We like how Acer has incorporated quick-launch buttons and media controls on the keyboard deck. Between the two standard mouse buttons sits a four-way scroll key that's particularly handy for reading Web pages and scrolling through long documents. Our palms did frequently graze the laptop's sizable touch pad while typing, but the sensitivity of the pad was such that doing so did not misplace the cursor. The keys provided plenty of travel and were remarkably quiet. We enjoyed typing on the Acer Aspire 5920's full-size keyboard. Appreciated on its own merits, the Acer Aspire 5920 makes a decent choice for buyers who want both a media-friendly laptop and a portable HD DVD player that they can connect to their home theater for big-screen viewing. For the most part, though, the choice between these very similar systems will depend on your format preference. The Sony offers the advantage of a sleeker design and lighter weight, while the Acer offers the advantage of a few extra features (S/PDIF audio, full Dolby Surround, Bluetooth connectivity) and a longer battery life. Both incorporate Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processors on the latest Centrino Duo platform.

Both include HDMI support for easy integration to home theaters. Differing HD formats aside, the two systems are remarkably similar. Apparently, the market is big enough to warrant an entry from the other side of the fence: the Acer Aspire 5920 incorporates an HD DVD drive into its bulky midsize case. When we reviewed the Blu-ray-equipped Sony VAIO FZ180 a few months ago, we wondered how big the market for 15.4-inch, high-def laptop could really be.

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