The good: Good-quality screen; 16:9 aspect ratio display; "Cinetouch" media navigation; new design; Acer Empowerment software .

The bad: Cheap plastic wrist rest; Cinetouch panel too high friction; entire mouse pad isn't active; integration between media controls, Acer Arcade Deluxe and Windows Media Center are lacking; single TV tuner only; sound management is not made easy, with different options in three different places; Yahoo toolbar.

The bottom line: Acer's interesting take on the entertainment desktop replacement makes a few good steps, a few bad, but ultimately is a viable option.

Drool factor
Getting a carry bag for this huge machine can be difficult, so this is not for those who need to relocate their machines frequently. That said, its generous 16:9 aspect ratio display (which allows widescreen movies to be shown without irritating black borders on the top and bottom) and Blu-ray drive, coupled with an excellent sound system and TV tuner, make this an impressive home theater replacement and suit those with limited space in their rooms.

The good: HDMI output and a mini remote control; full keyboard with discrete numeric pad; full-HD panel option; fingerprint sensor; aesthetically pleasing touch-sensitive buttons; attractive design for a desktop replacement.

The bad: No S/PDIF digital audio output or subwoofer; TV tuner not an option; no eSATA port.

The bottom line: The Studio 1735 is much lighter and sleeker than the high-end XPS M1730, while retaining a competent multimedia feature set and high-end graphics performance.

Drool factor
With a starting price which rivals even midsize machines, the Studio 1735 is great for those on a budget but who still want a competent entertainment system. Best of all, it can also be customized with better components for those with more generous pockets.

The good: Refined Pavilion design; "frameless" display bezel enhances screen's appearance; high-end Centrino 2 components result in great multimedia performance; touchpad on/off button; light-touch media controls; dual headphone jacks; HDMI and eSATA ports.

The bad: Glossy finish easily picks up fingerprints; metallic touchpad provides too much drag; no full-HD panel option; frame rates adequate for casual gaming only.

The bottom line: We recommend the eye-catching, media-friendly HP Pavilion dv7 desktop replacement for students who want a laptop that doubles as an entertainment center.

Drool factor
The HP Pavilion has one of the most unique designs in the market, thanks to the Palo Alto's Imprint technology. With its strong entertainment suite and excellent performance, it is great for power users who need to be entertained every now and then.

The good: Excellent battery life; 16:9 screen perfect for HD movies; excellent keyboard; attractive, simple design.

The bad: No immediate performance gains seen here from Centrino 2; screen not really true 1080p despite sticker on system that says so; clicky media buttons seem old-fashion; still some advertising clutter, but less than previous Vaio models.

The bottom line: Sony's smart design, long battery life, and a big 16-inch screen make the Vaio FW140--the first Centrino 2 laptop we've reviewed--an excellent and portable media hub.

Drool factor
In exchange for a slightly smaller screen for a desktop replacement, the Vaio offers excellent battery life and a 16:9 aspect ratio display in return. Though the FW series is one of the priciest in the market, this is probably the only desktop replacement which can be bandied around without breaking your shoulder.

Outlook
Not only is it decked out with a faster processor compared with its predecessor, the 17-inch MacBook Pro now retails for S$400 less as well. Still one of the slimmest and sexiest desktop replacements in the market, the aluminum body, coupled with the proprietary Mac OS X and iLife, makes this laptop ready-to-go right out of the box.

Drool factor
Thanks to iLife, which is bundled with every Mac machine, the MacBook Pro is ready to take on almost any multimedia task immediately out of the box. This is also the only legal way to have a desktop replacement decked out with Mac OS X, which some users feel is easier to use compared with Windows. However, for those who need to fiddle with Microsoft's program, the MacBook Pro can be configured to dual-boot both operating systems as well.