Dell Inspiron 5000 G650VT

WHAT'S HOT: The G650VT carries Intel's new SpeedStep processor. When plugged in, the notebook runs at a scorching 650 MHz--the fastest mobile speed yet; when using the battery, it automatically steps down (unless you set it otherwise) to 500 MHz to conserve battery power. Dell's new notebook is fairly flexible, too: A modular bay on the front of the Inspiron's case lets you swap out the DVD-ROM drive for a second battery ($99) or a 100MB Zip drive ($139).

WHAT'S NOT: The G650VT's built-in stereo speakers sound fuzzy at higher volumes, and the external volume switch could work more smoothly. The big 15-inch screen extends beyond the keyboard when closed, which could increase the chance of a broken display if the notebook is bumped or dropped on its front edge.

WHAT ELSE: Thanks to a software MPEG decoder, DVD movies look great on the G650VT, and you can also watch them on a television, courtesy of the notebook's TV-out port. For graphics or spreadsheet work, you can ratchet the screen up to 1400 by 1050 pixels, the highest resolution currently possible with a notebook. The G650VT is easy to upgrade, and it sports a programmable keyboard that allows you to launch applications or files from the mouse buttons. The G650VT could be considered a higher-end version of ChemUSA's $2399 ChemBook 3015 and Quantex's $2899 W-1511, also reviewed this month. All three share nearly the same case design, but the more expensive G650VT ($4179) boasts a bigger hard drive and a faster processor.

BEST USE: Companies who want top mobile speed paired with a great presentation and graphics screen should consider the G650VT; others should wait until the new SpeedStep processors step down in price.

SUMMARY

Dell Inspiron 5000 G650VT PC WorldBench 2000 score of 127, Pentium III-650/500 CPU, 128MB of RAM, 15-inch active screen, 18GB hard drive, touchpad, 6X DVD-ROM drive, V.90 modem, multipurpose bay takes second lithium ion battery; 3-year warranty on parts, 3-year labor warranty, 24-hour daily toll-free support. $3727 800/388-8542 www.dell.com