Top 10 17" Laptops

Balance your need for productivity with great multimedia performance with the HP Pavilion dv9620us notebook PC, which features an amazingly bright, widescreen 17-inch BrightView display--perfect for multitasking between document windows and watching movies in their native aspect ratio. Enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included remote control, which stores conveniently in the ExpressCard slot. It offers a cool, modern look with a durable, high-gloss piano black finish and wavy inlaid design inspired by Zen rock gardens as well as a subtle blue backlit media control panel that responds to the slightest touch. It also has an integrated 1.3-megapixel WebCam (and integrated microphone), enabling easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats.

Optimized for mobile performance, it's powered by the 1.9 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-58 dual-core processor, which offers 64-bit computing capability and higher throughput for simultaneous computing tasks. You can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, which also includes LightScribe technology for personalized silkscreen-quality, laser-etched CD/DVD labels. Other hardware features include dual 120 GB hard drives (for 240 GB of capacity), 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), an integrated NVidia GeForce 7150 video/graphics card with 287 MB of shared video RAM, 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), and multi-format memory card reader.

This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

More info and latest prices on the HP Pavilion DV9620US

US version - HP Pavilion DV9620US

UK & European version - HP Pavilion Media Ctre DV9655EA

The luxuriously designed Sony VAIO VGN-AR620E Digital Studio notebook PC provides a power multimedia computer platform for enhanced entertainment performance. But it can also be admired for its gorgeously appointed design, featuring a black exterior, sleek profile, and interfaces and ports that are easily accessible yet discreetly integrated. It features a 17-inch WUXGA widescreen XBRITE-ECO LCD screen with a 1440 x 900-pixel resolution, and video is powered by the NVidia GeForce 8400M graphics card, with 256 MB of dedicated video memory. Whether you're watching downloaded content in HD or enjoying video captured from your compatible HDV camcorder, this VAIO AR-series notebook lets you output HD content to your compatible big screen HDTV via an HDMI connection.

This notebook is powered by the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 processor, which offers a top-of-the-line 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 2 MB L2 cache. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance, as well as excellent battery management. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. Other features include dual 160 GB hard drives (for a 320 GB capacity), 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum capacity), multi-format/dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, Gigabit Ethernet, both PCMCIA and ExpressCard slots, and Memory Stick/SD memory cart slot. The integrated 1.3-megapixel WebCam (and integrated microphone) provides easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

More info and latest prices on the Sony VAIO VGN-AR620E

US version - Sony VAIO VGN-AR620E

UK & European version - Sony VAIO AR51E

This notebook is powered by the 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power--so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. It includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. You can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, which also includes LightScribe technology for personalized silkscreen-quality, laser-etched CD/DVD labels. Other hardware features include dual 120 GB hard drives (for 240 GB of capacity), 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), an integrated NVidia GeForce 8600M video/graphics card with 1023 MB of shared video RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI A/V port, and multi-format memory card reader.

* Entertainment-centric notebook PC with widescreen 17-inch LCD and stylish high-gloss finish with wave imprint, integrated webcam

* 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, dual 120 GB hard drives, 2 GB RAM (4 GB max), LightScribe dual-layer DVD drive

* Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); Gigabit Ethernet; Nvidia GeForce 8600M graphics (up to 1023 MB of available memory)

* Connectivity: 4 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video, expansion port 3 connector, ExpressCard 54/34, 5-in-1 memory card reader

* Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

The 17-inch WXGA+ high-definition BrightView widescreen (1440 x 900 resolution) provides a 45 percent larger picture for DVD movies than a 15-inch screen. Video is powered by the NVidia GeForce 8600M graphics card, which provides up to 1023 MB of available RAM/video memory (256 MB dedicated RAM) for unmatched HD video performance on a notebook PC. With support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), it lets you rip through all of today's most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications. Experience real-time photo editing, or immerse yourself in the most complex, true-to-life gaming environments.