Best Gaming Computers

20 Responses to “Free correlative info on alienware Znet”

1. Blatt
   Posted on September 14th 2010, 3:07 pm

   I was skeptical about this laptop until I got my hands on this beautiful computer system. It’s got the power I was seeking for high-end gaming without breaking the bank. I did extensive research on laptop gaming systems for more than a month before I found the right system for me at the right price. Alienware M17x-2857DSB 17-Inch Laptop (Black) So many other systems like the Qosmio line had reliability issues. Others like the Vaio didn’t have enough video power to handle games at more than medium video settings. This Alienware M17x has the quality, reliability and horsepower needed for the latest games with high video quality settings.

   No, it doesn’t have the newer Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, but it IS a Quad Core Q9000! The rest of the components list is a dream come true…DUAL nVidia GTX 260m graphics cards (1 GB memory per) with SLI enabled, slot loading DVD burner, bluetooth, wifi n, 4gb of DDR3 1333 ram… all the qualities I needed for a serious gaming rig. Sound quality is much better than average. I’ll probably still end up using a headset while gaming. It’s also built like a tank with a full aluminum case. Customizable lighting system is pretty cool too. I could’ve done without all the extra lights, but the backlit keyboard is awesome and was a “must have” on my list.

   Alienware is definitely worth the extra money if you can afford it, and if you’re looking for a quality built computer and a reliable portable gaming system. As for the price, Amazon is selling it for a fantastic savings! I built the exact same computer on the Alienware site using the exact same components, and it came out over $350 more expensive than it did from Amazon! You won’t be disappointed…I haven’t been!

   
   
2. Bellert
   Posted on September 15th 2010, 3:38 am

   First off let me say my 1 star approval rating is based on my 1st Alienware system.
   The first night I got my Alienware M17x I had to call technical support because the Cyberlink Power DVD 8 software produced a series of horizontal lines across the middle of the screen. I was on the phone with tech support from 8:00pm-12:00 midnight the first night. Alienware Technical Support was very helpful and got this problem resolved but the bottom line; I was on the phone all night. The next day I went to a friends house to watch a couple of videos and before we finished watching them, all of my desk top icons had changed to a generic Windows format and were inoperable. This issue took over 8 hours on the phone with technical support to resolve. These system/software problems continued to persist and “evolve”, as quoted by tech support, for almost two weeks. After two weeks of nothing but problems I had spent a total of about 40 hours on the phone with technical support. The last day of ownership of this system I spent 13 hours on the phone with Alienware technical support and customer service. One time that day after being on hold for almost an hour Alienware customer service hung up on me.
   After all these problems, and I’ve only mentioned a small portion of them, I finally got smart and contacted Amazon’s five star customer service. Amazon gave me the option of a refund or replacement! I opted for a replacement because I believe this is atypical of what Alienware produces. I wanted to give them another chance.
   Just a little more detail about the excellent Amazon Customer Service…. I contacted them 4 March 2010. This was a Thursday, and it was mid afternoon. By Friday, 5 March 2010, they had a new Alienware system on it’s way to me via Federal Express. By Saturday, 6 March 2010, before 12:00 noon I had received my new Alienware M17x. The Amazon customer service represenative I spoke with, 4 March 2010, even seemed genuinely concerned that I get some sleep after I explained to her I had been up 13 hours on the phone with Alienware tech and customer service. Amazon even gave me a refund for the return shipping after I called them and gave them the return tracking number. This was something that was totally unexpected. I checked with my credit card company online and the refund has already posted as of, 8 March 2010. Outstanding job Amazon!
   I’ve had my second new Alienware M17x system, Amazon shipped to me, for two days and I’ve done everything I could to check it for faults. So far this system seems to be totally problem free. I’ll come back in two weeks or so and if it’s still problem free I think I’ll rerate it four or five stars.
   Alienware/Dell Customer service could learn something for Amazon.
   If you want to buy something from a company who will stand behind the products they sell Amazon is the best choice. I think they’re better than Wal-Mart. Thank you so much Amazon. Your up there with the stars. You’re stellar!!!
   Sincerely, Paul Orand

   
   
3. Bicksler
   Posted on September 15th 2010, 3:23 pm

   I purchased this laptop a year and three months ago. Both the video card and the motherboard failed one month after the waranty expired. I sent it in to Dell and for about $600 they replaced the failed components. Just over 30 days after this, the video card failed again. Interestingly, this was just after the 30 day waranty on their maintenance expired! Further, Dell no longer supports the computer and referred me to Z-Tronics to have the video card replaced. Z-Tronics just told me that they don’t have the video card and have no idea when they will get them again. So, now I have a $2k+ brick.

