The HP Omen 17 is a gimmick-free gaming laptop

HP's 17 inch Omen is unlike most gaming laptops in that it doesn't really look too much like a gaming laptop. Its body is thick but streamlined and there are no crazy-looking cooling vents or extra lid lights, just the old Voodoo PC logo. There are no quick launch keys for custom profiles or utilities for overclocking or other performance enhancements. If it weren't for the red edges on its keys and their red backlighting, it could easily slip by as just another nice-looking desktop replacement. It's available with a variety of components, depending on your gaming needs and budget. This one is priced at around 1,800 and is VR ready thanks to its Nvidia 1070 graphics card. But you can get it for just over $1000 with an older 955 M card. Also while higher end configs have this excellent ultra HD display within Nvidia G-Sync technology, that helps with tearing and input lag while playing games. You can also opt for a more affordable full HD screen. This laptop is by no means inexpensive fully loaded, but it isn't insanely expensive either, and the 1070 keeps frame rates at playable levels even at its full Ultra HD resolution, with settings at High. The slightly slimmer plastic body does mean the fans are constantly blowing at full strength though, and the laptop gets a little too hot to keep on your lap. And, like most 17-ish laptops, the battery life doesn't compare to a smaller, more efficient Ultrabook. But this Omen still managed four and a half hours of streaming video. It has a respectable port assortment, too, but USB-C is noticeably absent. Basically, the 17 inch OMEN sheds some of the frills of other new gaming laptops, putting the priority on what's on the inside than what's on the outside. [MUSIC]