Alienware's surprise: the CrossFire X-enabled M17 gaming notebook

When it said evolutionary, it wasn't kidding around. Alienware has just taken the wraps off of a relatively uninspiring (or, unworthy of hype, we should say) new laptop: the M17. Not to be confused with the M17x, this 17-incher is the outfit's very first CrossFire X-enabled notebook, and those with the requisite coin can get one outfitted with a Core 2 Quad / Extreme CPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, twin ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 GPUs, a WXGA+ / WUXGA panel, an optional ATSC HDTV tuner, up to 640GB of HDD space in a RAID 0 array, a dual-layer DVD writer / optional Blu-ray reader, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, gigabit Ethernet and a facial recognition sensor. As with most of its siblings, this one puts a beating on the scales at 9.5-pounds, and we're certain you can deplete that 12-cell battery in no time flat. Granted, it does get going at "just" $1,399, but you can expect that figure to head far north when you add anything drool-worthy to the build sheet.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Jonathan Ace @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:09AM]

They need to update their outdated laptop case. Still thing it's a ugly laptop.

[avester @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:29AM]

It isn't, just that it doesn't have ALUMINIUM or SMOOTH PLASTIC with CURVED design, doesn't make it bad.

[StalematE @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:33AM]

it's ribbed for your pleasure.

[lawyer bird @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:15PM]

No, it's ugly. Sometimes I think the designers at Alienware consist of a few fourth graders who just watched Battlestar.

[xcrunk @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:11AM]

"Alienware has just taken the wraps off of a relatively uninspiring (or, unworthy of hype, we should say) new laptop: the M17"

Ouch! Truth hurts.

[Valicore @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:13AM]

Damn. 9.5 pounds? That's pushing it to call it "portable."

[Ray @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:02AM]

Besides it being fugly, its overweight. At this point its a semi portable pc rather than laptop... unless you have a really large lap

[StalematE @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:49AM]

@asg84 so you're saying you have to be fugly and overweight to own this?

[crescentdavid @ Nov 3rd 2008 12:47PM]

They have a commercial similar to Apple's ... showing how it fits inside of a family-size pizza box ... kind of.

[Viakenny @ Nov 3rd 2008 5:43PM]

remember, it's a high-end gaming notebook, not an entry-level netbook.

[y3k.nik @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:14AM]

It looks like a thinkpad from 1980s that a alien with flaming fingertips held from the screen and make hand prints, while flinging it on the other side of the room from being let down after a tease...

Good specs, but even for a gaming laptop, it looks wayyyy too big!

[Valicore @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:39AM]

It actually does remind me of my Dad's ThinkPad from the mid-90s lol.

[Vicada @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:16AM]

MacBook Air should be ashamed.

[takemetoyourtoaster @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:19AM]

can it not play crysis?

[htd @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:19AM]

I think this is still 'portable' but it is not a laptop/notebook any more, more like a portable gaming all in one computer, as it's probably too hot to put on a lap.

[Richard @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:32PM]

I have a Dell m1730 with dual cards and I can vouch for the heat. But that's ok... I didn't want kids anyway!

[Richard @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:32PM]

I have a Dell m1730 with dual cards and I can vouch for the heat. But that's ok... I didn't want kids anyway!

[aleksandarsachs @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:22AM]

... not much of a suprise ...

[joe jackson @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:29AM]

lol. I'll stick with my macbook pro, thxs.

[iEye @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:28AM]

Excelent decision.

nothing says "I'm a spoiled brat" more that a video game laptop shaped a like cheap bolt on kit car...

[Kelmon @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:58AM]

To be fair, the Alienware will be better for games and I'd expect nothing less. The MacBook Pro is a much more practical system, however, and has the added advantage that someone who knows understands design has had a role in it. I honestly can't think that anyone is going to look at this monstrosity of a laptop and think it looks good given the competition. Even Dell, who used to produce very uninspiring systems, can bang out something much better than this lump. It even makes my dad's no-name laptop laptop look stylish...

[hypergo @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:59AM]

and what? ... play solitaire... haha

[Mikeo @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:59AM]

@iEye

Nothing says scumbag more than that "i" prefix in front of a person's username.

[phanbouy @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:59AM]

looks like everyone has a case of the Mondays

[jorvay @ Nov 3rd 2008 1:59PM]

Seriously? MBP is all well and good, but comparing it to a behemoth gaming machine is hardly fair. Don't get me wrong, at 9.5lbs, I would personally want to be talking about two or three notebooks stacked on the scale at once, but I'm not a gamer. Anyone looking for a serious gaming laptop would laugh if you suggested they use an MBP or any other Apple laptops.

[Kelmon @ Nov 4th 2008 2:55AM]

@jorvay

Ah, but there's the rub. Is this really a "behemoth gaming machine"? Or is it simply a more powerful desktop replacement? Here's the thing - no gamer worth their salt would choose something like this over a desktop because the desktop will not only be cheaper, have a bigger display, better sound but be faster as well. What you have here is a very stupid laptop with no redeeming features. It simply is not a practical laptop. Yes, I would choose a MacBook Pro over this (personal choice) but feel free to choose an Windows alternative like a Dell XPS (i.e. a proper laptop). I'm sorry but this thing is neither portable nor can it be used away from a power point. If you need this level of power then buy a desktop instead.