   My advice? Don’t by an Alienware. Dell is supporting these computers very poorly.

   
   
4. Fraund
   Posted on September 16th 2010, 3:30 am

   Well i was really leary about buying an alienware mostly because of the price and less expensive laptops you could get for a lesser price with the same or higher specs. Well here’s the reason this is so worth it, and much better. First off all parts on the inside are intel genuine parts, Nvidia genuine parts and the whole laptop is build from the ground up with super top notch components. Lots of computers such as Acers, Gateway, HP, and even Sony use other companies to manufacture there motherboards graphic cards, screens etc etc. This thing is an absolute sherman tank, and just looks and feels down right indestructible. When i pulled it out of the box (which looked like is cost about 100$ itself i was like wow impressive). It was wrapped in a velvet black Alienware sleeve which was pretty unique, upon opening it i couldn’t believe the weight(could be a con for some people), and then i realized this thing has METAL components, on the sides, bottom and the back of the screen. How often do you see that, never? So yes this thing is well worth the money. Now onto the specs. What it doesnt tell you(i’m writing about the Best Buy model) is that this unit is equipted with two yes two GPU’s. One is the main Nvidia GTX 260, the other an Nvidia 9400, so basically the more powerful GPU feeds off the lesser one to give you extra graphical and gaming ability, and yes it shows, big time. The resolution may not be full 1080p(its 1440×900) but who really cares? Check on Xbox and Ps3 and you’ll find there are very very few games that even run at full 1080p resolution, even upscaled the games look noting like on this thing. I’ve played Bioshock, Red Faction Guerilla, Resident Evil 5, and Crysis so far all without a hitch, even Crysis you can play at very high setting with a playable frame rate. The glossy screen really brings out the details and vibrant colors especially with antialiasing, even though its not the brightest in the world, its great. The slot loading DVD-RW is great, loads very quickly, and runs quietly. Don’t be fooled by all the hype of the new I series intel chipsets, the i7 did not make that much of an impression on me, this thing has the Quad 2 Core running at 2.0 ghz, and the system rating for calculations per second are 6.9. The i7 in most of the other gaming machines is about 7.0 or 7.2, whoopi do, who really cares?? Also the overall look of this machine is just beautiful, the keys are atomatically set to blue, but you can change them to about any color you want using the Alienware Utility Console.
   The battery can get up to 3 hours if you turn down the screen and don’t really game TO heavy, so thats definitely a plus. I got fed up with Asus because of allll kinds of wireless issues, blue screens of death, disc read errors, squashed unresponsive keys, and just some overall major screwups with the machines themselves. So yes i payed the extra money figuring this would be better and it way surpassed my expectations, being that it blows the more modern but fading Asus G60 and G72 series laptops out of the water. The speakers in the front also glow the same color as the keys or a different variety if you want, which is really something. On another note i opened the box with the power adapter and its a flat box type shaped, not the usual box Xbox 360 type adapter you usually get with gaming machines. I will add another 2 gigs(to get 6) just to add it, but heck it doesnt even need it, this thing is still a multitasking beast. I think anything over 6 gigs is really uneeded sine most games require no more than 3 gigs anyways, and that would be a shock. So as i’ve praised this is the first REAL gaming laptop i’ve ever owned, all the rest were ok but nothing compared to this thing. When they say its made for heavy duty gaming and multitasking they weren’t kidding. This beast will surely stand the test of time, and is also upgradable for any GPU out there, but i don’t think i’ll ever need anything more. If you have the cash don’t waste your time with Asus, Cyperpower, or even Toshiba Qosmio, even it the specs are better this thing is specifically designed for heavy use. The sound quality is the loudest i’ve ever heard, and also has a subwoofer. The only one thing that is a slight small issue is when your playing games the fan is realllly loud, but i really could care less considering i know it will never overheat, umm thats what the fans and cooling system are for. I’ve had other laptops where the fan didn’t even run, not good. So enough going on and on, if you have the cash or credit just get it, its not just for gamers its for anyone that ones a really awesome looking and performing laptop to last for many years. One last funny thing is you get an Alienware black hat, and a manual bound in leather that looks like a bible, and also an Alienware alienhead sticker for, well wherever you wanna stick it. HA.

