Alienware M11x hands-on

So here it is, the M11x -- probably the closest you'll probably ever see Alienware get to a netbook, at least in size. You might actually be able to pull off some extended gaming sessions on the 11-inch screen -- it's certainly a crisp enough screen, from the time we spent with it -- but the real selling point here is plugging it up to an external monitor for your FPS / RTS / MMO needs and using it solo for productivity purposes. Of course it's a good bit heavier than other portables of the same size, but what do you expect with all it's trying to pack in?

Alienware M11x hands-on

[sgard Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:19PM]

How was the keyboard?

[rcappo Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:04PM]

@sgard

I like the way it looks and is much more functional than the one I have in low light working conditions.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:20PM]

I'll take two please.

[husher Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:15PM]

@(Unverified)
seconded.
when my acer dies ill be picking up one of these.

[pankomputerek Posted Jan 8th 2010 1:59PM]

@husher My acer died... Screen Has to be turned on every time I open it( I have to press 3 keys and move finger around the touch-pad).

[JXCGunrunna Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:20PM]

No specs Ross? Im hoping for an i5

[MowDownJoe Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:26PM]

@JXCGunrunna It's supposed to be a netbook... that can somehow have enough horsepower to play games.
*brain explodes from the contradiction*

[JeremyBenthem Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:45PM]

@MowDownJoe
it's a CULV and a GT 330M,
ever heard of older games, or lower settings, or games like torchlight and sf4 that aren't super heavy,
yeah put that brain back together

[iofthestorm Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:16PM]

@JXCGunrunna Hell, CULV isn't too shabby compared to Atom. If this is priced reasonably it might do well, but Asus already has a few laptops like this and I bet theirs are going to be cheaper than Alienware's. Still, nice concept, hope it catches on more.

[Freddie Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:33PM]

@iofthestorm
The only problem there is the M11x is the only alternative to the Asus UL30VT as no other laptops currently offer a CULV with discrete gfx.

[iluvms Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:02PM]

@JXCGunrunna

A quick google search for its specs reveal that it has some Core 2 Duo processor. Yay!

http://gadgetmix.com/index/m11x/

[reneeswifts Posted Jan 7th 2010 7:19PM]

@iluvms yes, but this is way more sweeter seeing other laptops with a specs like this fronting on the 1k+ USD price. all the while this laptop made a good rival with alienware m17x which cost more than 3k USD now this laptop selling for less than 1k? Sweetest. Details about alienware m17x: http://bit.ly/alienware-m11x-closest-competition

[Abrek Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:20PM]

My next notebook!

What about processor?

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:21PM]

Sweet concept, but what's the weight? That's the second part of mobility after size.

[Rollins Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:54PM]

@YpoCaramel Gizmodo says it's about 4 lbs. That's pretty hefty for an 11 incher, but I'm not terribly surprised.

[chispito Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:25PM]

@Rollins

Hmm. My old XPS M1210 weighs in at about 4.5 lb and it's too heavy to swing around in one hand (it's also too thick). I'd like to get my hands on this to see how it compares.

[raghavny80 Posted Jan 8th 2010 10:36AM]

@chispito You stole my words. I am looking for a replacement for my M1210.

[TareG Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:22PM]

Despite the enormous bezel, it actually looks much better up close. Hmmm....

Still, I think I'll wait for the same specs in a better looking, less expensive package.

[whereiswaldo7 Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:22PM]

still no word on the processor? :(

i'm still excited nonetheless. display port. hdmi.

usb 3.0 pretty please.

[phobos512 Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:53PM]

@whereiswaldo7

Ok so I see...

VGA
USB Always-On Power
2 USB
Ethernet
HDMI
Displayport
SD Card
Unknown - eSATA or Firewire? (to the right of the SD Card slot)
Unknown - Ports on back right near power connector - modem? Add'l USB?
2 3.5mm stereo outs
1 3.5mm mic in

[phobos512 Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:54PM]

@phobos512 And for the record when is Engadget going to start having multiple size images in their galleries like Autoblog? Would be nice when trying to figure out stuff like this lol...

[phobos512 Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:58PM]

@phobos512 M11X is up on Alienware's site...There are NO details on the system as yet (It's a sign-up for more info page).

http://www.alienware.com/microsite/m11x/m11x.aspx?source=ECH0023

Small port at the front right by the SD slot is Firewire...

