With an 18.4in high-definition screen, a 5.1 speaker configuration, a digital TV tuner and a Blu-ray player built-in, the Gemstone Blue is almost like a complete home theatre setup. It's fairly easy to use and it's a good performer, so it's a good choice for anyone after a desktop replacement.

The Alienware m9750 is without a doubt one of the most powerful and feature packed notebooks we've laid our hands on, but it comes at a hefty price. Unless you're bent on portability you'd be much better off buying a desktop system for half the price and with considerably more power. That said, if you've got your mind set on a notebook, you need the power and have the cash, then you'll enjoy the broad functionality and classic Alienware style of this machine.

Once you get over the fact that you could buy several PCs at this price, the Alienware Area-51 m15x-R1 is an extremely capable desktop replacement for the keen gamer.

There's a lot to this notebook, and while it works great for the most part, it could still use a little refinement, especially with regards to its video input ports. Overall though, it's a great media centre notebook and it does have tremendous storage capacity.

With stacks of features and plenty of connectivity, the F8Va is the perfect choice for the home user who wants a mid-sized desktop replacement unit. Its battery life is poor, and we think its design could be better, but it's a solid unit overall.

If you want some power under the hood but still need mobility this XPS from Dell is a great option. We're keen on the design and build as well as the features in tow.

For users wanting a home entertainment centre or a powerful desktop replacement to work with, the dv9800 is a very strong contender.

Admittedly there's little to this Pavilion that we haven't seen from the range before, but as the saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it. The Blu-ray player is clearly a great bonus, as is the HDMI output. If you're after a notebook to handle your entertainment, this is a good option.

If you've got the money to spend, this notebook is a great replacement for a desktop PC. The large screen doubles well as a TV and computer screen and the included HD-DVD player is a nice addition.

Don't even think about using this notebook on the road; it's strictly for those who require a desktop replacement with home entertainment features. It has Blu-ray, HDMI and a high-definition screen. Even though it's a fast unit, it doesn't even have the fastest gizzards on the market.

A well-performing unit that succeeds in both style and substance, the HP dv6800 is a good device for most environments. Its relatively low battery life and lack of Gigabit Ethernet, and the fact that Blu-ray movies overscan at 1080p are the only negatives and these are minor points.

If you’re looking at $5000-plus high-end notebooks, then the HDX9313TX should certainly be considered. This laptop is maxed-out in most respects and it caters to those who need serious grunt. As an entertainment and gaming notebook, it will definitely do the job.