   Only two things, no blu ray, which i could care less since i have it on my PS3, and i wish in these units they would put a 16x or 18x DVD burner, instead of just 8x.

   
   
5. Mycroft
   Posted on September 16th 2010, 3:05 pm

   This Alienware backpack looks great and is comfortable to carry. I use it for school to carry my books and laptop, I use it to carry my laptop to friends houses, and I never have to worry about my laptop. This backpack has plenty of room and provides great protection. I have a Alienware M17X 17″ laptop and it fits with some room to spare.

   The only reason I am not giving this backpack a 5 out of 5 is because the Alienware chrome alien head on the backpack is easily scratched. Carrying the backpack around school, laying it around my house, and having it in my car has left its mark.

   
   
6. Kelly
   Posted on September 17th 2010, 3:04 am

   Dimensions:

   20.25 Inches Tall
   15.5 Inches Wide
   7.5 Inches Thick
   Colors:

   Black mesh all over
   Front compartment is a black matte plastic finish.
   Alien Head logo is a solid metal button almost. Clearly very easily scratched.
   Weight:

   2.92 pounds
   I’m extremely critical when it comes to comfort, so I’m going all out here
   Outside

   The Front compartment of the backpack is protetected by a very durable shield. It feels a lot like a softer, but still quite hard, cellphone case. On the outside, their are two side pockets which open out to the side of the back. They are slim, but still usable. They fit a normal plastic water bottle great, with a slight bulge visible in the shield. I would plan on using these pockets to hold my graphing calculator, one water bottle, and headphone earbuds.

   The zippers all over are made of solid, lightweight, metal, accented with the alienhead logo. They all slide nice and easy. The main compartment zipper goes all away around the bag, almost 275 degrees around. The bottom has too strong but flexible grips/standy thingers.
   The padding that comes into contact with your back could definitely be called orthopedic. minimal near the spine for breathability, and pillowy cushioned around the lowerback, shoulder blade, and hip areas. The straps are lack luster in terms of cushion though. They are not however uncomfortable, just a little thin.
   The phone compartment in the front holds an EnV2 and Blackberry Storm snugly.
   The handle at the top is quite annoying. If you lean too far forward it bumps into your neck like someone tapping you quite hard to get your attention.
   First Compartment

   The first compartment is protected by the plastic shield. On that same side their are ten thin compartments meant for holding CD’s. Not many people carry around 10 CD’s barenaked like that though, so I’m going to put a one hundred dollar bill in each of them as placeholders.The top has a keyring.
   On the opposite side, there is an MP3 holder, mouse holder, three loops for writing utensils, a backpack-wide mesh compartment at the bottom, and a padded zippered chamber hanging at the top. The MP3 hole is also at the top of this compartment.
   Second Compartment

   The second compartment is very simple. The side closer to the shield has a space wide enough for two Asus EEpc notebooks, or five college-ruled notepads.
   On the otherside of the compartment, there is a mesh pocket wide and tall enough to hold two magazines without bulging.
   Main Compartment

   The main compartment is HUGE! The size of the entire backpack. It has a single mesh, plastic filmed pocket, that reads: “Checkpoint Friendly”. It’s for frequent flyers whos bags are inspected often, it opens easily. The sides of this pocket are lined with a fleece feeling fabric.

   
   
7. Dupont
   Posted on September 17th 2010, 3:36 pm

   More than ample space in this backpack for a 17.3 inch computer. I’m very pleased with this product – well made.

   
   
8. Chadwick
   Posted on September 18th 2010, 3:31 am

   Much like everything else that Alienware produces, this bag is top quality! It’s solid, very padded, secure, and has more than enough compartments for every kind of storage need. I just recently got a new Alienware M17x and have become an Alienware fan overnight. These guys don’t make ANYTHING that’s less than the best! Long story short: If it says Alienware on it, you will not be disappointed – this backpack is no exception.

