Asus M70 review

The only laptop named after a motorway in Hungary

Eee PC fans, turn away now, quite simply the Asus M70 is a monster; a huge black, shiny dinner tray of a PC that weighs more than the average newborn human being.

If, on the other hand, you were after a portable (though only just) high-def-ready media centre-type machine with which to regale and bedazzle your eyes and ears wherever you might happen to lay your hat, then the M70 could well be your man.

With a built-in Blu-ray player, Dolby Theater sound and a rather tasty 17" HD-resolution display, you can either enjoy your fill of high defness on the move or, using the HDMI output, on your home HD-ready TV.

Asus includes a digital TV tuner for watching and recording Freeview with Windows Media Center, which can, of course, also be used for all manner of musical or moviecal activities. The stupidly roomy 1 terabyte hard disk means that you can load the computer up with as many tunes, films, photos and recorded TV shows as you like before setting off on your travels.

If our battery tests are anything to go by, however, you probably shouldn't stray too far from a 240-volt socket especially if you want to watch a whole movie. Performance-wise, it isn't quite up there with the best-performing portable gaming systems, either.

Minor quibbles aside though, the M70 is an undeniable heavyweight - in all senses of the term.