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Giant screens, fast graphics chips, and hot-rod veneers separate gaming laptops from PowerPoint-sipping books. They’re big, heavy, and can gobble fully charged batteries in less than an hour. But they’re easily hauled over to a friend’s house for face-to-face fragfests or dragged down the hall when grumpy roommates are trying to sleep. They aren’t as muscle-bound - or as upgradable - as desktop machines. So before you drive one of these portables off the lot, better check under the hood - you don’t want to stall out when "marksman666" locks you in his sight. - Paul Boutin
The need for speed
When it comes to gaming, you’re either fast or last. We paced these portables’ frame rates (images per second) with two system-busting titles, Far Cry and Unreal Tournament 2004. Bigger numbers are better.
Alienware:
Far Cry 14
Unreal 58
Voodoo:
Far Cry 19
Unreal 65
Gateway:
Far Cry 21
Unreal 70
Dell:
Far Cry 36
Unreal 103
* Test run at 1,280 x 1,024 resolution.
What else to look for
Yes, speed is important - but you should also consider a few additional traits:
• Screen quality Don’t just pick the biggest and brightest. Look for vivid, immersive color.
• Heat Or rather, lack thereof. Extended play can singe fingers and internal components - check demo models in stores, even if you buy online.
• Upgradable graphics chips Replacing an old video processor with a faster one can boost speed almost as much as getting a new PC.
Gateway M675XL
Benchmarks aren’t everything. This playmaker’s luscious 17-inch screen lured us away from Dell’s considerably faster laptop, enveloping us in its bright, sharp graphics; Unreal Tournament roared despite modest frame rates. The case’s trim lines and executive-silver finish lack the eye-popping sex appeal of the racy red Voodoo Envy, but the design is a classy break from Gateway’s cowpoke past. The keyboard’s spacious layout made work almost as pleasant as play. The one potential deal-breaker: This model doesn’t offer an upgradable graphics processor. But if the company switches from the ATI Radeon 9700 in our test unit to the much faster 9800 offered by Dell (we’ll be surprised if it doesn’t), the book will possess enough speed to outlast its warranty. This isn’t a tinkerer’s machine; it’s a complete, refined package for gamers who’d rather focus on games. It does what it does well.
Wired: Best overall gaming experience. Gorgeous display. Sleek design. Control buttons (Play, Pause) conveniently located on front edge of case.
Tired: Handily outrendered by Dell’s XPS. Graphics card can’t be upgraded.
$2,799, www.gateway.com
Dell Inspiron XPS
Wired: Screaming ATI Radeon 9800 graphics chip (which Dell got first dibs on) made even the resource-hording Far Cry fly. It’s upgradable, too. Gigantic vents look ugly but keep temps low.
Tired: Ho-hum 15-inch display. Bulky power supply is twice as big as the norm.
$4,325, www.dell.com
Voodoo Envy m:780
Wired: High-gloss candy-colored case turns heads like a new Ferrari. Upgradable graphics card. At 90 minutes, the Envy had the longest battery life of the lot - the others gave up after about an hour.
Tired: Frustrating middle-of-pack performance. Disappointing display, even though it’s 17 inches.
$3,500, www.voodoopc.com
Alienware Area 51m
Wired: HR Giger-like case design, including hipster alien head logo with glowing green eyes. Upgradable graphics chip.
Tired: Subpar performance. Cramped keyboard and 15-inch screen are a shade shy of being spacious enough for serious battle.
$2,963, www.alienware.com
Wireless audio streamers aren’t new, but the latest models pump computer files to your stereo with greater ease, more features, and better reliability than ever before. - Owen W. Linzmayer
Roku SoundBridge M1000
The top two streamers we tested - the SoundBridge and the Squeezebox - have a lot in common. Both sport 280 x 16-pixel screens. Both use Slim Device’s open source SlimServer software, which lets you manage music with either iTunes or Winamp (though neither plays protected AAC files from the iTunes Music Store). But take one look at SoundBridge’s jaw-dropping design and there’s no confusing the two devices. Our pick: the SoundBridge.
Wired: Top-notch industrial design looks good next to high-end audio equipment. Simplest of setups. Most efficient tune browsing.
Tired: Costly. Choosing settings is confusing. Internet radio support was hit-or-miss.
$250, www.rokulabs.com
Slim Devices Squeezebox
Wired: Simple setup. Large, bright display with smooth scrolling and attractive characters. Effortlessly imports iTunes libraries and playlists.
