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4 Laptops Powerful and Fast Enough to Run Your Business These full-size laptops have large screens, full-size keyboards and powerful operating systems.

By John Patrick Pullen

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Photography by Ben Alsop

On the face of it, those sleek new ultrabooks seem to have it all: fast processors and blistering solid-state hard drives wrapped in a lightweight, super-thin package. But try spending 60 hours a week working on one, wiring into an office network via Ethernet cable or searching for a way to play a DVD (ultrabooks rarely have disc drives). For a true portable workhorse, check out these systems with 17.3-inch displays, Blu-ray players (and disc burners), full-size keyboards and Windows 7 or 8 operating systems. Ultrabooks they're not--superbooks is more like it.

HP Envy dv7
Image credit: HP

Make 'Em Jealous

HP Envy dv7 ($1,490)
This one's called Envy for good reason: It packs performance and privacy features worthy of the corner office. The 32 GB flash cache is part hard drive, part RAM; it loads programs and files ridiculously fast. Meanwhile, a fingerprint reader replaces passwords with a quick touch of a finger. A sloping keyboard, due to the battery bulge, makes for ergonomic typing.
Specs: 750 GB hard drive, 8 GB RAM, 4 USB ports, 6.9 lbs.
MSI GT70 0NE

Efficiency Expert

MSI GT70 0NE ($2,599)
This high-powered laptop packs a 128 GB solid-state drive and another 128 GB solid-state RAID drive that offers information access in seconds, along with an adaptive Ethernet controller that optimizes web-streaming speed. Bonus: The computer switches seamlessly between eco and high-performance modes, allowing users to get the most out of the battery or processor.
Specs: 750 GB hard drive, 16 GB RAM, 5 USB ports, 8.6 lbs.
Toshiba
Image credit: Toshiba

Graphics Champ

Toshiba Qosimo X875-Q7190 ($1,480)
With a backlit keyboard and Harman Kardon speakers, the Qosimo is a no-brainer for gamers, but multimedia content creators will love flexing its Nvidia graphics card for digital animation and movie editing. The attention-grabbing case will turn heads, and the HD webcam, paired with a 17.3-inch LED backlit display and 1080p HDMI output, will keep them gawking.
Specs: 1 TB hard drive, 12 GB RAM, 4 USB ports, 7.5 lbs.
Asus N76VZ
Image credit: Asus

See Me, Hear Me

Asus N76VZ ($1,299)
Sporting 150-degree viewing angles, the Asus N76VZ offers outstanding visuals. And thanks to the audiophiles at Bang & Olufsen, it sounds even better. The laptop's speaker grill wraps around the keyboard and pumps out warm, immersive audio, especially when paired with an external subwoofer the size of a Dixie cup. Use it to make your pitch loud, clear and fast.
Specs: 1 TB hard drive, 8 GB RAM, 4 USB ports, 7.9 lbs.

Based in Portland, Ore., John Patrick Pullen covers travel, business and tech for Men's Journal, Fortune and others.

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