   
   
9. Cardella
   Posted on September 18th 2010, 3:21 pm

   Out of the box this laptop sucks. You can only run games for about 30 minutes before it crashes. That said there is an easy fix. All you have to do is download and install the 206 bios update (which is really easy with asus winflash) and you are good to go.
   Once that is complete this is one of the most amazing laptops you can own for under $1500. Most games (excluding crysis lol) can be run on max settings without so much as a blink. I’ve run Borderlands, Just Cause 2, Alien Swarm, Mass Effect, etc on max settings with great frame rates. Everything looks absolutely beautiful with 1080 resolution on a 15.6 inch screen. The nvidia 360m does a fantastic job. If you have any interest in programing the i7 quadcore processor makes compiling lightning fast.
   On a side note, this laptop is bigger than most 15 inchers. It is both thicker and wider so take that into consideration if you need a backpack or other laptop carrying case. I personally use a backpack designed for 17 inch laptops and it fits great.

   
   
10. Nicholas
    Posted on September 19th 2010, 3:19 am

    I don’t own this exact same model, I own G51vx which was previous model but this one just has some updated hardware. But let’s talk business. Most people who rate products do it within 0-2 months of buying it. That is why I assume this has a lot of 5 STARS. The two major downsides that the previous model had was that the processor was 2.0GHz dual core, which was somewhat slow for a gaming PC and the screen only supported 720p. They have fixed those issues on this one. However, the screen is really glossy (you can easily use it as a mirror when the computer is off).

    After using the G51VX for about 8 months(again, I’ve used this one at Best Buy and it’s exactly the same design), it has managed to annoy me greatly. I will list the reasons why.

    1. Speakers: For a laptop this size, you’d think it would have powerful enough speakers, however, ASUS has somehow managed to screw it up and its impossible to watch a show/movie without putting the headphones on.
    2. Heat: Anything you keep on the left side of laptop (Soda, water, candy) is bound to heat up within minutes. The heat produced by this thing rivals space shuttles, I kid you not. It’s impossible to keep it on lap if you’re wearing shorts/boxers.
    3. Screen: The screen could really would have been better. When I plug it to an external monitor (Dell 24 inch UltraSharp), you come to see the true potential of the graphic card. Its more vibrant, has better contrast and color gamut – the Dell Monitor . I’ve noticed that movies and games don’t look too bad, but when you are just surfing the web or doing general office tasks, its almost strenuous to look at this thing.
    4. Touchpad: With most companies trying to improve the design/feel of touch-pads on their laptops, ASUS has totally given up on this sector. This is really one of the most annoying features. The touch-pad is small, insensitive and the buttons are too hard and make noise when you click.
    5. General/Usability: There’s a lot of other minor issues with this laptop which really start to bug you after the initial few months. There’s only one USB port in the back. There’s no multimedia buttons (dedicated volume, brightness, keyboard backlight). The keyboard is insensitive (I like the keyboard backlight, thats a great feature but really, wouldn’t it be even more awesome with a better functioning keyboard?). Battery doesn’t last more than an hour but thats to be expected out of a gaming PC so no complaints there (but you should know this).

    I had this computer at my desk most of the times connected to external speakers, keyboard and mouse, and quite frequently used dual monitor setup. Till then it was great. But then I started moving a lot (for work reasons) and it wasn’t possible to take everything wherever I go. I still recommend it to people who want it purely for gaming and don’t think they’ll ever need to move it, but then, why not just buy a desktop? I knew I had to move sooner or later and I wanted to be able to do all things I do on a desktop so I bought this. But the only way to use this computer is like a Desktop PC, by connecting tons of accessories. The small glitches make it hard to live with on a daily basis. I frankly wouldn’t mind exchanging this for a PC that boasts less hardware but has a good design/built.

    
    
11. Agler
    Posted on September 19th 2010, 3:55 pm

    Let me start off by saying, this computer kills every other ‘gaming’ laptop out there. Eat your heart out, Alienware. Because ASUS wins.

    I bought this a little over a month ago, and I have to say, this was the best purchase I have made in my entire life. I’m using this as a college laptop for a degree in Video Game Production. I have not yet met something this laptop can’t handle. It runs NFS: Shift at full graphics and 2xAA @ 30FPS. It runs Crysis with almost all settings at High (not Very High) @ 20FS. I can run any game from before 2008 at high settings @ 60FPS+. I love this computer and it doesn’t matter what I do to try and slow it down, but it just keeps running.

