2. Introducing Both Contenders

Before diving into each of the two notebooks, we describe what they have in common. First, these notebooks belong to the desktop replacement category primarily because of their huge displays and considerable heft. Let's be blunt: A notebook with a 17" display is too big for the cheaper seats in the back of most planes. That's probably why neither of these notebooks ships with a carrying case, nor weighs less than 8.04 pounds (3.65 kg). While you can pick up and move either one around more easily than a desktop PC, you wouldn't want to take it on the road (at least, not without a computer bag with wheels).

The Toshiba features a Core Duo T2500 CPU (2 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache and FSB667) while the HP features a Core 2 Duo T7200 CPU (2 GHz 4 MB L2 cache, FSB 667). And where the Toshiba we tested included 1 GB of 667-MHz DDR2, the HP proffered 2 GB of 667-MHz DDR2 (both configurations included two SO-DIMM memory modules to take advantage of dual memory banks). Both included two 100 GB, 5,400 RPM SATA hard disks, where Toshiba used its own drives, and the HP unit included comparable Fujitsu models (all with 8 MB of cache, rated at 12 ms access times). The units also included the same HD-DVD drive, a Toshiba DVDW/HD TS-L802A. Surprisingly, the HP DV9000 drive mount is much more solid and the drive tray feels much less wobbly compared to the Toshiba Qosmio, even though the drive itself is identical. We can only speculate that HP's mounting hardware is superior, with some degree of surprise.

For video, the notebooks have the same graphics chipset, the Nvidia GeForce Go 7600. That said, the Qosmio display outclasses the HP with 1920 x 1200 resolution (for native 1080i/1080p support) where the HP offers only 1440 x 900. Thus, although both units support 1080i/1080p resolution on external displays, only the Qosmio supports HD-DVD resolution on its own built-in screen. The units include TV tuner cards, and both also offer four USB 2.0 ports. A Firewire port and a VGA port are included. Neither offers DVI (-D or -I) video output, but both do offer component video, HDMI and S-Video outputs. Where the Toshiba includes built-in Bluetooth support, the HP does not (it's available as an add-on option); but in return, the HP offers two microphones while the Toshiba offers none. Both notebooks offer identical wired and wireless LAN support (Intel Pro/1000 PL and Intel Pro 3945 802.11a/b/g), but the Toshiba supports the SigmaTel STAC9200 audio chipset, whereas the HP supports Intel's new high-definition audio controller. While both units include memory card readers, there are some slight differences in the cards that each one reads (see their specification charts for details).

Both of these units include ExpressCard slots, but only the Toshiba unit offers a PC card slot. The Toshiba features a fingerprint security sensor but the HP does not. And of course, both units ship with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 pre-installed.

Next, we'll dig into each of these notebooks separately, and go through our usual benchmarks for both of them together. After that, we'll state our conclusions as well as what we learned while working with these two units. Please keep reading: we think you'll find a surprise or two among the observations and measurements we collected.