When the conversation turns to which laptops are the most powerful on the market, the answer is usually one of the high-end gaming models from manufacturers like Alienware, Asus and MSI. These computers not only excel at graphic intensive games, but their high-end processors and graphics cards make them excellent choices for programs like photo and video editing as well as viewing high-definition video. Powerful also usually equals large, and many of these computers have screens that are at least 17 inches which makes them not necessarily the best choice when it comes to mobile computing.

One of the high-end computers on the market right now is the Asus G73. This laptop features a true 1080p 17 inch screen and comes with an Intel Core i7 processor. Graphics are the duty of either an Nvidia GTX 460 M or an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 graphics processor. Another top-of-the-line computer that can handle just about any task thrown at it is Alienware's M17x. This computer, like most top-of-the-line units, comes standard with a 64-bit version of Microsoft's Windows 7. Since it is an Alienware unit, it is an attention getter even when it is closed.

Coming in at about an inch and a half smaller than the Alienware and Asus models is the 15 1/2 inch MSI GX 660. This unit features an Intel core i5 processor and has an ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics processor. All three of these manufacturers also offer a few different computers that come in similar configurations as these. Since they are premium units, consumers should expect to pay a premium price for them. These units are definitely a few levels above the standard notebooks that most people pack around with them. In fact, laptops like these can go toe to toe with some of the best desktop units out there.

Manufacturers like Dell, HP and Sony all make computers that reach the premium levels of these units. Apple also builds some premium laptops, but since they operate on Apple's own Mac OSx operating system, it is somewhat difficult to compare them side-by-side with Windows units. A savvy consumer can buy laptops cheap, even one as high-end is these, if they know where to buy. When considering a premium laptop purchase, it is important for every consumer to not only look for laptop deals but to compare specifications in order to ensure that they are getting the best value for their dollar.