Toshiba Invests in High-Performance Laptop for Enthusiasts


Toshiba has introduced a high-performance gaming and multimedia laptop, targeted at enthusiasts who want to enjoy both of these features, with a starting price of US$1,999.

Weighing in at only 3.22Kg (7.1lbs) the notebook has a lot of features that will appeal to this market including:


•17” TruBrite Toshiba display

•Core Duo processor at 1.83Ghz

•NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 with 256MB memory

•DVI-D output for connection to HDTV displays

•S-Video out for connection to standard TV

•160GB SATA I hard disk

•IEEE1394 firewire for extended bus connections to chaining devices

•Built in Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers

•DVD SuperMulti Double Layer drive that reads and writes in up to 11 formats that can nearly double a recordable DVD's storage capacity

•5-in-1 bridge media adapter

•Multimedia remote

•Fingerprint reader for easy security

Other more standard features include the 1GB Dual channel memory, SPDIF output, microphone and headphone jack, Modem, Intel PRO/Wireless(5) 3945 ABG network, 4x USB2.0 ports, VGA output, dual pad touch pad and Windows XP Professional pre-installed.

For multimedia ease of use, the Satellite P105-S921 includes an Express Media Player consumer infrared remote control that gives users convenient access to power, CD, DVD, volume and other multimedia functions without booting up the operating system. The slim remote is stored in the PC card slot of the notebook.

The Satellite P105-S921 notebook comes with a standard one-year limited warranty

Dell XPS M1730


Price: $2,663.00

Best general-use and gaming laptop.

•Gaming performance
•Display quality
•LED backlit keyboard
•Quiet operation

•Bloatware
•Expensive
•Massive power supply
•11-pound weight

Reviews all point to the Dell XPS M1730 as a top-notch mobile gaming machine and a great desktop-replacement laptop in general. Expensive even in its base configurations, the laptop can be optioned with a wide range of options, including dual video cards. The 17-inch widescreen display is widely praised, as is overall performance, though the screen may be a little too glossy for brightly lit offices. If watching multimedia is more important to you than gaming, the Acer Aspire 8920G (*est. $2,500) costs a bit more, but includes a Blu-ray player, multi-channel surround sound and a widescreen 18.4-inch screen. It's not as great for gaming, but the Acer is a solid performer in all other aspects. You can get a Blu-ray player on the Dell XPS M1730 for $400 more, but it still won't have the Acer's multi-speaker sound system.
While reviews for the Dell XPS M1730 are a little older, more current reporting says that nothing now available usurps its standing as the best gaming laptop. It earns rave reviews from NotebookReview.com, an impressive and respected source for laptop computer reviews, and Editors' Choice awards from several other well-regarded publications, including CNet, PC Magazine and Laptop magazine. Though it's a difficult read, the review at NotebookCheck.net is worthwhile for its comprehensive testing.