Alienware Area-51 m15x release info revealed

Alienware made quite a splash when it announced its new Area-51 m15x and m17x laptops a couple of months back, but anyone actually planning on buying one has had to put up with quite a wait for any firm release details. That's now changed in a big way, however, as two of the m15x models are available to order immediately, with the third promised soon. Unfortunately for those looking for a bargain, the two available now are the higher end models, coming in at $2,099 and $2,699, with the "low-end" $1,499 model only listed as "coming soon." Of course, you can't expect everything to be let loose at once, and Alienware still seems to be dragging things out with the 17-inch model, although we wouldn't expect it to be too much longer before it makes itself known.

[Thanks, Dimitri, Ryan]

[mrlogical @ Jan 11th 2008 12:00PM]

I loved the idea of Alienware computers for a long time. Then I bought one. It went through about 5 different delays before finally getting to me about 3 months after I ordered it. It died the first day (ran for about 2 hours til the battery ran out--turns out the power circuitry on the motherboard was broken), so it took me another month to finally get it back. I had to send it in for repairs under warranty 5 times in one year (including one time because, after 6 weeks of waiting, they accidentally sent it back without having done anything to it). They sound like a good idea, and looking at these even made me think about it, for a split second, but then I remembered the heartache of my m5500. Stay away from these guys.

[Aaron @ Jan 11th 2008 2:31PM]

People have those same stories with every computer integrator on the planet. I could write a nice long paragraph about how my Alienware ran smoothly for 4 years before I resold it to buy a new system, but everyone likes to rag on Alienware so I wont bother.

[Aaron @ Jan 11th 2008 2:31PM]

People have those same stories with every computer integrator on the planet. I could write a nice long paragraph about how my Alienware ran smoothly for 4 years before I resold it to buy a new system, but everyone likes to rag on Alienware so I wont bother.

[mark wright @ Jan 14th 2008 8:35AM]

@Arron: So true.

@mrlogical: I've had two Alienware systems and BOTH are running strong, m7700 and m9700. The m7700 has been kicking it for 4 years and the m9700 for 2. I have never had to send either in for repair once.

@everyone: Highly recommended, what Arron says is so true. (Look at some Dell threads or Mac threads sometime)

[bob sakamano @ Jan 11th 2008 12:10PM]

is there computer company in the galaxy called "humanware" ?

[bob sakamano @ Jan 11th 2008 12:11PM]

is there a*

[Eddy @ Jan 11th 2008 2:01PM]

I once owned an Area-51 m5500. Used it as a desktop replacement. My gaming only extended to World of Warcraft and it handled it very well. Since then I resold the notebook and built my own desktop. I've been looking at Apple notebooks but can't justify the price for the performance they offer. Now there's another lappy to think about. Extreme edition procs and 8800 graphics! wtf.

[Marcin @ Jan 11th 2008 12:21PM]

wow that design looks amazing. very stylish.

[twist_serv @ Jan 11th 2008 12:40PM]

It's a shame that you can't built your own laptop buying separately the screen and the outer case as a combo.

[RyanTV @ Jan 11th 2008 12:44PM]

I think they have a winner with this one. Excellent design and features, and honestly, i don't think their price is too far out of line.

One of the better looking and spec'd PC notebooks out right now. Good job, Alienware.

[RyanTV @ Jan 11th 2008 12:45PM]

I think they have a winner with this one. Excellent design and features, and honestly, i don't think their price is too far out of line.

One of the better looking and spec'd PC notebooks out right now. Good job, Alienware.

[Richard @ Jan 11th 2008 12:51PM]

I can't wait to order my mine! The models they are offering now are only available in silver with the Ripley case. Nice, but I'd like to see how the Skullcap case looks.

[Marc @ Jan 11th 2008 2:05PM]

Now it seems we have a PC that compares to a MacBook Pro. I am eager to see benchmarks.

[Josh @ Jan 11th 2008 6:39PM]

Hopefully the top of this thing doesn't look all crappy and plastic - that is the one thing that gets me on alienware laptops, they always look so cheap and plastic-y, for that amount of money they should at least be made of better materials....

[Baizhan @ Jan 12th 2008 3:47AM]

I was going to buy one (m17x) but then Penryn mobile came. Both m15x and m17x don't have Penryn inside; at least yet.

Does anybody know when Alienware is going to put Penryns in its notebooks?

[Husher @ Jan 12th 2008 5:21PM]

i would rather stick with my asus g1.