    Also, the design of the actual computer is very attractive. The logo on the back lights up and looks very nice. The keyboard is backlit and is very bright. The track pad is one of the nicest I’ve used on a laptop. It has tons of ports, too. 4 USB (3 of them are 2.0), eSATA, Firewire, HDMI, Mic, Headphone, and Line-out, LAN, and VGA.

    What really make this laptop stand out is the massive array of available features. One of my favorite included programs is Power4Gear. It’s designed to adjust every aspect of your power settings, including overclocking the CPU. Most of the other included programs are useless, though. One of the other features included is ExpressGate, which is a quick mini-OS that boots up in just a few seconds. It’s good if you just want to check something on the internet and nothing else.

    Audio quality is excellent with the built-in EAX 4.0 HD audio. When I’m playing Crysis, I now can hear small little things like a Korean soldier snapping a twig in the forest. In NFS: Shift, I can hear a car coming up behind me, and in older games like Age of Empires III, I can hear every single sound separately on the screen. However, these things are only true through headphones. Speaker volume on this computer leaves something to be desired. But that’s to be expected on most laptops, anyway.

    The keyboard design is exactly as it should be. WASD are marked with arrows. The backlight keeps me from having to turn on a light to see it. The numberpad is just the right size. I use it whenever I’m doing school work and it does its job quite well. As with any laptop, Home, End, PgUp and PgDown are awkwardly placed. All of the Fn keys available are useful taking full advantage of the hardware. One of the most helpful Fn keys is the Power4Gear key, which instantly switches between power modes set with the program I mentioned above. There is also a key to disable the touchpad, which can be very helpful when typing.

    This laptop also comes with a mouse and backpack, neither of which are a cheap build quality. It comes with the Razer Abyssus, and a Targus backpack, rebranded with the RoG logo. It’s hard for me to fit all of my school books into the backpack, but then again, it was included at no extra cost, so I don’t complain. The mouse is an excellent mouse, normally selling for over $50. On the bottom are DPI and pollong switches, the max being 3500DPI and 1000Hz. It has a light-up logo on the top that is appealing, too.

    I would not suggest this computer for anoyone but gamers. Even on battery saving mode, and just casually browsing the internet (with throttled CPU, low display brightness, no backlit keyboard, no USB stuff plugged in), I get about 2 1/5 hours at most. You really shouldn’t be using it off the plug very often if you want the best performance, anyway, as the CPU is throttled no matter what. It refuses to play anything with a decent framerate on battery.

    Here’s the recap:

    Pros:
    - Runs anything you throw at it, no matter what
    - Great design, very attractive
    - 1080p monitor
    - Includes mouse and backpack
    - Excellent keyboard
    - Great audio
    - Includes some powerful features
    - Best laptop for the price, anywhere (this was written in 2010)
    - Plenty of ports

    Cons:
    - Hot!
    - Heavy (about 7.5 pounds)
    - Speakers aren’t very loud
    - Low battery life

    Overall, this is definitely worth the purchase. I would suggest this to any mobile gamer out there (who wants to impress their friends while they’re at it).

    
    
12. McPherson
    Posted on September 20th 2010, 3:50 am

    I bought the G51J last January 2010. My colleague liked it and wanted to buy for his own use. Some time in July 2010 I ordered the G51JX-X3 for him. It arrived in Brunei after just 8 days. He was very glad of the laptop’s performance and usability.

    
    
13. Giammalva
    Posted on September 20th 2010, 3:21 pm

    So far I have no complaints, I’ve had this item for about a month now. Runs call of duty 4 modern warfare 2 perfectly, Dirt 2! Its like having a portable 360. Not to mention the screen has beautiful deep inky blacks, and great color. The led’s are cool for night time. And it runs all of my demanding programs flawlessly. + if you want to go out and take it on a trip. You can switch it to integrated graphics and get 3 more hours (6hours) battery life!

    
    
14. Nordsten
    Posted on September 21st 2010, 3:49 am

    I purchased the Alienware M15x laptop through Amazon in late November. My experience with this laptop and Dell’s support of it was deeply disappointing.

    I wanted a powerful laptop to serve as a desktop replacement and as my primary work computer, and I was drawn by the Intel i7 quad processor and powerful mobile graphics card.

