When you think of expensive notebooks, chances are that systems in the $2,000 to $3,000 range immediately come to mind. Although those machines won't ever be mistaken for budget notebooks, they're far from being the most expensive. To hit true sticker-shock levels, you'd need to at least double that price--and in some cases multiply it by 100. 

 

So which notebooks qualify as sticker-shock systems? Feature-packed machines that cost at least five grand. But don't assume that big-ticket notebooks are strictly a gamer's domain. True, gaming rigs command a premium because of their tricked-out graphics and custom paint jobs, but we found some serious wallet-busters in the multimedia and fashion categories, too.

 

We spec'd out (and blinged out) the following five systems as much as we could to see just how high the bottom line could go. Whether you're a dedicated fragger looking for the best machine money can buy, a multimedia maven in search of superior audio/video performance, or a socialite in search of a status symbol, this gathering of the world's most expensive notebooks will tickle your big-spending fancy.