Alienware takes the Area-51 m15x lappy to Penryn town

The mothership has already started slapping Penryn chips in lappies, so it was only a matter of time before Alienware followed suit -- yep, here's the Area-51 m15x laptop, now with your choice of T- and X-series Core 2 Duo processors. Stick with the standard 2.5GHz T9300, upgrade to a 2.6GHz T9500 for $275, or throw caution (and $650) to the wind with the 2.8GHz X9000 Core 2 Extreme option. No word on whether that edge lighting is actually enabled on these bad boys, but hey -- you've still got those Penryn bragging rights, yeah?

Update: Alienware just told us that, as of February 8, all m15x laptops have the sidelights enabled -- rock on.

[Thanks, Alienwarez]

[pbase @ Feb 19th 2008 4:10PM]

It would have been nice if they had put the new chip into something more exciting than an econobox looking laptop…

[Ruben @ Feb 19th 2008 5:52PM]

What the hell do you want it to look like? Look at what it has inside. I think they cant really do any better, and the clean look of it is actually refreshing.

Maybe you want it to look like the MBA, and then you can enjoy carrying the video cards around attached to a dongle.

[pbase @ Feb 19th 2008 6:04PM]

What would I want it to look like? Well something like this would be nice:

http://laptoping.com/wp-content/compenion_laptop.jpg

Although it's just a concept.

and what's refreshing about its styling? It looks like just about every other average laptop on the market, so it's about as refreshing as a glass of water at a freshwater lake.

Haven't you heard? Aesthetics is a large part of marketing.

[Ruben @ Feb 19th 2008 6:09PM]

That would be nice, but the 8800GTX core is about as thick as that laptop is. I would love everything to look like something that is impossible now, but i live in reality.

[pbase @ Feb 19th 2008 6:26PM]

Agreed. But it was well within Alienware's means to make this laptop look a little more appealing. The new tech inside is deserving of a new look as well.

We're geeks, so we buy on specs. But for your average shopper, looks go a long way.

[ChrisG @ Feb 19th 2008 4:14PM]

i love alienware, but sometimes their laptops look bulky but i love how this one looks some what thinner than the usual ones.

[Richard @ Feb 19th 2008 4:25PM]

Now if only we could get word on the m17x... :(

[Brian @ Feb 19th 2008 4:27PM]

Ugh... I'll stick with the XPS, thank you.

That laptop is visually unappealing. Why settle for less when you can get the same configuration in a more managable and appeal case?

[mark wright @ Feb 19th 2008 4:42PM]

ROFL? XPS? ROFL!

[Zadillo @ Feb 19th 2008 5:28PM]

Dell doesn't offer a 15" XPS configuration with an 8800M GTX, SLI 8800M GTX, or even an 8700M. And frankly, no-one else is offering a 15" laptop with the CPU and GPU options that Alienware is. That is what makes the m15x unique and interesting.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Feb 19th 2008 5:50PM]

@ Brian; umm... how old are you? How in hell do a bunch of lights sticking out in all directions make the XPS case more appealing?

I mean yeah, back when I was like 12 I was going crazy over all these lights/light up fans etc... but right now its just looks... cheesy...

But w/ that said, neither Alienware, nor Voodoo, nor Dell XPS cases are what you may call an "appealing design". Better then average looking bricks? maybe... design? probably not...

[Brian @ Feb 19th 2008 6:23PM]

I was misinformed. I didn't know the m15x could be configured with a 8800M GTX.

But I disagree with the design comments. The slimming m1530's case has a much more asthetic appeal than this brick.

"umm... how old are you? How in hell do a bunch of lights sticking out in all directions make the XPS case more appealing?"

This alienware has MANY more lights than the m1330 or m1530, and has more lights than the m1730.

The comparable laptop (m1530) is NOT blingy, which is why it appeals to me. Shiny laptops are fingerprint magnets that blemish easily and won't standup for a year, all the while appearing to age two or three years old.

[Eric N. @ Feb 19th 2008 4:37PM]

Does this forecast upcoming MBP changes? If alienware is updating their laptops, could the next MBP be Penryn based?!

