. Check back later, my crystal ball's kind of cloudy at the moment.
Rating: 5/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)


oshiba Qosmio G35-AV660

CPU	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	240GB SATA (120GBx2 RAID-0)
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 (256MB)
Optical Drive	HD DVD
Screen Size and Resolution	17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions	16.0" W x 11.6" D x 1.79" H
Weight	10.1 lbs
Approximate Price	$3,499.99

Here we have another HD DVD capable laptop, this time brought to you by the good people over at Toshiba. With a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM, 240GB of RAID-0 goodness, and a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600, Toshiba provides a nice supporting cast of components to complement the HD DVD player. They also throw in a biometric fingerprint scanner for good measure.
If you look really closely, you will see that the Qosmio G35-AV660's specs are very close to the Acer Aspire 9810 reviewed earlier, albeit with some slight differences. That being said, Toshiba is going to have a hard act to follow considering that the Qosmio costs roughly $900 more than the comparable Acer.
Toshiba offers 240GB of hard drive space (RAID-0) in the Qosmio, which differentiates it slightly, but RAID-0 just offers more space, without any data protection benefit, rendering it near-useless as a selling point or justification for a higher price. One area that some users may find it worth shelling out the extra dough for the Toshiba is that it offers full HD resolution, instead of being limited to 720p like the Acer is. Unfortunately, the Qosmio's screen is only 17', so some users may be willing to tradeoff 1080p on a 17' screen for 720p on a 20' screen.
I'm not going to completely rehash why buying a HD DVD laptop may not be a good idea at this junction in time, except to say it may not really be a viable reason to spend money on a brand new technology that might not be around in a few years. Like the Acer before it, I'm going to put a better video card on my short wish list of things to fix about the Qosmio G35-AV660.
Is the Qosmio worth the asking price? It depends on your needs, I suppose. If you really need a high definition portable video player with 1920x1200 resolution, this may be the system for you. If you don't see the immediate need for something like this right now, you may consider the laptop slightly not worth it.
Rating: 6/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)
VoodooPC Envy u909

CPU	2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM	2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive	120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s)	NVIDIA GeForce 7800GTX SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive	8X DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	19" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	17.5" W x 12.5" D x 1.75" H
Weight	16 lbs
Approximate Price	$5,989.25

Forgetting to include VoodooPC on a list of high priced hardware is like forgetting to buy beer for a kegger. VoodooPC is consistently pumping out high performing machines with price tags to match.
Only the second manufacturer to provide 19' SLI in this roundup, VoodooPC does so by way of dual NVIDIA GeForce 7800GTX's, and they also include a 2.4GHz AMD Turion 64 CPU, 2GB of DDR RAM, and a 120GB SATA hard drive.
VoodooPC markets this laptop as a desktop replacement, with an emphasis on it being a high end gaming machine. Like Falcon Northwest, the Envy u909 allows users to take their pick from a selection of automotive finishes for the chassis color. As can be expected, the laptop looks great.
The Envy u909 happens to be the most expensive laptop on the list. Coming from a company that once sold a gold plated case, this is hardly surprising. What may be somewhat surprising, however, is that the Envy u909 doesn't even have the best hardware out of the bunch (the Sager probably holds that crown AND is $1,500 cheaper).
Any way you slice it, the Envy u909 costs an absolutely ungodly amount of money, and the fancy paint job simply does not justify the huge markup. Allow me to illustrate just how much money this laptop costs. VoodooPC markets the Envy u909 as a gaming machine. It's a pretty big and heavy laptop, and at 16 pounds, probably not the most portable of units. I've taken the liberty to spec out a Shuttle small form factor (SFF) super-gaming system to show you how else you could spend nearly $6,000. Since the Shuttle is so small, you'd probably have comparable ease of mobility (but no battery power, though the Envy u909's battery life is nothing to write home about).
This is what almost $6,000 will buy you:

• Shuttle SD37-P2-BK-V1 Barebone System
• 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 CPU
• 4GB G.Skill DDR2 1000 RAM
• GeForce 7950GX2 Graphics Card
• 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
• Western Digital Raptor 150GB SATA Hard Drive
• Seagate 750GB SATA Hard Drive
• Dell 3007 LCD
• Logitech G7 Wireless Mouse
• Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard

This is an amazing boatload of ultra high end parts, and the sad part is, that configuration listed above will set you back $300 less than the VoodooPC Envy u909. I hope you notice that this configuration, besides being FAR superior in every single category, will give you a 30' Dell LCD to boot. That is simply mind boggling.
It would be worth it to me to sacrifice a bit of portability in order to get the above configuration in place of the VoodooPC Envy u909. I see nothing about the Envy u909 that even remotely justifies such an astronomical cost. You'd be better off buying ANY other laptop listed in this article, as they all offer better bang for the buck, and you'd also avoid having to kick your own ass because of the worst case of buyer's remorse in world history.
Rating: 1/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)
Conclusion
Where does all this commentary leave us? The fact that the average number of moneybags in the article was almost 6 shows that there are some laptops in the bunch that may warrant a closer look than others. Most of the decision about whether a system is worth the price will depend entirely on your personal needs and usage. You're not necessarily going to look at high end video cards if you aren't a gamer; laptop weight and ease of mobility will matter more to you if you're a commuter or frequent business traveler, and so on. You may place a higher value on flashy paintjobs or higher resolution screens than someone else. That's why this article should only serve as one user's point of view. My viewpoints aren't necessarily applicable to all and value is truly in the eye of the beholder.
Laptop manufacturers are going to keep pumping out models that have all the newest bells and whistles, fancy paintjobs and huge screens. These systems are going to continue to cost thousands of dollars and the decision on whether they are worth it is truly up to you, the end user. Just don't forget your checkbook; you're going to need it.

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