Alienware's M17 gaming laptop reviewed: an interesting mix of good and bad

Alienware didn't do itself any favors by hyping up what wound up being a decidedly ho hum offering in the M17, but the open-minded critics over at CNET were able to sit the machine down for a tick and give it a workout. Reviewers tested a $1,999 configuration (it starts at $1,399) with twin ATI Radeon HD 3870 GPUs and a Core 2 Duo P8400, and overall, performance was "decent" for the price. Gaming scores were more than adequate and basic computing tasks were handled with ease, but a few niggles were still present. For instance, the smallish touch pad was blasted, and the inability to stay alive for over 1.5 hours during a video playback test was a real (albeit expected) downer. The biggest criticism, however, had nothing to do with performance; rather, critics lambasted the rig's old school design, and honestly, we find ourselves in complete agreement. Hit the read link for the full writeup.

[Zinger314 @ Nov 7th 2008 2:22AM]

Only Alienware could make an ugly laptop even uglier.

[Pretol @ Nov 7th 2008 4:19AM]

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[Ebzy @ Nov 7th 2008 8:26AM]

@Pretol

You've not made your point.

[Chin-Poh @ Nov 7th 2008 2:22AM]

This is NOT Alienware's own design. Its simply a rebranded OCZ Whitebook OCZNBIM17A which many other resellers are selling like RKComputer.net.

http://www.rkcomputer.net/rkcnotebooks/index.php?l=product_detail&p=103

[BB @ Nov 7th 2008 2:31AM]

thats why they sucks this time.

[digitallysick @ Nov 7th 2008 2:29AM]

1993 called they want they want that laptop back

[mousekopf @ Nov 7th 2008 4:36AM]

are you are you malfunctioning?

[BB @ Nov 7th 2008 2:32AM]

a 4850 can easily replace two 3870, how about 4850 x2? or 4830x2?

[Giroro @ Nov 7th 2008 2:43AM]

I don't think it would be that easy to fit a 4850 x2 into a laptop.

[Chin-Poh @ Nov 7th 2008 3:01AM]

I think the Mobility HD48XX have just been released to vendors to put into their notebooks and I think an MSI notebook will be one of the first to have the HD4850.

If the Alienware can fit 3870s in Crossfire, I'm sure it could do the same for the 4850 or 4870 in Crossfire, I think its impossible for a 15" but possible for a 17" notebook.

[Skor @ Nov 7th 2008 2:40AM]

I personally like the old-school design, but a premium laptop should not go for a low-key old-school look if you're paying a premium for high-grade stuff.

[Giroro @ Nov 7th 2008 2:42AM]

-10 points for using the word 'niggles'

WTF does that even mean?

[Paulmichael @ Nov 7th 2008 2:52AM]

Are you really so damn lazy?
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/niggle
Yes, that's right, you're going to have to CLICK a LINK and READ a page.

[icepop4who @ Nov 7th 2008 12:36PM]

"but a few niggles were still present"
I almost read that wrong.

[Ori Matalon @ Nov 7th 2008 2:57AM]

I've just finished watching a YouTube video about the new MacBook Pro (from Apple) - the Alienware laptop looks so bulky in comparison... design aside, looks like a decent gaming machine!

my comments at http://www.commentino.com/orim

[Chin-Poh @ Nov 7th 2008 3:00AM]

Of course the Alienware and other notebooks like this will be more bulky than the Macbook Pro, it has a much more powerful GPU, which creates much more heat and takes up more space, needing a larger chassis.

[Pretol @ Nov 7th 2008 4:17AM]

That's because you're an R-tard.

[Kelmon @ Nov 7th 2008 6:07AM]

Well, let's be fair, the MacBook Pro is paddling in a completely different market to the Alienware. However, that doesn't excuse the Alienware for such a piss poor design. My old Dell Latitude brick had better design ethics than this thing. If I'm going to pay obscene amounts of money for a computer then I want one that looks like an obscene amount of work went into it.

This might be the laptop equivalent of a Bugatti Veyron but that doesn't excuse it for looking like it was knocked out by Lada.

[Labrador @ Nov 7th 2008 3:31AM]

I always thought my laptop was mediocre, but no, it's an interesting mix of good and bad.

[Informed User @ Nov 7th 2008 3:57AM]

The keyboard is a strange design. I don't like the "new" keyboard layouts used by ASUS and now Alienware. Give me 100 keys and backlighting. This is a discrace.

[AnthonyTehPoner @ Nov 7th 2008 4:05AM]

Another useless laptop that ill ask Santa for.

[Calagan @ Nov 7th 2008 6:11AM]

I hope ATI XGP technology will eventually go mainstream, so that gamers wouldn't need absurly bulky laptop like these.

[Phoenix @ Nov 7th 2008 10:07AM]

Why not keep the m17x's styling? SO much better than this crap!

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 7th 2008 12:58PM]

I think it goes without saying that a premium quality, not to mention expensive, laptop such as this one from Alienware, should not have that simple of styling and design. Not a fan.

[Smiley @ Nov 7th 2008 7:54PM]

Looks a lot nicer than the plastic fantastic vomit coming from the likes of ASUS and HP lately ... just sayin.

[Someone @ Nov 10th 2008 4:09PM]

I honestly dont understand why your all roasting this design. Its not the newest but it honestly looks pretty damn good compared to the glossy plastic **** I've been seeing for gaming laptops. This one sticks to a simple design with the classic alienware "skull" design and a matte black paint (Looks much better then the glossy colors, trust me on that.). It also manages to be competitive in price to the standard OCZ version of the notebook, Which is suprising considering the assumed cost of the paint and other things they have added onto and adjusted.

My point: Quit whining about a notebook thats better then yours, because of this you feel the need to reason with yourself as to why its bad - the only thing in which you found sadly was the unusual design. Get a life.

[Gio Tron @ Nov 13th 2008 10:16AM]

How much does this monstrosity weight? And does it run on diesel fuel?

[breakerd @ Nov 14th 2008 1:36AM]

I agree with Someone. I have been looking for a affordable laptop that is packing something better then my Gateway with a Nvidia 8800m GTS. The m17 will be able to do it. I'd prefer the simple slick design. The m17's finishing on the exterior is actually very nice. I notice only Dell and Alienware feature stealth black matte finishing on the exterior, which prevents scratches and finger prints/smears. I would so prefer it over a glossy plastic exterior.

[Joel @ Dec 4th 2008 6:59PM]

you guys are sooo racist ..... it matters whats in the inside..... =)

[Jason @ Jan 9th 2009 4:12PM]

I dont understand why everyone thinks it looks so bad. I've always been a fan of there matte finish. I'm tired of hearing all these crappy reviews about how they think it looks crappy. Quit reviewing the appearance because anybody can look at the images and have there own personal opinion on what they like or dont like. Stick to reviewing the perfomance and layouts you noticed/liked. Were not blind.