Seriously, the only thing that this "laptop" is going to set on fire is your trousers.

[bob sakamano @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:30AM]

unfortunately the nerds who will be purchasing one of these don't have the muscle mass to carry these around

[Jinx @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:51AM]

If they buy 2 of them; it can be used as dumbbells rofl

[asg84 @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:31AM]

damn, this thing looks big and chubby,

can do little bit of weight lifting with this one

[Sheynk @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:39AM]

thats what she said

[Scotty Doo @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:31AM]

Alienware, sort out your old outdated designs. This brand has so much potential. :(

[Homer @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:32AM]

It maybe a powerful machine but its ugly as hell.
Just look at the back of that thing.

[Matthew @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:37AM]

Not to Alienware: As technology gets smaller and cheaper, computers get thinner over time, not thicker.

[Bandit5317 @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:25PM]

Then who is it to?

[David @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:37AM]

All I have to say, is that laptops/notebooks were never meant to be "gaming" computers...and for a good reason, if you're looking for a computer with these specs you're better off getting a desktop, even though you won't have "portability" (although I don't think 9.5 pounds it portable either) you'll have a computer you can upgrade yourself, easily.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 3rd 2008 1:26PM]

I concur. Maybe it's because I'm not a gamer, but I just don't get it. It is too big to be very convenient. Sure, the performance is great, but it's still a huge compromise because it's in a laptop shell. For real gaming I'd think you'd want an expandable desktop.

Wouldn't it be easier to make a small-ish desktop? Sure this system is more convenient for LAN parties, but these days with small form-factor computers and LCDs, it's not much work to toss an LCD, computer, keyboard and mouse in the trunk of your car.

[Chin-Poh @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:41AM]

I hear ATI has sent out the mobility HD4850/HD4870 cards to vendors, can't wait to see these in gaming notebooks!

[Diesel @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:45AM]

Totally called it.


Diesel @ Nov 3rd 2008 8:59AM

Yeah, Whatever happened to Alienware's Curved Display? Last year they said it was going to be out by spring 08 (on their forums at least)

Other than a new kind of display...I can't really think of anything that would get me pumped up from Alienware.

A new Desktop? Yippy freaking doodah, I can make whatever you built for less money with better cooling and wow factor.

A new laptop? Oh goody, I bet if I go to the gym every day for three weeks my back will be strong enough to carry it from my living room to my front door without causing massive internal bleeding of course by the time I make it to the front door I'll have to take it out of my bag, plug it in for 2 hours and then frantically rush to the nearest gas station to repeat the process in an futile attempt to actually get mobile computing out of my 10 pound $3000 paperweight.

A new netbook? Oh thank god, because what the world needs is a new way to implement an Atom/Via/Centrino 2 processor, integrated graphics, 2gb of ram and an SSD drive into a shell 13.3" by 1" that should have enough room to store my wallpapers and a david bowie album before filling up and subsequently exploding.

[Greg @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:34AM]

You are my new favorite commenter (other than myself).

[Dani Reader @ Nov 3rd 2008 12:12PM]

what exactly did you call? A heavy laptop? Alienware have always made very heavy laptops. I have the M9700 (omg single core was such a bad idea) and it weighs close to 10lb

[jerry @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:57AM]

Great! Gods forbid they spend any of their development and production capital to overhaul their lackluster customer / technical support or fix problems with their existing line of "portable" laptops that reduce them to non-functional and unsupported within a year.

[Scotty Doo @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:59AM]

+$300 for a Blu-ray drive on Alienware

+$150 for a blu-ray drive from Dell.

Kiss my love spuds Alienware....

[PuBeLeSs @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:21AM]

either way its Dells money.........

[Scotty Doo @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:27AM]

Which makes me even more amazed. What a rip. Whoever buys this is a proper mong.

[Greg @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:08AM]

Not an iPhone but it'll still sell ok. (oh wait, I need a new troll for this!)

Not a Macbook Pro but it'll still sell ok.

:punchballs:

[KilgoreTrout @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:21AM]

Who is the moron who's gonna buy this thing the very same day Intel presented its new i7/ Nehalem chips?

[Chin-Poh @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:26AM]

The new Core I7 processors are desktop only, the notebook equilvalents won't be out until later in 2009.

Though some gaming notebooks do use desktop processors like some Sagers, so we may see some I7 notebooks soon. : )

[Shinigami @ Nov 3rd 2008 12:28PM]

Introducing next-generation laptop - now with build-in heating station xD

[voodoo @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:29AM]

The base $1399 price comes with a HD3870 as standard. This is a very good GPU, should bench around 8500-9000 3DMark 06.

For someone looking to spend the minimum possible on a 17" gaming laptop, this is very competitively priced.

[aznofazns @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:36PM]

I think that 3dMark06 score is a bit overestimated. I'd guess it's more like 7500-8500 depending on what cpu the machine has.