If you really want a desktop replacement and battery life (Centrino Pentium M) or future 64bit performance (AMD Athlon 64) is not an issue the hpzd7000 is very high rated at Cnet (8.4 -- anything over 8 is recommended).
See zd7000forums.com for user comments and best pricing and discounts (make sure to order custom from hpshopping for best price and specs --- they also give you a 30 day return shipping paid return policy)
Make sure you get the 128mb dedicated video RAM as that is one the key advantages on this notebook.
The battery life is horrible (under 2 hours with the 17" LCD) but that is not a factor for you. Dell and Sony have 17" Pentium M notebooks out but they are very expensive and you don't value the battery life. Those notebooks do run cooler, however due to the Pentium M processor.
The ultimate, of course, in a 17" LCD notebook is the amazing Apple 17" Powerbook at 6.9 pounds (HPZd7000 is 9 pounds) but that is only if you use Apple and that is also over $2500 like the Sony.
I'm looking for a new notebook with a 17" screen as a backup desktop. Must have A1 screen, be as fast as possible and quiet, not concerned about weight and power issues Would like an Apple notebook, but not prepared to migrate from PC platform, so have been reading about the likes of HP Pavilion zd7000 etc.
Have a Vaio PCG-GRV616S which has a very noisy fan, appears to overheat and shutdown whenever in medium to heavy use and to be frank has been a bloody nusisance from day one, but due to it being a standby machine, I haven't found the time to return it or complain and the warrantly has now expired.
Just want a super-doper good-looking workhorse for occasional use, but must have everything and more than my desktop has.
Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic