Laptop Club

CyberPower Gamer Xtreme M1

CyberPower specializes in hulking gaming desktops—some of the most advanced systems known to mankind—but its Web site also houses a line of gaming laptops that are worth a gander. The Gamer Xtreme M1 ($2,150 direct) is a bare-bones chassis jammed with an assortment of the most popular mobile gaming parts. There are better-looking designs out there, such as the Editors' Choice Alienware M17 and the Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725, but the M1 is a good fit for gamers who are nursing an already depleted bank account.

Price as Tested: $2,150.00 Direct
Type: Gaming, Media
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Weight: 9.6 lb
Screen Size: 17 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 CrossFireX
Storage Capacity: 250 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW DL with Blu-Ray

Lenovo IdeaPad Y650

Of all the 16-inch media centers—laptops with 16-inch widescreens—the Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 ($1,299 direct) is easily the least burdensome on your back. It's an alternative for those who don't want to spend the money or make the switch to an Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Dual Graphics) but salivate over its lightness. The Y650 is designed with mobility in mind when others (ahem, other Windows laptops) with similar screens are at least a pound heavier. Yet it can also fill the void left by an old desktop. Part for part, though, the Y650 is a bit overpriced; there are better values out there. Then again, you can always wait around until there's a good Lenovo sale.

Price as Tested: $1,299.00 Direct
Type: General Purpose, Media
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
RAM: 3 GB
Weight: 5.5 lb
Screen Size: 16 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: Integrated Intel GMA X4500HD
Storage Capacity: 320 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: DVD+R DL

ASUS G71G-Q1

The ultimate gaming laptop needs something more than the fastest processors and the most blistering 3D graphics cards, and ASUS is well aware of this. The ASUS G71G-Q1 ($2,000 street) is close to the bleeding edge, packing features like an Intel quad-core processor, a Blu-ray reader, and cavernous hard drives. It's almost the total package, but it falls short on the one thing that matters most to gamers: graphics. Although the Nvidia GeForce 9800M GS card it comes with is considered a very good gaming card, there are systems that deliver higher frame rates for about the same price.

Price as Tested: $2,000.00 Street
Type: Gaming, Media
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
RAM: 6 GB
Weight: 9.1 lb
Screen Size: 17 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 9800M GS
Storage Capacity: 640 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW DL with Blu-Ray

Gateway P-7808u FX Edition

Hard-core gaming laptops were once thought of as sticker-shock items, but they've changed sharply of late in both looks and price. In their new incarnation, they're acting as big-screen media centers and desktop replacements, now that prices for the fastest parts have plummeted to a level that makes them affordable to the masses. At $1,800 (street), the Gateway P-7808u is aggressively priced for a gaming rig, with a mobile Intel quad-core processor and a powerful Nvidia graphics card built into a light 17-inch platform. Though its looks could use a huge splash of imagination, this hard-core gaming laptop is a terrific deal no matter how you look at it.

Price as Tested: $1,800.00 Street
Type: Gaming, Media
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Weight: 8.9 lb
Screen Size: 17 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 9800M GTS
Storage Capacity: 5400 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725

Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725 ($2,699.99 direct) is probably not for you. Its outlandish design, which conjures up images of fiery balls of flames striking a bloody canvas, seems fit for those who crave bragging rights for their systems. Within this 9.2-pound beast sits a mobile quad-core processor and an Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTX graphics card—parts that will set you apart from casual gamers. Performance, overall, lived up to expectations, but there is a cheaper alternative that turned in better gaming scores.

Price as Tested: $2,700.00
Type: Gaming, Media
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Weight: 9.2 lb
Screen Size: 17 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 9800M GTX
Storage Capacity: 384 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: DVD+R DL

