Product Reviews

Last month's mini PCs might have been great for computing without clutter, but Rock's Xtreme 64 4800 goes one better. It has powerful, high-performance components throughout, and with a screen and keyboard that are integrated into one foldaway unit it's as neat and tidy as a PC can be. Yes, it's a laptop, but at 5.5kg it's best to think of this machine as a small powerful desktop. And with a battery life of only one hour and 21 minutes, you won't really want to take it on the move anyway.

GOOD THINGS, SMALL PACKAGES?

The Rock Xtreme might be small compared to desktops, but its a beast of a thing when sat next to the sleek Sony VGN-FE11S on page 48 or the Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi on page 20. The extra size is to accommodate the extra cooling required for the processor. Like the Sony and Acer, it's a dual-core CPU that acts just like two separate CPUs, so it never locks up or keeps you waiting with the accursed hourglass cursor. But where Sony and Acer have used Intel's new Core Duo, which is specially designed for use in notebook PCs, Rock has used AMD's top-end equivalent, the Athlon 64 X2 4800+.

As you'd expect, the Xtreme flew along in our benchmarks, racking up a score of 159.77 points. Good as this is though, it's only slightly faster than the much slimmer and lighter Sony and the Acer is just as fast.

It's the GeForce Go 7800 GTX that's the real difference between the three systems. Currently the fastest graphics chip for a notebook, it's easily the match of many desktop graphics cards. With a score of 54.3 frames per second in our Doom 3 benchmark, it's almost 50 per cent faster than the Acer and nearly five times as fast as the Sony. If games are your thing, but you don't have the room for a normal desktop

NOW SHOWING ON SCREEN ONE

With the 7800 GTX supporting advanced features like High Dynamic Range (HDR) for added vibrancy and richness in games, it would be a shame to have anything less than a stunning screen. And Rock certainly doesn't fail to impress here - the 17in widescreen is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Our test DVD looked incredibly vivid, while our photos lacked none of their original impact.

The richness and vibrancy of the screen is partly due to a glossy coating, which gives the screen a reflective quality. Unfortunately, bright outdoors light (if you ever lug this monster further than the living room) will render the screen barely visible, while strong indoor light sources will reflect distractingly. Still, with these situations avoided the huge resolution - 1680x1050 - is brilliant for work as well as play.

THE KEY QUESTION

While most notebook keyboards are slightly cramped, the 17in widescreen means that the Rock Xtreme has one more akin to a desktop - handy if you're a touch-typist.

On the whole, we were generally pleased with the Xtreme's build-quality. With portability not an issue and its comparatively huge size a given considering the hot-running components that need to be cooled, Rock was free to use thick plastic throughout.

The lid is the only area where we have some slight reservations. Pressing on the back of the screen pushes the Rock's lid into the back of the TFT screen, a sure way of getting permanent off-colour bruises on your screen.

If the Rock does develop a fault, you'll be covered by an excellent three-year collect and return warranty - three times the length of the policies offered by Sony and Acer on their notebooks this month.

BUYING DECISIONS

The desktop processor and 7800GTX graphics in this notebook are a cracking combination. Together they provide all the power of a really good desktop PC, but doesn't take up even half the space.

Unfortunately, Rock's Xtreme 64 4800 is huge and incredibly expensive. The Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi offers comparable performance, though it's not quite as good at games, but it does cost £700 less and is two and a half kilograms lighter.