Multimedia desktops better watch their backs; the HP Pavilion dv6-1253cl is a powerful, portable desktop replacement. I took the machine for a spin to test how well it handles photo editing and Blu-ray discs, and the results were pretty impressive. In testing, the dv6 racked up impressive numbers, almost on par with the Dell Studio XPS 16, which costs nearly twice the HP's $950 price tag. For your money, the dv6 comes with a 500GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, a 2.26-Ghz Intel dual-core processor, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 chipset with a whopping 1GB of dedicated graphics memory, and a 16-inch, 1366 x 768 display.

The display's resolution wasn't quite enough to handle the full 1080p Blu-ray format, but the scaled down version looked pretty nice. Playing HD video seemed no more taxing than opening a Word document, thanks to the dv6's processing and graphics prowess. Frame skip? Not even remotely likely. This machine is built for HD, and it shows.

For more on how the dv6 performed, keep reading after the jump.

I'm a photo nerd, and I demand my laptop be one too. Thankfully, the dv6 felt extremely quick in Photoshop, running everything from unsharp mask to art filters without any of the hang-ups of lesser machines. My only issue was with the lack of screen real-estate that comes with editing 8 megapixel photos on a display with a height of only 768 pixels. The most hardcore of photographers will be better off using the machine's built-in VGA or HDMI port to connect to an external monitor, but for the average person looking at snapshots, the dv6 performs admirably.

My biggest complaint against the dv6 was the overabundance of crapware. The start menu looked like it barely survived an attack by 1998's Internet, with ads from NetZero, Juno and eBay, just to name a few of the innumerable annoying links. My advice? Start with a fresh install of Vista after the computer arrives. With a squeaky-clean dv6, you'll have one of the best desktop replacements $950 can offer. To find out more about what it can do, be sure to check out our full review on PCMag.com.