    As a 30-something professional, and not a major gamer, I think the “Alienware” branding is cheesy and childish, like a bad comic book, and I simply bought this computer to get the most high-end Dell. Having said that, the M15x design is surprisingly sleek and edgy — just don’t bring it to a business meeting. Overall the build is excellent and the laptop is heavy and sturdy. I used the laptop to power a Dell 3008 30″ monitor at native resolution without problem– the laptop stays cool and ran quietly, until it didn’t.

    After a few days my M15x began to make random hardware clicking and beeping noises from deep inside the unit. Ominously, the noises increased in frequency over time, like the laptop was slowly getting ready to explode and die altogether.

    Alienware tech support was available and friendly, but totally disorganized, especially since I purchased the unit through a retail channel and there was no Dell order number. I spent about four hours on the phone (multiple calls) with them haphazardly troubleshooting my new laptop. In the end, we couldn’t determine the problem, and both Alienware and Dell corporate customer support seemed indifferent about the issue and actually encouraged me to return it to Amazon .

    This was a big hassle as I had already spent many hours configuring and installing software on the Alienware, and now had to uninstall it all and wipe the drive. Fortunately Amazon stands behind the purchase and is paying for return shipping and a refund.

    There may be a broader problem with the Seagate Momentus hard drive in the M15x– similar issues are widely reported with this drive in the Mac Book Pro and other Dell lines. The hard drive may or may not be the source of the problems with my Alienware, but either way the performance of the hard drive is the bottleneck in this powerful system. The Windows Experience Index is:

    Processor: 7
    RAM: 7.3
    Graphics: 6.8
    Gaming Graphics: 6.8
    Hard Disk: 5.9

    I do agree with other reviews that the touchpad on the M15x is serviceable but doesn’t work smoothly. The touchpad on my terrific Dell XPS m1530 is vastly better– you’ll want to own a mouse for use with the Alienware.

    Also, like other gaming notebooks, the screen is highly reflective, so don’t buy this laptop if you want to use it outdoors.

    One other minor point– the naming on NVIDIA mobile graphics cards is misleading– the mobile GTX 260M in this Alienware is not comparable to the desktop GTX 260 in terms of performance. But this is the best card you can get on a 15″ laptop from Dell, and it ran World of Warcraft like a champ.

    In the end, the Alienware is superbly constructed and a good value for the power it punches. Just be forewarned that Dell is shipping defective laptops and you might need to return it. Based on my experience, I have to give the M15x one star.

    
    
15. Adamson
    Posted on September 21st 2010, 3:57 pm

    If you will go to Dell/Alienware’s site/shop you will find there information that the CPU in this particular version of M11X is “Overclockable”. What it does is basically makes your CPU work at higher frequency, improving the overall performance of all your programs/games. If you will go to BIOS settings in your M11X (press “F2″ key during boot-up time to get there) you will indeed see the “Overclocked” option (which is disabled by default). Unfortunately it seems that it is highly possible that this advertised feature will not work (it didn’t for me, as well as for many other people, you can read all about it on a certain well-known notebook-related forum) – if you will enable “Overclock” in BIOS, your M11X might simply crash during boot-up or after any random period of time. As of right now there’s no official “fix” for this issue by Alienware/Dell, the only way you can solve it (if you’re happened to have this issue) is to play an “exchange lottery” with Dell/Alienware. It really is disappointing that Alienware/Dell actually advertised this feature and made it available in every M11X (every user can easily switch it on) yet it doesn’t seem they actually tested any M11X with this feature enabled before shipping them to customers…

    
    
16. Albeck
    Posted on September 22nd 2010, 3:24 am

    This review is for the R2 version.

    I like power, but I also wanted something more portable. Having lugged around heavy machines, I really wanted something lightweight that could handle a majority of my computing needs, yet still have some “fun” factor when I wanted.

    Earlier this year, I purchased a HP 311 netbook. Very lightweight machine, and it was equiped with a Nvidia ION chipset. I want to say the netbook accomplished most of my needs. It was capable of light work, and gaming. It had a decent run time of 5 hours. The size was so convenient, I found it easy to take with me wherever I went. The biggest problem was the limitation of ram, and when working with real business applications like Office, it would bog the machine down.

    Back to searching for a new machine. The goals were 13″ size screen. Some decent mid-range power, yet enough run time that I could go cordless without having to feel like I needed to plug in constantly. An important feature if you like to use the machine on plane trips.

