Home desktop replacements

Editors' Top Laptops
updated May 17, 2006

Though too big for frequent travel, desktop replacements deliver higher performance and more features than most smaller laptops. Typical options include massive screens, DVD burners, and large, comfortable keyboards. Generally, desktop replacements are popular among home and business users who do not travel regularly and who need CPU muscle for gaming and multimedia work. Here are the best.

-- Justin Jaffe, senior editor

For home: Desktop replacements | Thin-and-light laptops | Midsize laptops | Gaming laptops | Less than $1,000

Home desktop replacements

Laptops	Editors' rating	Price	Summary
Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV600 Released: 02/22/2006	8.1 Excellent		With the Qosmio G35-AV600, Toshiba delivers a best-in-class multimedia experience that's built on a state-of-the-art set of components and includes virtually every feature under the sun. Specs: Intel Core Duo (1.83 GHz) , 1.83 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM , 9.9 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix , RoHS , Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Dell Inspiron E1705 Released: 01/20/2006	7.8 Very good		The Dell Inspiron E1705 packs a solid set of multimedia features, and when configured with Intel's Core Duo processor, it has enough power to speed through virtually any task, from editing video to playing games. Specs: Intel Intel Core 2 Duo T5300 (1.73 GHz) , 1.73 GHz, 2 GB DDR SDRAM , 17 in TFT active matrix , Vista Home Premium

Acer Aspire 9504WSMi Released: 10/15/2005	7.1 Very good		The fully equipped, multimedia-minded Acer Aspire 9500 gives pricey, entertainment-focused desktop replacements a serious run for their money. Specs: Intel Pentium M (2 GHz) , 2 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM , 8.4 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix , Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition

HP Pavilion dv8000 Released: 11/09/2005	7.0 Very good		In addition to a pleasing design, a good basic set of multimedia features, and solid performance, the HP Pavilion dv8000 has a competitive price that undercuts much of the competition. Specs: AMD Turion 64 (1.8 GHz) , 1.8 GHz, 512 MB DDR SDRAM , 8.1 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix

Apple MacBook Pro (15.4-inch, 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo) Released: 02/15/2006	6.9 Good	$599	The MacBook Pro delivers unparalleled style, a solid set of features and software, and a few transitional performance issues that keep it from rivaling the most powerful PC laptops. Specs: Intel Core Duo (1.83 GHz) , 1.83 GHz , 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM , 5.5 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix , EPA Energy Star , Apple MacOS X 10.4.4