The art of customizing, configuring, and branding a PC is not an easy task. Boutique vendors like Alienware and Voodoo PC have made a name for themselves by putting together high-end, specialty PCs. A byproduct of their success is that they were acquired by larger companies (Dell and HP, respectively). Independently owned Velocity Micro is another recognizable name in custom building, one known to attract power users and big spenders. Occasionally, though, the company comes out with a bargain aimed at students; one of these is the Velocity Micro NoteMagix C90 Ultra Campus Edition ($999 direct), a desktop-replacement laptop. This tongue twister runs an actual desktop processor, a speedy nVidia graphics card, and a built-in TV tuner. Despite doing all of this for under a grand, the C90 doesn't outperform many of the current laptop models, and its battery life is appalling.

Design techniques such as In-Mold Decoration (IMD), color variations, textured plastics, or metallic trimming are indications that a manufacturer is heavily invested in design. The C90 Ultra, unfortunately, doesn't employ any of these techniques: Its lid has a black polish that suggests a lack of imagination. The system weighs close to 7 pounds, significantly more than the Dell Studio 15 and the HP Pavilion dv5t, because it requires more cooling. Since the C90 uses an actual desktop processor that you wouldn't normally find on a laptop, the cooling unit—that long piece that looks like a battery and protrudes awkwardly from the back—factors into the weight equation.

The 15.4-inch widescreen sports a 1,680-by-1,050 resolution, higher than that of both the Dell 15 and the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6845. The result is a noticeably better movie, photo, and video experience. The Acer Aspire 6920G-6071's 16-inch widescreen, however, gives you more physical screen space for your money. The C90 Ultra's keyboard looks generic and is not as well built as the keyboards on the Dell 15 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510.

The one feature that stands out is the built-in ATSC TV tuner, which is similar to that on the HP dv5t. Once you connect the external antenna, you can pick up free, over-the-air high-definition channels, provided you're close enough to a TV station or tower. You can also find an HDMI-out port for external display hookups, and a five-in-one card reader. An eSATA port is present for external storage solutions, even though the included 250GB hard drive is probably big enough for all your media files. It comes with a dual-layer DVD burner, which is overshadowed by the BD-ROM (Blu-ray drive) that the Acer 6920G offers at a lower price point.

Running an actual desktop processor on a laptop sounds impressive on paper, but the 2.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 is based on a 65nm core, not a 45nm core like the latest Intel Penryn ones. Although its SYSmark 2007 Preview Overall score of 110 is admirable, the Dell 15 beats that number by 10 percent. The ASUS M50Sa-A1 and the Toshiba A305 also achieved better SYSmark 2007 Preview Overall performance scores. The system did better on video-encoding tests, however, achieving a score of 1 minute 9 seconds, but it still trails the Dell 15 by 3 seconds.

The C90 Ultra runs an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT mobile graphics card, the same card as the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Penryn), so it was able to generate very good scores on our 3D benchmark tests. Its 3DMark 06 scores were on a par with those of both the Dell 15 and the Acer 6920G.

Battery life was the biggest disappointment. Despite the drastic cooling measures, the 53-Wh battery was simply no match for the scorching heat coming from the processor. A battery score of 1 hour 30 minutes is not enough for a 15-inch laptop. Making matters worse is a temperature reading of 115 degrees Fahrenheit at the system's base, which is too warm for any kind of lap work.

If the Velocity Micro NoteMagix C90 Ultra Campus Edition had outperformed the competition, one could make a case for running this particular desktop processor, which belongs to the previous generation. But it didn't; the cooling component adds to the weight; and battery life stinks. These factors are serious issues, especially given the amount of time students spend on the move, on campus and in classes. The C90's silver lining is that it's inexpensive for a feature-rich laptop. But if you accept the bargain you'll be married to a power outlet most of the time.

Check out the Velocity Micro NoteMagix C90 Ultra Campus Edition's test scores.

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