Laptops Arena

Every once in a while I get a notebook that blows me away with its visionary concept and bold design. Grand in every sense of the word, the Dell XPS M2010 ($4,675 direct) is just such a system.

On first inspection, the big machine resembles a full-fledged desktop, yet it closes gracefully and can be carried like a huge clamshell notebook (with a handle). The one caveat: It's too pricey for most mere mortals.

Size aside, the Dell XPS M2010 is a study in design. Its most astonishing feature is the 20.1-inch widescreen LCD panel, which can easily be mistaken for a standalone desktop LCD monitor. The display even has built-in speakers and an integrated 1.3-megapixel camera.

Despite several promising features, including its groundbreaking design and slick engineering, the Dell XPS M2010 is way too expensive for a desktop and far too heavy to be considered a truly portable notebook. No doubt it will appeal to a small cadre of media-centric folks who don't travel, need a big screen, and have money to burn. The rest of us, though, are better off taking a pass.

View full review here.