With cheap, teensy netbooks and featherweight laptops all the rage these days, the Alienware M17X heads in the opposite direction. The fastest 17-inch laptop on the market is run by a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme engine, with RAM upgradable to a staggering 12 gigabytes, all wrapped in a slick anodized aluminum casing. Sure, it’s overkill for a back-to-schooler, but that’s exactly why you want it.
Starting at $1,999 from dell.ca.