The average desktop replacement weighs 6 pounds or more, sports a Core i7 quad-core chip, at least 6GB of RAM, around 750GB of HDD storage (256GB or 512GB if you opt for an SSD), and offers tons of connectivity. Battery life has never been one of their strong points due to the large displays and powerful hardware, but surprisingly newer models are getting up to 6 hours of runtime. You can thank Intel’s Ivy Bridge for that. Laptops in this category start at around $1,000 but fully-loaded models can easily fetch upwards of $2,000. Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display 89 53 Reviews The all-new, 15.4-inch Retina Display packing MacBook Pro represents the next-generation of Apple’s professional-grade notebooks. It’s an impressive 0.71 inches thin — almost as thin as the MacBook Air’s 0.68 inches — while weighing under four and a half pounds. The display is 15.4 inches across and sports a 220ppi 2880 x 1800 native resolution. Besides the specs listed below, noteworthy features include dual Thunderbolt ports, dual microphones “to enable a new generation of voice applications”, USB 3.0 support, HDMI-out (finally no need for adapters), and a thinner MagSafe port, as well as the usual SD card reader, webcam and backlit keyboard. Additional views:
HP Envy 17 3D 80 15 Reviews The redesigned Envy 17 premium notebook from HP offers the latest Intel processors and AMD graphics, Beats Audio with a built-in knob for precision volume control, optional SSD storage, and a host of new features, like HP’s wireless audio, a proximity activated keyboard backlight, and a sleek new all-metal chassis. The range-topping model also includes a 3D display for gaming and watching movies, as well as an 80GB mSATA solid-state drive for snappier system performance. Additional views:
Samsung Series 7 Chronos 80 28 Reviews The 17-inch Samsung Series 7 “Chronos” offers a slim and lightweight design with an attractive aluminum chassis. There’s plenty of power under the hood with Intel’s latest CPUs and discrete Nvidia graphics. Among its notable features is what Samsung calls ExpressCache technology, which provides 8GB of flash memory on the motherboard for faster start-up as well as increased overall performance. Additional views:
title: “Techspot Laptop Buying Guide Multimedia And Desktop Replacements” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-22” author: “Jeffrey Doyle”
The average desktop replacement weighs 6 pounds or more, sports a Core i7 quad-core chip, at least 6GB of RAM, around 750GB of storage, and tons of connectivity. Battery life is not one of their strong assets due to the large display and powerful hardware, so most of the time you’ll be looking at three hours of autonomy or even less. Laptops in this category start around $1,000 but fully-loaded models can fetch upwards of $2,000. Dell XPS 15 81 12 Reviews Dell has upgraded its premium XPS 15 with Intel’s second-generation Core processors and Nvidia GeForce GT 500 series graphics, promising even better performance than before. The $1,300 configuration sports a 15.6-inch (1920x1080) display and loud JBL speakers, a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-2620M processor and Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics, 6GB DDR3 memory, a Skype-certified 2.0MP HD webcam, and a Blu-ray drive. There’s no shortage of ports and media features with HDMI 1.4, a pair of USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, and support for Intel’s Wireless Display technology which lets you wirelessly stream content to an HDTV. Although the XPS 15 doesn’t have a 3D display like its 17-inch sibling, it can stream stereoscopic video to a 3D-enabled TV using Nvidia’s 3DTV Play. Additional views:
HP Pavilion dv6t 76 13 Reviews The 15.6-inch dv6t is aimed at business users and media enthusiasts. It offers up to six hours of runtime with a six-cell battery or 10 hours with a hefty nine-cell battery, an optional backlit keyboard and touchscreen with HP’s touch-optimized apps, up to 1TB of mechanical or 160GB of flash storage. Other perks include Beats Audio, an HD webcam and a fingerprint sensor. Additional views:
HP Envy 17 80 15 Reviews Equipped with the latest Intel Sandy Bridge processor options and AMD graphics, the Envy is a serious multimedia machine. The base 17-inch model starts at $1,400 and comes well equipped with a Core i5-2430M CPU clocked at 2.4GHz, 6GB RAM, a 750GB HDD, Radeon HD 6850M graphics and a full HD (1920x1080) display. Throw in an extra $75 and you’ll get a Blu-ray disc drive. Not much has changed in terms of design, and that’s a good thing. The Envy features a laser-etched aluminum finish that covers a lightweight but strong magnesium alloy chassis, which is both stylish and elegant. If portability is a concern the 14-inch Envy is definitely worth a look. It sports a second-generation Intel Core i5 processor and switchable AMD Radeon graphics at a relatively affordable price. Additional views:
Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q890 80 A feature-packed multimedia behemoth sporting a large 18-inch display and Intel’s Sandy Bridge-based processors. The Qosmio X505 delivers solid gaming performance and a great multimedia experience but has an equally impressive price tag. Price range: $1,900 Asus N53 Series Asus N53 Series notebooks offer a well-rounded combination of features for a multimedia-centric machine, with a full HD display, Bang & Olufsen speakers, Optimus-enabled Nvidia graphics, and a good selection of ports. Price: $900 - $1,030
