The bad:
This machine does all the important stuff fantastically, but there are a few minor changes I would make. The number keys have dark-colored writing on them, so they can be tough to see if you're in the dark. See, I told you they were minor. The screen definitely benefited from a quick calibration, but there aren't many that wouldn't. The 9-cell battery also provides long life but sticks out of the back so it won't fit in some of our normal bags.


Bluray?
With so much power and screen real estate, I find myself wishing there was an Bluray drive in place of the DVD burner, but not often enough that it would justify driving the price up. That's what the PS3 is for.

What?
The speakers on this machine are some of the best I have ever encountered on any laptop. I found myself listening to music without my headphones, something unthinkable on most portable machines. It won't replace your surround sound, but it will definitely cut it for watching videos on Hulu.com

Verdict:
We ran this machine through an incredible battery of real world tests like editing video, working in Photoshop and ripping DVDs and it was nothing short of awesome at all times. Smoking fast performance and a ridiculously low price point make this machine easy to recommend whether you're looking for a new main machine or a reason to toss your entertainment center in the dumpster.


The rundown:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz)

4096MB DDR2 667MHz SDRAM

320GB 7200rpm Serial ATA hard drive (2x160) Raid 0

Multi-Format Dual Layer Slot Load DVD-RW w/ DVD-RAM

NVIDIA GeForce Go 8800M GTS with 512MB of GDDR3 discrete video memory

Intel PM965 Chipset

17” WUXGA TFT Active Matrix (1920 x 1200 max resolution)

Integrated 1.3 Megapixel Web Cam

Integrated 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wireless Networking

Fingerprint reader

High-Definition Audio

9-Cell Lithium Ion Battery

Bluetooth 2.0

5-in-1 Media Reader

Integrated v.92 56K Modem

Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet Adapter

FX Design with Copper Core Accent

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit w/ Service Pack 1