1. Introduction

The Qosmio G25-AV513 is a notebook computer with some interesting capabilities. While Toshiba describes its product as a desktop replacement, it's also a very capable Media Center PC, and a darn nice-looking one at that. Its $3,000 list price puts it squarely at the top end of the market, but its features and functions live up to that cost. While there are a few whacky things about the Qosmio G25, most of what it brings to a desktop or a coffee table is pretty well worth having.

The Toshiba Qosmio G25 notebook computer

The Media Center PC market isn't as crowded as the general PC market. Prices for these machines start at $900, with many capable and good looking units available for under $2,000. A $3,000 list price tag puts the Qosmio in the top 10% of this marketplace, where it faces some very stiff competition indeed. It must be able to tackle formidably sleek and functional offerings from the likes of Hush Technologies - a German maker of nearly silent PCs, including numerous MCE-based models - and Niveus Media, which offers two high-end Media Center PC product families named Ranier and Denali. Though the Qosmio can't command as much disk space or CPU horsepower as those offerings, it represents the pinnacle of notebook-based Media Center PC power and capability available today.