Dell's Inspiron 8200 line of consumer desktop-replacement notebooks come in such a dizzying array of models--from 1.6GHz Pentium 4-M systems to 2GHz powerhouse machines--that it can be hard to choose. There are literally thousands of possible configurations, although they have in common exceptional multimedia abilities and all the right components. Luckily, we're here to help you sort it out. If you're looking for one of the fastest notebooks around and don't mind heft (in weight and price), we recommend the top-of-the line model with the brand-new 2GHz mobile Pentium 4-M.

Inside the Inspiron 8200 is a cornucopia of components: 1.6GHz, 1.7GHz, 1.8GHz, or 2GHz P4-M processors; between 128MB and 1GB of high-speed DDR memory; either a 20GB, a 30GB, or a 40GB hard drive; and high-performance 5,400rpm drives with 40GB and 60GB capacity. The price range runs from $2,116 to about $3,100. The Inspiron 8200 series competes with desktop replacements such as the Compaq Presario 2800, the Gateway 600 series, the IBM ThinkPad A Series, the Micron TransPort GX3, the Sony VAIO PCG-GRX series, and the Toshiba Satellite 5105-S607.

The three 15-inch displays available start with the UltraSharp UXGA+ panel, which offers nearly 180 degrees of horizontal and vertical viewing and is perfect for groups huddled around the screen. Text looked incredibly crisp, with vivid and detailed graphics, but you can save a few hundred dollars by getting the more commonplace UXGA or SXGA+ screens instead. Other desktop replacements (such as the Gateway 600 and the Sony VAIO PCG-GRX series) offer even larger displays.

Behind the scenes is the choice of Nvidia's GeForce4 440 Go graphics accelerator with a whopping 64MB of integrated memory or the company's more mainstream GeForce2 Go chip and 32MB of memory. Either way, the Inspiron 8200 is just as good for watching movies as it is for battling onscreen aliens or pitching a presentation. Video playback was sharp, with no blurring or dropped frames, and games had smooth motion and lots of details.

To tap into all that mobile multimedia potential, you'll have to supersize it; the Inspiron 8200's dimensions--1.8x13.0x10.8 inches--will overwhelm any economy-class airline tray table. All models in the line are the same size. At a base weight of 8.1 pounds (and rising to a travel weight of 8.9 pounds with the 14-ounce AC adapter), the system is on the heavy side. The three-prong power plug will also be a frustration if your travels take you to places with ungrounded outlets, such as older American buildings or many foreign locales. The Inspiron 8200 isn't the heftiest system in its class, but it's right up there alongside the Gateway 600XL and the Sony VAIO PCG-GRX570.

With two modular bays, flexibility is the key. The Dell has modules for CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW, combo DVD/CD-RW, or 250MB Zip drives, as well as a second battery or another hard drive. This multitude of optical drives makes the Inspiron 8200 ideal for mastering, copying, or playing CDs of all varieties.

And speaking of playing CDs, the Inspiron 8200 makes a pretty good boombox, although the sound can get tinny at high volumes, and the pair of cooling fans interrupted frequently. Front and center are handy CD-playback and audio controls, a common feature on consumer desktop replacements that lets you listen to audio CDs without turning on the system. With both S-Video and composite-video connections, the Inspiron 8200 is ready for moviemakers, and it can connect to multiple speakers via the S/PDIF digital-audio output. While the volume controls were easy to use, we would've liked a Mute switch.

Around its periphery, the Inspiron 8200 makes all the right connections. In addition to integrated 10/100Mbps Ethernet and a V.92 modem, the notebook has a built-in Wi-Fi 802.11b radio. About the only thing it lacks is a Bluetooth short-range radio, a feature popping up in notebooks such as the Satellite 5105-S607. Included ports run the gamut of old and new: traditional parallel, serial, and PS/2; audio-in and -out; external monitor; FireWire; and a pair of USB ports. The Inspiron 8200 can accommodate two Type II (or one Type III) PC Cards, but unlike most of its peers, this system has no doors on the openings to protect the electronics inside from dust or worse.

Portable power comes either from the standard 4,500mAh lithium-ion battery or the optional 4,000mAh battery, which weighs one ounce less. Both run at 14.8 volts, can take up to 500 charge cycles, and have a five-LED charge gauge on the side, but it's hidden from view when the cells are installed.

With the high-capacity battery in place, the 2GHz Inspiron 8200 lasted for an acceptable 2 hours, 31 minutes, while its 1.8GHz and 1.7GHz counterparts lasted for 2 hours, 41 minutes and 2 hours, 46 minutes, respectively. That's not the longest battery life we've seen from a P4-M notebook; the HP Omnibook xe4500 currently holds that title with its score of 3 hours, 7 minutes. Then again, the Inspiron 8200 offers significantly better performance, and in general, its battery life is quite good for its class.

Dell takes a half-hearted stab at jazzing up the design of the Inspiron 8200 by including four colorful QuickSnap inserts that fit in between the system's keyboard (which has 19.4mm keys) and the touchpad. There are 18 other colors available online, but truthfully, no snap-on insert will turn this boxy, staid design into an Apple PowerBook or a Sony VAIO notebook. In addition to the touchpad, there's a pointing stick at the center of the keyboard.

Equipped with Windows XP or XP Home and an assortment of basic software, the Inspiron 8200 family includes a 90-day trial of Norton AntiVirus or a one-year subscription to McAfee Virus Scan for $59. The system can be loaded with either Microsoft Works 2002 or Office XP, and an upgrade to a full version of Office Professional costs $199.

Regardless of which model you get, Dell's three-year service and support policy for the Inspiron 8200 is top-notch. Included are online resources aplenty, fax-back help, and 24/7 phone support. Adding a fourth year costs $120. On the other hand, beyond basic setup advice, Dell washes its hands in terms of software support, which costs between $25 and $28 per resolution (depending on how much you buy in advance). Dell covers more than 40 programs ranging from Symantec's ACT to Microsoft Word, but software technicians are available only from 7 a.m. to midnight CT.

• Excellent performance
• Top-rate graphics and screen
• Solid Keyboard
• Built-in WiFi
• Dual pointing devices

• Big and heavy
• High-end models pricey
• No doors to protect PC Card slots
• Three-prong AC plug