You may have noticed the latest review up on the PC Pro homepage, of HP’s Pavilion HDX9320EA laptop. A gloriously over the top machine, with oodles of style and a price tag that’s certainly not as high as we expected when it was crane-lifted out of the box.

But is it actually a laptop? Could it feasibly be argued that this leviathan will comfortably sit on the average lap? At some point a desktop replacement becomes, well, just a desktop by another name.

The HP weighs 7kg on its own, and a back-breaking 8.2kg when you chuck in the power brick too. Add the fact that none of the major UK bag makers produce anything to fit such a beast and I’d argue the HP “Dragon” is actually not much of a portable at all.

Yes, you could tuck it under one arm (if you’re a freakish giant like our very own Mike Jennings) but that’s hardly feasible on public transport. Which limits you to car journeys – a mode of travel which is equally hospitable to desktop PCs and their multiple peripherals – and use around the home.

I like the HP, I really do, and I can see the appeal in a sense – Mike would argue that it’s great to be able to play a game upstairs with the power of a PC, then sling it on the coffee table while the football’s on, all before sitting down to a movie in HD on the huge 20in screen.

Power, clarity and flexibility in one versatile package – perhaps it belongs more in the lifestyle PC category with the wonderful Dell XPS One (right) than it does with other laptops. (In fact, Dell has form in this area – remember the XPS M2010?)

But if it was my wallet involved in the decision, my hard-earned pennies being slapped down, would I really choose such a form-factor for myself?

In a word, no. I’d spend the same amount on a desktop and monitor, and I’d probably get more from my investment. Look at the A List. I could save £150+ and get the Cyberpower Gamer Ultra M2 Quad, with its awesome graphics, huge hard disk and 22in TFT.

Not portable enough? How about the Shuttle XPC P2 3500G (left), with its huge hard disk, strong graphics and tiny size? With the £200+ saved I could take my pick of the best 22in TFTs out there.

In fact, there are all manner of alternatives I’d go for before I’d buy the HP, and all of them fall firmly into traditional “laptop” or “desktop” categories.

The HP Pavilion HDX9320EA is undoubtedly a fine machine, and I won’t deny it’s fully deserving of its Recommended award. But I’d beg HP, Dell and anyone else who’s listening: for the sake of our spines, let’s stop at 20in, hey? Please?