Top 5 entertainment notebooks

Simply having a good LCD display and DVD drive will not allow a notebook to qualify in this category. As a multimedia entertainer, a laptop should not only be able to play DVDs and CDs without booting into Windows, it must also have provisions for remote control as well as above-average audio capabilities with a stunning widescreen display. Nice extras would include integrated TV tuners, advanced multimedia controls or next-generation optical drives. Of course, having a stunning body and awe-inspiring price won't hurt your bragging rights, either.

The following notebooks are not ranked in any particular order.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	Apple MacBook Pro-Core 2 Duo (Core 2 Duo T7600 processor 2.4GHz, 2GB, 17-inch TFT)   Outlook With a solid array of components, a terrific set of features, and the lightest weight of any laptop its size, Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro is a power user's dream, but it doesn't come cheap. However, its Front Row software combined with a mini remote control make this a lovely set for your entertainment needs. See full specs | Rate this
	2.	HP Pavilion HDX (Core 2 Duo T7700 processor 2.4GHz; 4GB RAM)   First take Enter the Dragon! With a 20 inch widescreen, HD-DVD drive and TV tuner, HP’s Pavilion HDX has supersized the desktop replacement into a fire-breathing, multimedia beast. We also like the fact that a midsize remote control can be stored next to the keyboard and works very well with HP MediaDirect application for photos, movie and music. First take | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Lenovo Y410 (Core 2 Duo T7100 processor 1.8GHz; 1GB RAM)   First take For a portable entertainment notebook, the Y410 is certainly attractive at a starting price of S$1,599 (US$1,177.27), one which only models like Acer Aspire 4710 and Dell Inspiron 1420 with far less features can compete with. Moreover, it is one of the few units in its category to hold an integrated subwoofer. The Shuttle interface also makes multimedia playback a breeze. First take | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Sony VAIO VGN-AR49G (Core 2 Duo T7500 Processor 2.2GHz, 2GB RAM)   First take The Sony VAIO AR series (which started with the VAIO VGN-AR18GP) is the Japanese maker's flagship multimedia product and the first series to include a next-generation Blu-ray drive. Coming from a premium brand, we were not surprised that this model does not come cheap, priced at almost S$7,000 (US$5,153.77). Its close rival, the HD-DVD-equipped Toshiba Qosmio G40, is almost S$2,000 (US$1,472.50) less. If you really must have a Blu-ray drive but don't have the budget for an AR notebook, then the cheaper FZ series with a Blu-ray option is a possible alternative (which was recently countered by Toshiba's Satellite A200 laptop). But for this price, you get a premium entertainment machine with enough pure horsepower for almost any computing tasks, including gaming. First take | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	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. Review | See full specs | Rate this