AJP M575A

AJP’s latest release is yet another machine that turns the idea of the traditional notebook on its head.

Instead of a light portable PC designed to be used on the move, the M575A is a replacement for a desktop computer.

Tipping the scales at nearly 4kg, the system is similar to Evesham’s Voyager C720. Here, however, AJP has used a slightly slower 2GHz Pentium M processor and installed a larger (and potentially more useful) 100GB hard drive.

You also get 1GB of DDR2 Ram and a Geforce Go 7800 GTX – the fastest graphics currently available in a portable. The machine will easily cope with the latest 3D games and run rings around more standard applications.

The 17in widescreen display is a crowd pleaser and has an impressive native resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels.

That said, it’s not quite as bright or clear as some screens we’ve seen recently, and the high resolution can make it difficult to read Windows text at the default font size. The chassis also becomes rather warm to the touch with extended use.

A full-size keyboard makes things easy to use and the M575A is well connected with four USB2 ports, mini-Firewire and Gigabit Ethernet, plus Bluetooth and 802.11g wireless networking. There’s also a 4-in-1 memory card reader and a built-in 1.3megapixel webcam.

Intel High Definition audio is included and you have the option of an analogue/digital TV tuner (£99 extra). The dual-format double-layer DVD rewriter can be swapped out for a second hard disk or battery, or simply removed to lighten the load.

The M575A is a powerful and flexible system that’s an excellent alternative to a desktop computer. While the viewing angle of the screen could be slightly better, this is a truly powerful notebook at an equally impressive price.