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Top 5 extravagant notebooks

By Darius Chang
Sep 03, 2007

We remember a time when a Pentium II notebook cost us a cool S$4,200 (US$3,092.26) with a 10GB harddisk and 128MB memory. Thankfully, today's dual-core laptops with tons of harddisk space can easily be obtained for under S$1,500 (US$1,104.38), making laptops an affordable luxury for the masses.

But if one has just won the lottery, or is born in a family where you can get a Ferrari for a birthday gift, do you really want to be associated with the masses? Heaven forbid! What you are looking for is a portable which cost the equivalent of several months pay for the average blue-collar worker--who would probably select budget systems like the Acer Aspire 5710Z (S$1,198 (US$882.03)).

From the fast and furious Asus Lamborghini VX2 to the multimedia powerhouse Sony Vaio AR series, we see just how many budget portables it takes to trade for one of these wallet-busting powerhouses.

The following selections are based on the recommended retail price correct as of September 3, 2007. Due to their inherent higher cost, tablet PCs were not included in this lineup.


Click here for a feature comparison table.
1.  Asus Lamborghini VX2 (Core 2 Duo T7400 Processor 2.16GHz; 2GB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good: Unique, easily recognized design; strong security features; powerful graphics performance; swivel Webcam; excellent bundled accessories; HDMI connectivity.
The bad: Expensive even for a powerful machine; exceptionally heavy for a 15.4-inch portable.
The bottom line: Not just in name only, the Asus Lamborghini VX2 has the same luxurious feel and speedy performance as its namesake. Unfortunately, it's priced high even for a performance powerhouse and feels like it weighs a ton for a 15.4-inch portable.

Price: S$4,688 (US$3,451.55)
Number of Acer Aspire 5710Z notebooks it can buy:


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2.  Toshiba Qosmio G40 (Core 2 Duo T7300 Processor 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.9 out of 10
The good: Integrated Webcam; powerful graphics performance; strong multimedia features; unique Plug-and-Charge USB port; 1GB Intel Turbo Memory.
The bad: No Draft-N wireless radio; dedicated numeric keypad absent; high-maintenance glossy surface.
The bottom line: Like its predecessor, the Qosmio G30, Toshiba's flagship multimedia desktop replacement offers a complete suite of entertainment features. But unlike its forebear, the Qosmio G40 is based on a new, slimmer design with a couple of tricks up its sleeve.

Price: S$5,299 (US$3,901.40)
Number of Acer Aspire 5710Z notebooks it can buy:


Review | See full specs | Rate this
3.  Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 (Core Solo ULV Processor 1.2GHz, 512MB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10
The good: Exceptionally thin and light; good build quality; bundled with docking station and necessary accessories; strong security options.
The bad: Expensive; poor battery life with standard three-cell pack; VGA and LAN features require the use of an adapter.
The bottom line: The LifeBook Q2010 redefines how thin and gravity-defying a notebook can get. Unfortunately, being at the forefront of mobility requires a significant sacrifice to the feature set as well as your budget.

Price: S$5,888 (US$4,335.05)
Number of Acer Aspire 5710Z notebooks it can buy:


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4.  Fujitsu LifeBook N6420 (Core 2 Duo T7400 Processor 2.16GHz, 2GB RAM)
 
First take
The Fujitsu LifeBook N6420 is not a pretty notebook but it will make a wonderful desktop replacement with its high-end specifications. It is affordable considering its advanced components. Gamers will also be delighted to know that this is a machine that can support mid-level gaming.

Price: S$5,888 (US$4,335.05)
Number of Acer Aspire 5710Z notebooks it can buy:


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5.  Sony Vaio VGN-AR48GP (Core 2 Duo T7500 Processor 2.2GHz, 2GB RAM)
 
Outlook
The Sony Vaio VGN-AR-48GP is the best multimedia laptop on the market. It contains all you need for enjoying full high-definition video or even the latest gaming titles on its own screen or on a larger display. If you're backing Blu-ray over HD-DVD, this media-centeric laptop comes thoroughly recommended.

Price: S$6,999 (US$5,153.03)
Number of Acer Aspire 5710Z notebooks it can buy:


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