Tired: Pricey. Troubleshooting docs are full of jargon. Design is clock-radioesque.
$279, www.slimdevices.com
Apple AirPort Express
Wired: Clever, portable package. Lots of functions: audio over the airwaves, USB printer sharing, and wireless bridge and hub capabilities.
Tired: No remote. No display. No cables included, but a kit is sold separately ($39).
$129, www.apple.com
Sound Blaster Wireless Music
Wired: Awesome LCD remote controls main unit, even if it’s in another room.
Tired: Poor software. Boring industrial design. Unlike others, no Ethernet (for a Wired: connection). Supports few audio formats. No Internet radio.
$200, www.creative.com
Like Guinness and gruyére, the Sidekick is an acquired taste. But once you get used to its awkwardness as a phone, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. As with the original, the Sidekick II’s screen swivels open to reveal a comfortable thumb keyboard for accessing the Web, instant messaging (AOL and Yahoo!), and email (it even finally syncs with Outlook). The interface is as straightforward as ever, and the device’s exterior design has improved - when closed, the screen no longer bulges out. It’s a potent combo of features and user-friendliness for those on the go. - Cathy Lu
Snap Pics
The Sidekick II has an integrated camera and flash for grabbing 640 x 480 digital pics. Although, as with all phonecams, images generally look like crap.
Sync Up
Using the Intellisync app (not included), your PC links your Outlook contacts and calendar to the Sidekick via the Web. You never need to connect the two.
Push Its Buttons
The Sidekick II adds a slew of new buttons, including call, hang-up, and volume. And you no longer have to open the screen to access Power and the D-pad.
Wired: Easy-to-use interface. Full messaging features. Spacious keyboard. Syncs with Outlook.
Tired: A bit large and gawky. Difficult to place a call without opening it up (but it can be done). Draws strange looks when used as a phone.
$299, www.t-mobile.com
Fear to tread barefoot on your unswept hardwoods? Robovacs make a routine roundup of crumbs, lint, and grit effortless. They even autodock themselves for recharging. But hold on to your manual vac - when it comes to deep-cleaning carpets, these bots blow. - Bob Parks
iRobot Roomba Discovery
Wired: Cleaned the most thoroughly - to the very edge of the floor. Low profile helped with special ops under chests, cabinets, and chairs.
Tired: Noisy. Tough to empty without spilling Grape-Nuts and dog hair everywhere.
$249; www.irobot.com
Karcher RC3000 RoboCleaner
Wired: Most carefree of the neatnicks - autodumps its horde into a 2-liter bag. Covers multiple rooms. Quiet mode wouldn’t roust a tabby.
Tired: Least powerful of the suckahs. No means to keep it out of sensitive areas. Expensive.
$1,499, www.robocleaner.de
Electrolux Trilobite
Wired: Ultrasound steered it to within an inch of chair legs and walls. LCD counts down estimated cleaning time based on room size.
Tired: Frequently failed to autodock. Filters needed changing after every use. Very expensive.
$1,799, www.electroluxusa.com
Plain-old TV and DVDs can’t fully showcase the immaculate picture quality of your shiny, new HDTV. Try a satellite system that pipes glorious hi-res video down from the heavens. - Brian Lam
Voom
Wired: A whopping 36 razor-sharp channels; 21 are exclusive. Playboy HD optional (check out those stretch marks!). Receivers rent for $10 a month.
Tired: No popular HDNet or HDNet Movies channels. No pay-per-view. $200 installation fee.
$90 a month, www.voom.com
Dish Network
Wired: Nine HD channels, plus pay-per-view. Free receiver and installation. Optional hi-def DVR available.
Tired: Offers nowhere near Voom’s extensive lineup or DirecTV’s sports options.
$38 per month, www.dishnetwork.com
DirecTV
Wired: Nine HD channels, plus optional access to up to 100 hi-def football games during the season. Optional HD DirecTiVo. Free installation.
Tired: Slim pickings for the price. You have to buy the $299 hardware.
$74 per month, www.directv.com
credit Highwater Group
Gateway M675XL
credit Ubisoft
Dell Inspiron XPS
credit Ubisoft
Voodoo Envy m:780
credit Ubisoft
Alienware Area 51m
Roku SoundBridge M1000
Slim Devices Squeezebox
Apple AirPort Express
Sound Blaster Wireless Music
T-Mobile Sidekick II
iRobot Roomba Discovery
Karcher RC3000 RoboCleaner
Electrolux Trilobite
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So Long, Suburbia: the Sims Go Boho
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