Dell XPS M1710 (013823056871) PC Notebook

Up until now, I have always used borrowed Toshiba laptops, or random desktops at school or work. I figured it was time to get my own computer, and so I chose to get a high-performance laptop instead of a desktop for space and portability reasons.
I have been using the Dell XPS M1710 for about a year now, and am very glad to have chosen it. Not only is it faster then any desktop I have ever used, but the screen displays graphics better than any laptop I have seen so far. I am a cartographer, and GIS analyst, so I use the computer primarily for graphics, high-end data processing, and internet research. In addition, I have also used this laptop to play PC games that require a lot of memory and contain high intensity graphics…all with no problems or "dragging".
This laptop is pretty hefty, coming in at about 8.7 pounds, so it is not something you want to be carrying around with you a whole lot. Also, the 17" wide screen makes it pretty tough to fit into the crook of your arm (like a book would) to carry it if you don't have a bag. Finding a protective case/bag for this model is very tough, and I ended up buying one from the Dell website despite the premium prices since I couldn't find one that would fit anywhere else. It also gets pretty warm underneath to the point where it is nearly unbearable, so you almost must have a desk on which to set it while working (unless you are very heat tolerant). In addition, I have noticed that the processor slows down considerably if the room temperature is above about 75 degrees F.
Overall, I would recommend this laptop as a desktop replacement, especially for someone who uses programs/games that are heavy on the processor, and needs to do an off-site presentation once in a while. Definitely not a machine to be dragging around with you all the time.