Extensa™ 7620

Powered by the latest processor technology, the Extensa™ 7620 is a desktop-replacement notebook with a wide-screen 17” LCD designed to deliver a superb user experience. Operating System	Genuine Windows Vista^® Business
Processor	Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T5550 (2MB L2 cache, 1.83GHz, 667MHz FSB)
Chipset	Mobile Intel® GM965 Express
Memory	1GB (1GB installed in one of two memory slots) DDR2 667 SDRAM User upgradeable up to 4GB (one 2GB memory card in each slot)* subject to availability of 2GB cards *If upgrading after initial purchase, one or more of the memory cards provided with the system may have to be replaced with optional larger memory cards in order to achieve the maximum capacity.
Storage	160GB* hard drive with Acer® DASP (Disk Anti-Shock Protection) Integrated variable-speed Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM): -Read – 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 24X CD-RW, 8X DVD-ROM, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 6X DVD-ROM DL (double-layer), 6X DVD-R DL (double-layer), 6X DVD+R DL (double-layer), 6X DVD-RW, 6X DVD+RW, 5X DVD-RAM -Write – 24X CD-R, 16X CD-RW, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD-R DL (double-layer), 4X DVD+R DL (double-layer), 6X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+RW, 5X DVD-RAM 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™ Optional external USB 1.44MB* floppy drive *When referring to storage capacity, GB stands for one billion bytes and MB stands for one million bytes. Some utilities may indicate varying storage capacities. Total user-accessible capacity may vary depending on operating environments.
Video	17.0" WXGA+ (1440 x 900) TFT LCD Up to 16.7 million colors Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (8MB dedicated system memory, up to 350MB shared system memory), Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and 10.0 support MPEG-2 (DVD) hardware acceleration support Acer® Video Conference with integrated Acer® Crystal Eye webcam supporting Acer® PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions VGA and S-video TV-out ports Support for simultaneous display on notebook LCD and external monitor
Audio	Integrated microphone Two integrated Acer® 3DSonic stereo speakers Headphones/speakers/line-out, microphone and line-in ports Microsoft® DirectSound® compatibility
Interface Ports	DC-in RJ-11 modem RJ-45 LAN VGA Headphones/speaker/line-out Microphone Line-in S-video TV-out FireWire® (IEEE 1394) FIR (fast infrared) Four USB 2.0
Card Slots	Type II PC Card slot ExpressCard™/54 slot 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™
Communications	Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection supporting 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN, WI-FI CERTIFIED™, Acer® SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency Gigabit LAN, Wake-on-LAN ready V.92 56Kbps* data/fax modem, PTT (postal, telegraph, telephone) certified in select countries, Wake-on-Ring ready Acer® Video Conference with integrated Acer® Crystal Eye webcam supporting Acer® PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions *Download speeds are limited to 53Kbps. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions. Uploads travel at speeds up to 33.6Kbps. Requires compatible digital sources.
Included Software	Acer® Empowering Technology (eLock, eRecovery, eNet, ePower, ePresentation, eSettings Management) Acer® GridVista Acer® Launch Manager Acer® Video Conference Manager Adobe® Acrobat® Reader CyberLink® PowerDVD™* Anti-virus (trial version)* CD with Windows® XP Professional (can be installed in place of, not in addition to, Windows Vista® Business) 60-day trial of Microsoft® Office Professional 2007 (available with Windows Vista® Business only, not with Windows® XP Professional) NTI CD-Maker™* NTI Shadow™* *OEM, not full-featured, version.
User Interface	105-key Acer® FineTouch keyboard, inverted T cursor layout, standard numeric keypad, hotkey controls, 2.5mm minimum key travel, international language support 12 function, four cursor, two Microsoft® Windows® keys, independent US dollar and Euro sign keys Empowering key Web browser, e-mail, user-programmable easy-launch buttons Front-access WLAN switch Lock, presentation, sync productivity keys Seamless touchpad with four-way integrated scroll button
Dimensions & Weight	15.7" (400.0mm) W x 11.4" (290.0mm) D x 1.2" – 1.7” (30.3mm – 43.3mm) H 8.1 lb. (3.7kg) Size and weight may vary depending on configuration
Power	90-watt AC adapter Six-cell lithium ion battery: up to 3.0 hours life depending on configuration and usage; 2.0 hours recharge time with power off, 3.0 hours with power on, 80% charge in 1.0 hour
Compliance	ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) 3.0 DMI (Desktop Management Interface) 2.0 Mobile PC2002 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™
Security Features	User, administrator and hard drive BIOS passwords Kensington® lock slot Acer® DASP (Disk Anti-Shock Protection) for hard drive
Quality Tests	Temperature and humidity, acoustics, electrostatic discharge immunity, hinge life, keyboard-switch life, free drop, weight and pressure, shock and vibration, spillage, MTBF (mean time between failure)
Limited Warranty*	One-year parts and labor limited warranty* with concurrent International Traveler’s Warranty**

G70t

Get everything done and enjoy loads of entertainment. Our value-priced G70t notebook supplies the essentials you need to connect, be productive, and communicate, plus gives a spacious, 17" diagonal high-def¹ display with 16:9 ratio.

Genuine Windows Vista

Get things done, stay connected, and enjoy entertainment in a protected environment with genuine Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. This series comes with genuine Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes Windows Aero, Windows Media Center, and instant search^{^††}.

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Elemental style

Our G70 notebook is packed with cool features:

A long-lasting, high-gloss imprint finish in black and silver
A 17" (diagonal) BrightView ultrawide display with 16:9 aspect ratio
A simple touch control panel and touchpad design with icons
A full-size color-matched keyboard and touchpad
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator with optional Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics
Improved multitasking with the latest Intel dual-core processors²)

» G70t demo

Great for work and play

The notebooks in this series deliver easy-to-use entertainment. You get:

Integrated Wi-Fi³ for going online fast and staying in touch
The ability to burn CDs and DVDs⁴ with songs and videos for family and friends
Built-in Altec Lansing speakers for great sound
A 5-in-1 digital media card reader for quick photo transfers
An optional HDMI 1.3 port for connecting the PC to an external monitor or HD TV⁵
Easy video chat and capture with digital microphone and optional integrated webcam⁶
A PC that's ENERGY STAR® qualified

Quality security, support, and more

We test and qualify all software sold with our PCs to help ensure a trouble-free experience with your new computer. You get:

Protection and security with the included antivirus software
Peace of mind with a one-year limited hardware and software⁷ warranty
A year of 24 x 7 toll-free support during the warranty period, plus on-line support for the life of the product
An easy-to-use dashboard for system diagnostics and updates from a preinstalled advisor
The option of more coverage: an extended service plan with our Accidental Damage Protection and House Call features