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Sony Vaio VGN-AR49G

First take

The Sony Vaio AR series (which started with the Vaio VGN-AR18GP) is the Japanese maker's flagship multimedia product and the first series to include the next-generation Blu-ray drive. Coming from a premium brand, we were not surprised that this model does not come cheap, priced at almost S$7,000 (US$5,040.32). Its close rival, the HD-DVD-equipped Toshiba Qosmio G40, is almost S$2,000 (US$1,440.09) less. If you really must have a Blu-ray drive but don't have the budget for an AR notebook, then the cheaper FZ series with a Blu-ray option is a possible alternative (which was recently countered by Toshiba's Satellite A200 laptop). ...

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Dell XPS M1730

The good: Excellent gaming performance; inexpensive for a high-end dual graphics card system; options for Intel Core 2 Extreme processor and Blu-ray drive; backlit keyboard; GamePanel LCD as a secondary data display; high-resolution 1920x1200 panel.

The bad: Barely portable; no HDMI or VGA output; no subwoofer; lacks TV tuner; noisy particularly when running full load.

The bottom line: When most desktops replacements tend to target power users or entertainment seekers, the Dell XPS M1730 makes no bones about being a gaming machine. At under S$4,000 for the base configuration with dual graphics cards, it offers great value for the gaming community.

» Read full review of the Dell XPS M1730

HP Pavilion HDX

First take

Enter the Dragon! With a 20 inch widescreen, HD DVD drive and HDTV tuner, HP’s Pavilion HDX has supersized the desktop replacement into a fire-breathing, multimedia beast. ...

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