Processor: 2.27GHz Intel Core i5-430M
Memory: 4GB RAM
Storage: 500GB hard drive
Optical Drive: DVD±RW
Screen: 17.3 inches (1,600x900 native resolution)
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 (1GB)
Weight: 7.4 pounds
Dimensions (HWD): 1.4x16.2x11 inches
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

As a rule, big notebooks don't come cheap, and for that reason alone, the $849, 17.3-inch Gateway NV7901u caught our attention. And once we started testing it, this budget desktop replacement won us over for its speed, feature set, and spacious feel. The typical desktop-replacement laptop that comes through our labs averages close to $3,000, and we rarely see competitive models that are budget-price. (We define desktop replacements as laptops with screens 17 inches or larger.) However, Gateway's entrant performs like a much pricier machine and is a good choice for budget-minded consumers who need a laptop with a big, roomy screen and keyboard.

The NV7901u looks just like another competitively priced Gateway PC, the $649 Gateway NV7915u, which also features a large 17.3-inch display, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. For $200 more, the NV7901u offers a couple of worthy hardware improvements. While the NV7915u was built around an Intel Core i3 processor with integrated graphics, the NV7901u boasts Intel’s beefier Core i5 processor and a dedicated ATI graphics chip for better overall performance and 3D capability.

Weighing 7.4 pounds and measuring 1.5x16.2x11 inches, the NV7901u is a bit bulky to travel with. The outside has a honeycomb pattern that tends to show up fingerprints readily. (Our system came in black, but you can also get it in red.) The keyboard and touch pad are positively spacious, but we did note an uncomfortable amount of flex in the keybed during typing. And even though the keys are large and responsive, their flat design provides little tactile grip. The roomy touch pad, sunken slightly into the chassis, responds well and offers support for multi-finger gesture commands. A skinny, reflective seesaw button that serves in place of the usual pair of mouse buttons shines beneath the touch pad and stands out against its matte-black surroundings. Though the button looks nice, it feels mushy when pressed.

Making up for in features what it lacks in a sturdy-feeling build, the NV7901u hosts a satisfying range of ports for a budget model. Around the edges, you’ll find a five-format flash-card reader, four USB ports, microphone and headphone jacks, and both HDMI and VGA ports for connecting the laptop to a larger screen. Likewise, for network connectivity, you get both an Ethernet jack and a modem, combined with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. The hinge sports a locking-cable slot on the left and a power button on the right. And Gateway rounds out the system with a DVD±RW drive on the right and a VGA Webcam in the screen's bezel. Though most big-ticket desktop-replacement laptops feature a wider range of ports (such as an eSATA port, a 54mm ExpressCard slot, a DVI video output, and a Blu-ray drive), the NV7901u’s modest selection should suffice for budget shoppers. Bluetooth connectivity for peripherals and VoIP headsets would have been a nice touch, though.

The highlight of this system is its 17.3-inch LED-backlit LCD screen, which is well-suited for movies. Slightly recessed into a glossy bezel, the bright screen is capable of displaying HD video at a native resolution of 1,600x900 (720p). The HDMI-out port lets you connect the NV7901u to a higher-resolution screen for true HD viewing. When we popped a movie into the DVD drive, we were able to enjoy a crisp, clear picture coupled with rich audio from the laptop's surprisingly powerful speakers.

Considering this is a budget machine, the NV7901u’s benchmark scores are far above adequate. On our PCMark Vantage test, which measures overall system performance, the NV7901u scored 5,480 (32-bit) and 5,358 (64-bit). (This is a 64-bit system, but we run this test under both 32- and 64-bit modes and provide the results for comparison's sake.) That’s 550 points higher than the average 32-bit score (4,930) for desktop-replacement laptops and only slightly behind the average score on the 64-bit test (5,488). We don’t often see budget rigs giving laptops that cost three times as much a run for their money on this test, but we credit the NV7901u's 2.27GHz Core i5 processor with the high scores. For a little more perspective, the only real competitor in the 17-inch category is Gateway’s own $649 NV7915u, which couldn’t quite keep up with the NV7901u, scoring 4,339 and 4,838 on the 32- and 64-bit tests, respectively.