For the last few years we have heard the term “desktop replacement” used to describe notebooks 15.4-inches and larger. Recently, most especially this year, we are finally starting to see notebooks that can be described as workstation replacements. These aren’t renamed gaming computers either–when companies like Lenovo and HP release portable workstations, they really mean it. In this article we’ll be checking out Lenovo’s ThinkPad W700, which is not only the largest ThinkPad ever (it’s their first 17-inch model ever) it is also the first ThinkPad to come with a quad-core processor. Those two features are just a start because the W700 significantly changes what we expect from a notebook, as well as a ThinkPad.

Build quality with the W700 is everything Lenovo is known for, with tight fitment all around and an impressively small measure of panel flex for a laptop this large. A bit of time hauling the W700 has confirmed initial impressions: while large notebooks rarely rival their smaller counterparts in terms of ruggedness, this is one heavily built, robust laptop in spite of its size.

Under the lid sits an eye-popping 17-inch display with 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution. Color reproduction and viewing angles on this screen are excellent, thanks to the use of wide gamut technology, which allows the panel to display 72 percent of the NTSC color gamut (most notebook screens display around 45 percent of the NTSC gamut). Above the display is a 1.3-megapixel webcam which uses Roxio’s Media Import application (included) to display and capture video and photos. The camera is adequate for video chats and e-mailing photos but its image quality was fairly grainy.

For users who require a consistent and reliable degree of color accuracy, the W700 contains a built-in color-calibration device. Using a small sensor embedded in the keyboard deck and Pantone’s huey Pro color-control software, the device scans the screen while the lid is closed and sounds three tones when the calibration process is complete. We calibrated the screen in just under a minute and immediately noticed a marked improvement. Colors appeared much bolder and the panel displayed much deeper black levels than before the calibration