We're still not sure where
Alienware gets off calling this thing "all powerful" -- where do you go from there? -- but we certainly like what's under the hood. This 17-inch M17x desktop replacement, which is due for E3 next week, has started cropping up early and we've gotten a quick look at one in the flesh. It weighs in at 11.5 pounds, and packed to the gills it can handle dual GeForce NVIDIA GTX 280M GPUs, an Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-core processor some fancy overclocking options, and up to 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM. There's also the lovable GeForce 9400M integrated graphics with HybridPower switching for when you want to turn things down a notch and write a nice, long letter to your mother while milking the overtaxed nine-cell battery for all it's worth. Outside the raw horsepower, Alienware's revamped its design, with a hefty aluminum chassis, user-configurable lighting accents and a great many radar-evading accoutrements -- oh, and facial recognition for login and timed auto-logout. The display is configurable up to 1920 x 1200, and the laptop can pump out a good many pixels to an external monitor as well -- we saw it powering
Dell's almost-ready 2880 x 900 curved display running Crysis with no problem. Other options include Blu-ray, up to 512GB of SSD storage in the dual drive bays, and perhaps best of all: a $1,799 starting price, which includes a GeForce GTX 260M GPU to get your feet wet.
We got to play with the laptop a bit at a recent event, and were seriously impressed with the look and feel of the thing -- somewhat of a rarity in the over-plasticized gaming space. As we mentioned, Crysis ran fine, and while the hardcore gamer-on-the-go with endless supplies of cash might be a bit of a rare breed these days, at least they haven't been forgotten... though they
are in store for some serious back problems in later life.
posted May 30th 2009 2:39PM
thats not a laptop
Yes it is.
WTF? I replied to Steven's comment and it put's me under, ugh, paul.. But not only does it make it seem like I replied to paul, it puts me at the top of his replies. The comments aren't even in chronological order anymore!! Is AOL SO broke that they can't spare $18 an hour for an hour of IT work?
you right..
its a desktop replacement..
......space station?
Forget about the laptop, I want that monitor!!!
It's a space station.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Tr9k94uQ8
http://cnettv.cnet.com/alienware-area-51-m17x/9742-1_53-50003856.html
better quality
This video is for the old M17x, not the new one
thats why it was added this month?
on youtube anyways
yeah, says top configuration is 2 9800 GTs? it's the old one.
well thanks for not flipping out on me like the people on youtube would
the old in the video didn't actually look to bad, like he says they aren't trying to make something so dramatic, the new m17x way over does the "gaming laptop" look
I love the fact that it's sitting right next to a Mini 10... LOL
Where's the right click on the track pad? Who do they think they are, Apple? And why is the track pad so far to the left?
because it lines up with the keyboard. notice the numeric pad on the right.
Because trackpads are below the spacebar?
The numberpad at the right offsets it.
Looks like a rebadged clevo to me though.
http://www.clevo.com.tw/en/products/prodinfo.asp?productid=19
Have you been living under a rock? Basically every new laptop has the trackpad near the left of the laptop.
additionally, if you look at the pictures engadget posted you will see one with a trackpad closeup and there is just 1 key but with a thin divider that seems to imply that the button will swivel based on which side you press, thereby giving you the right and left click buttons. But let's be honest here, you probably won't be using the trackpad to play games am I right?
Whatever the reason, I don't think that track pad is going to work out for most people, unless you're left handed.
Paul, using a Trackpad in games don't work out for most - if not all - people.
When did I say something about games?
Paul, it's an Alienware. It's made for games. Your lack of knowledge is an embarrassment to your community.
"Paul, it's an Alienware. It's made for games."
And it runs Windows. Windows is mainly used for games. Yet, Macs are toys.
The left shifted trackpad bothers me, too. I don't want a trackpad directly below the space bar, i want a trackpad I can access easily with my right hand. I suppose the thinking is not to place it where your palm might rest, but I still think it would be annoying.
@chispito
Why WOULDN'T you be able to access it easily with your right hand? The whole point is that, if you're using the touchpad, then you're not using a mouse. Your hands are on the keyboard 90% of the time, and the numeric pad only 10%. So they've placed it exactly where it is MOST EASILY access by your right hand. You're just uncomfortable with the position probably because you've never owned a laptop that had a numeric keypad, but it is in exactly the same position as every laptop you've owned, relative to the keyboard.
that monitor is sick
I like the laptop more. Looks like they did some F-22 Raptor styling
Yeah but can it run...
Oh wait, it can...
SMACK!!!!!
One thing I've never liked about these Alienware laptops: The keyboard. The ugly white strip around each key. Is it for backlighting? I like Apple's style on that, just flood it out the sides of the keys.
Alienwares and Zunes are starting to look nice. What is this world coming to?
It looks god-awful wtf?
Zunes, i agree....
but alienware? wtf are you smoking?
Oh good, they're going to be able to sell 5 of them instead of the original three...
is it me or does this thing look like an old 80's camero or firebird hood when its closed lol i still like it though. i like to mod it all out with a nightrider paintjob.
itd also have to have the K.I.T. lighting sceam
LONG LIVE THE DESKTOP FOR GAMING
yes ppl I hate fanboys but when it comes to gaming I need a desktop not this lugnut
yeah i need a desktop as well but my need to be able to take my computer with me outweighs that one.
ehh... Laptops for gaming are overpriced, underpowered, and not upgradeable... having said that, I just replaced my borked P4 desktop with an Asus laptop, it plays Crysis on high, and when I game with it, it's very much like a desktop. I'm even thinking of getting a new monitor and what not. Just use it as if it were a desktop when I'm at home, but have the ability to bring it to a buddy's house or work.
I think both have their ups and downs.
I think "all powerful" is pretty fitting if it can run Crysis on that big nasty display
This is a real gaming laptop or desknote, whatever you want to use - it's mobile, and that preferable to taking full sized liquid cooled gaming machines to lan parties.
And back pains? Back pains are caused by lugging 30lb tower computers and 10 lb LCDs to your vehicle to go to a friend's lan party.
At the worst, all you have is this laptop, your 24 inch screen and your G19 keyboard and a mouse and you're good to go - hardly backbreaking.
If only Apple were releasing a 17" MBP with this SLI GPU horsepower... I'd buy two. But this Alienware beast just for gaming ?! Nah...
Haa apple is worthless dude, since when can anyone afford 2 GOOD MAC'S ?? one of those with literally half the power of this thing is and costs just as much. besides its not just for gaming, its a powerhouse machine that can do anything you want it too. Don't be another moron tricked into thinking if your doing any photo editing or 3d design you need a mac.
Come on, who could resist 8gb of ddr3 ? that's something u won't see in the apple store.
uh, the 17" MBP supports 8GB of DDR3. Only 1066, but it does support 8 GB...
For the low, low price of another $1,000 upgrade
quad core mbp 17, please.
If you're doing 3D, any 3D, you're definitely NOT doing it on a Mac! Too underpowered, too expensive and worst of all, too incompatible!
Btw: 3D nowdays pretty much requires 64bit computing... so... there ya go...