I'm torn now that Windows 7 and the Core i7 are out...help!

I guess it's hard to completely have it all, but there are some nice notebooks out there even so. I think it's going to be between the HP dv6t Quad Edition and the Dell Studio XPS 16. Which would you recommend?

Duplicating the discussions. See the other discussion about a soon to arrive here model.

That's a great deal, if you can put up with a monster laptop like that. Personally, I don't want to go above 16", which complicates things, but I like a somewhat portable laptop. That is definitely a fast, cutting-edge machine in every respect, though, and a great deal. I've been looking hard at Dells lately, and if you could find a great deal on a Dell, I'd consider it. They offer the DisplayPort port on many models, which seems to be a great technology, and have backlit keyboards as well as unparalleled displays. I've heard good things about their customer service and general customer satisfaction, too. Still, can't go wrong with that HP.

It's nice. I wish I had time to look again at the dv6t and compare keyboards. The key tops are a little too flat for my taste but I'm getting used to it.

As I suspected it does get warmer than my older Intel 4500 based laptop but this is one fast machine with 7200 RPM drive etc.

It came in under 1K so not a budget buster. Those that demand a cold surface or want to run it on a lap will want to look at non-3D based solutions (ie Intel 4500).
Bob

I guess you could have a Dell custom built but I haven't seen any 1920 x 1080p cards in 16" notebooks. I must admit I haven't been looking. To me it's always been the bigger the better (but I'm not carrying it around).

It has a quad processor but not the new technology. Since i got mine HP released a new DV7 with the I7 processor and the DV8. What's lacking on mine is the 1920x1080 and Bluray. Mine does have 6 gig of ram but is 1600X900. I got mine for around the same proce so yours is a steal. Go price that on the HP website and see how much you save.

The Asus laptop actually looks like a good design. I haven't really heard anything about this brand - does anyone have any experience with them? I think I'm down to the Dell Studio XPS 16 and this Asus now...

Asus is an ODM. What has been happening in the manufacturing laptops is the OEM's like (HP, Dell and Toshiba) are in contract wars with the ODM's (Compal, Quanta and Clevo) and the ODM are getting more competitive in pricing and quality. This led to some poorer quality builds as well, to save money during the design manufacturing stages. Because of this, custom notebook ODMs (like ASUS, MSI, Clevo, Arima, etc) have been more soughtafter for their machines that overall have better build quality than a typical mainstream OEM machine.

This is why your seeing more Asus's and MSI's available through retail outlets.

Here in the US they are still catching up with the names for spare parts. HP, Dell and such are not perfect here but the smaller names do not stock spare parts since it is a costly business to buy spares such as boards, LCDs and more to be able to repair a machine in 2 years. So the no names skip that and hope they can buy parts later. HP, Motorola and such do the research about MTBF, spares stocking so they are ready for a repair in some number of years.

The member that replied with the ASUS has a history that is easy to research. They always bring up the smaller names and I have to write warnings repeatedly since I've been burned in the repair shops over no parts available for the smaller names. Be sure they will respond about OEM and more but its your money. Do the research on who is replying to you.
Bob

electronics retailer in Best Buy. It was a difference situation before Asus hit the mainstream retail stores.

Sorry but the fact remains they have issues with spares.

Feel free to keep bringing up this name but its their choice to make and let's get everyone well armed.
Bob