[Ruben @ Feb 19th 2008 5:50PM]

Where have you been? Everyone has been updating to Penryn for some time now. MBP "WILL" go to Penryn, but now they seem behind since they are not the first to do it. They are now in the same field as the PC world, which sees changes on a 4-6 month basis. Apple better keep up.

[Ernest Skocdopol @ Feb 19th 2008 4:59PM]

I need some schooling. Is Core 2 Extreme or Core 2 Duo just faster 2 core chips or is this a quad chip thingy?

[jc @ Feb 19th 2008 5:09PM]

Your a NOOB "THINGY"!!!! Try asking with your grown up voice.

[phanbouy @ Feb 19th 2008 5:13PM]

wrong thread?

[Jared @ Feb 19th 2008 5:29PM]

Does it play DOOM?

[witsend @ Feb 19th 2008 5:40PM]

Great comment. Thanks.

[Ruben @ Feb 19th 2008 6:16PM]

Intel chips with Quad attached to their name are quad-core chips. Duo is obviously dual-core. The extremes are generally the best of the bin CPU's that generally overclock well, have unlocked multipliers, and are often hyperthreaded (1 real core, 1 logical core, so 4 "logical" cores for a dual, and 8 for a quad).

Extremes are also extremely expensive, but they are tested to be the best. Low end Intel generally overclock extremely well, but its hit or miss whether you get a gem.

Oh, and Extremes are usually the fastest in the lineup.

[Ruben @ Feb 19th 2008 6:17PM]

Thanks engadget!

Thats for Ernest Skocdopol.

[John @ Feb 19th 2008 7:01PM]

A co-worker of mine got a $3500 Alienware and I must say, the performance is pretty decent, however the machine itself feels very cheap, very "plasticy." Very much like a Dell, not surprising since thats who owns them.

If I could get the build quality of a Lenovo, and the performance of an Alienware, I'd be sold.

[bob sakamano @ Feb 19th 2008 7:09PM]

I can always tell a Nilay posting, because he ends them in either "yeah?" or my favorite "eh".

[root.alt @ Feb 19th 2008 8:15PM]

Dude, your gettin a Dell.

[David @ Feb 19th 2008 9:00PM]

And I just bought one shipping out tomorrow! :( mustve gotten the last of the
non-penryn chips.

[mattk @ Feb 19th 2008 10:18PM]

Wow! Macbook's ugly cousin Crapbook!!!! I thought they canceled that. Oh well, now there's edge lighting just in case that usb powered toaster isn't draining your 4 cell battery quick enough. Sweet.

[bob @ Feb 19th 2008 10:33PM]

im sorry but id rather have a laptop with a graphics card rather than one thats thing for roughly the same price

[fade @ Feb 19th 2008 10:38PM]

I bought a alienware about 1 year ago. it looked great, cool box it came in and a little alien on it. The computer was a piece of crap. the worst computer I have ever owned and i have owned every brand out there. The screen started to fade and get pixels within 2 weeks, then it started getting bios errors and rebooting itself . I restored it back to original software and it got worse. I called there customer service and emailed them constantly about the warranty. all calls ignored and emails get a automated response. I had to replaced the whole chip drive myself and gave the computer to my nephew. and he
had multiple problems with it,plus the screen always faded and pixeled out. I have to say honestly that alienware computers should be avoided do not waste your money,they are the worst brandout there and customer service is non existant. get a mac if you can afford it. a used mac that has been dropped several times would be better than a alienware.

[Wine Country Mike @ Feb 20th 2008 2:38AM]

I was a skeptic of Alienware due to all of the horror stories I have heard about them, however I ran into somebody who actually had one and told me about his ownership experience. From that I have had my AW m5500 for two years now and it has never failed me. Their customer service has been superb, and I would buy another without question.

[edsplano @ Feb 20th 2008 10:54AM]

Ahmen Fade, I also got an Alienware M7700 laptop. Though I didn't have problems right away, they soon manifested. Mainboards and memory burning out, screen problems. Went through three motherboards before customer support told me I had to keep the system fans on ALL THE TIME! So i have to listen to a jet taking off when I use it.

Hence, I don't.

[ugg.tryptophan @ Feb 20th 2008 1:38PM]

I want to go to penryn town too.

[eliot1785 @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:03AM]

So where is the m17x? Why would Dell hurt the Alienware brand it just purchased by letting XPS one-up it with the M1730?