    Enter the Alienware M11x. This machine was priced out of my initial pricepoint, so I did not catch the original release earlier this year when I was researching new machines. In my recent research, there really was little to challenge this machine. I think the ASUS ul30 series may be the closest, but still doesn’t offer the same video power.

    This machine is a bit heavier than my HP 311, so it isn’t quite as convenient to tote around, but it offers so much more power. A balance trade off that I’m willing to accept. The run time is even better than my HP 311 mini, although I would have liked to see a removeable battery. Neither the HP311 or this M11x has an optical drive, but I have several main machines, so this did not bother me one bit. I bought a LG GSA-E50L DVD USB powered burner that I keep in my backpack, but honestly, I’ve only used it a handful of occasions. The first time you pick up the tiny machine, you’ll notice the chassis is solid and the surface has a nice feel.

    This machine is more powerful than the full size notebook given to me by the company I work for. I just lock the other machine at my desk now and carry this as my portable. The Alienware lights don’t necessarily display a “business” attitude, but it can be quickly disabled. I kind of discounted the lighted keyboard, but it does come in very handy when working in dark situations, or late in the evening in bed.

    I splurged for the i7 processor and larger hard drive, but went with only 4GB of ram to avoid maxing out the price. The build of the laptop is very solid. The touchpad has a rough texture, and works better than the smooth surface of my hp311. The touchpad buttons depress very softly and have a nice feel. Only drawback is the size of the keys on the keyboard, but it is the tradeoff again in having such a small package.

    LCD screen has a slight glossy look, which is great in most situations, but can be problematic with glare in others. The screen does not seem to quite match my previous HP in color or brightness, but it is still very good.

    If you are really looking for a more complete gaming system, the Alienware M15x big brother may be a better choice, although at a very high price. Or if you are looking for a business class machine, I would suggest other options.

    The M11x offers a mix of performance that I find works great as a personal machine for fun, yet has enough power to be used for business. The size, battery run time, and the build quality is great for the business warrior on the go. Just remember to disable the glowing lights for work.

    
    
17. Jager
    Posted on September 22nd 2010, 3:46 pm

    I got this notebook with very high expactations, but I went dissapointed with its performance. I had a Dell XPS M12 before and its performance was even beter than the Alienware. It is still a very nice notebook, but it did not deliver what I expected from. I am sorry to send this not so good review, but it is the true…

    
    
18. Everitt
    Posted on September 23rd 2010, 3:55 am

    One reviewer mentioned the color the M11 came with, and I’m guessing he hasn’t had a chance to read the manual yet since every Alienware laptop can change the colors that glow on the keyboard, speakers, alien head, etc. The full spectrum is available through the command center and you can even set it to be a steady color, flash, or whatever you like

    So don’t worry about the color it “boots up” with, that’s just the color the guy who set it up chose and it’s easily changed

    
    
19. Dudek
    Posted on September 23rd 2010, 3:51 pm

    Well, first of all, this bag is HUGE. This bag will certainly fit more than one laptop. Depending on the size, id say you can probably fit in up to 4 laptops comfortably in here. The bag will get very heavy very fast if you own an Alienware laptop. Making it slightly difficult to carry. It has tons of pockets, it has good amounts of padding. The semi rigid front panel is very nice As is the checkpoint friendly compartment. The RF-shielded pocket is pretty much useless. It basically causes your phone to lose its signal which is bad, since the phone will try harder to find a signal and waste battery. Turning the phone off, or putting it in airplane mode does the exact same thing as the RF-Shielded pocket without wasting your battery. The branding on the bag is nice, not overdone. Its basically just enough to make it look like something different without making it look bad. The bags strap is pretty strong, but the padded slid-able thingy is a bit to narrow(Doesn’t cover a large enought portion of the strap). Its a small flaw but nothing major.

    Overall this bag is amazing. Id definitely recommend it to anyone who isn’t afraid of carrying something slightly heavy.

    
    
20. Hillman
    Posted on September 24th 2010, 3:20 am

    Awesome bag, Fits my Alienware laptop perfectly, had a hard time looking for one that fit a laptop that size, well now I found it. Big enough to carry all necessary Items needed and then some. An Also it looks very cool, enough said.