Dell Inspiron 17R-1695MRB

Dell Inspiron 17R-1695MRB

The Dell Inspiron 17R-1695MRB ($799.98 list at Staples) desktop replacement laptop certainly looks good, but has more to offer beneath its surface. It has integrated WiDi (Intel's Wireless Display) and HDMI, enough hard drive space to hold your HD content, and best of all, no bloatware. Though integrated graphics hold it back from any kind of high-end gaming, the fast Core i5 processor combined with an ample 4GB of memory will be a boon to your productivity. Plastic enclosures are generally reserved for lower-priced systems and sport bland designs. Dell has spiced things up by making its exterior look like glossy wood finish, and a faux-aluminum finish on the bezel surrounding the keyboard. Other laptop manufacturers have spruced up their plastic designs by texturing them to look like something else. A prime example is the Samsung R540-11 ($999 street, 4 stars), whose chassis has been manipulated to look like wood. Because of the textured finish on the 17R-1695MRB, fingerprint marks were at a minimum . The 17.3-inch screen has a 1,600-by-900 resolution, so you'll be able to watch in 720p, but not true HD (1080p).