Rear "ports" by power input are cooling vents.

The USB port by the VGA port that has a lightning bolt in the Engadget gallery doesn't have a lightning bolt in the Alienware gallery. Hm...

[iggyzizzle Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:05PM]

@whereiswaldo7 I would love to see USB 3.0.

Also, why the SU7300? Couldn't they put one of the i7 CULVs like the 620UM or 640UM, or even the Core i5 520UM? It seems like all of these would be a better choice than the SU7300 and would be about the same price (maybe?) from what I can tell.

[scolen2 Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:22PM]

It looks like Darth Vaders bathroom.

[jon Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:28PM]

@scolen2

I get the Darth Vader part, but you must spend time in some fucked up bathrooms.

[scolen2 Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:38PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXPrx5TbRdU

[jon Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:45PM]

@scolen2

My apologies, I guess the Hoff spends his time in the wrong bathrooms.

[toasty432 Posted Feb 14th 2010 7:18PM]

Excellent internals I really wish they would update the styling of the Alienware laptop line though it's ageing badly. They look like they were designed in a teenagers metal work school shop. Would be nice to have something a bit more stylish rather than something that looks like it should have been attached to the front end of a snow plow. Pity Dell could not have done this with the old xps line sure it was flashy but it at least looked cooler than this

[Abrek Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:24PM]

hope it's not too plastic...

[hawhaw7781 Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:44AM]

I hate plastic too

[va jj Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:25PM]

whats the resolution of the scree3n?

[grumpyOldMan Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:26PM]

Is it me or does it seem Alienware is missing the point of why netbooks are so popular. They're affordable and convenient for simple tasks like reading mail and surfing the net.

A gaming netbook is like a unicorn without the horn. It's just a horse. A horse named 'Bad Idea'.

[MrBridge Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:29PM]

@grumpyOldMan

Some people like to game some too. I don't really see a problem with this if they are able to bridge light gaming with portability for the 'road warriors'

[sgard Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:50PM]

@grumpyOldMan I think a lot of people have been waiting for a 13 inch or smaller laptop with a midrange graphics card. There has been a real gap in the market there, even though I would have thought this was was obvious niche.

[otarolgam Posted Jan 10th 2010 1:38AM]

@grumpyOldMan - Hey look! It's John C. Dvorak!

[TheLostSwede Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:31PM]

Except it's not a netbook, it's just an 11.6-inch CULV notebook with a graphics card in it, big frick'n deal...
Still, I'll have one if it's going free...

[creepin Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:58PM]

@TheLostSwede

how do you know that it's a CULV?

maybe it's running an i3, or i5, undeclocked to some extent?

i hope that's not just wishful thinking!

[andysexton Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:41PM]

Processor please? Two stories and no processor details. Even Alienware's site doesn't seem to want to give us that.

[FitFan Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:55PM]

It sounds interesting to me. A CULV that you can use for web browsing, document editing, etc. while you're in the airport or on the road. They you can run a cable to your hotel room television and do some gaming in the evenings.

Need specs of course.

[pinetheonly Posted Jan 7th 2010 1:58PM]

@FitFan

http://gizmodo.com/5442786/alienware-m11x-hands+on-fast-ride-in-a-short-machine

Gizmodo reports C2D

[FitFan Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:02PM]

@pinetheonly

Thanks!

[Zslap Posted Jan 7th 2010 2:45PM]

wait a second....what?

[wesley anthony Posted Jan 7th 2010 3:57PM]

I need tech specs! Bad! Can't wait to see

[Freddie Posted Jan 7th 2010 4:19PM]

This laptop is ideal for someone who:

# Travels around a lot
# Studies engineering
# Writes up loads of reports
# Travels
# Yet, runs CFD models (COMSOL) and CAD.

This isn't just a netbook on amphetamines.

[Vdek Posted Jan 8th 2010 12:56PM]

@Freddie
The market for people who run CFD models on laptops is exceedingly small :P

[ahanslot Posted Jan 7th 2010 5:49PM]

what type of optical drive does it have dvd.rw etc and what size hard drive??

[500pts Posted Jan 7th 2010 7:29PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW7cog1WTGw

mw2 runs well, couldnt do that on a culv

[Peytral Posted Jan 8th 2010 3:32PM]

@500pts
yes you can, asus UL30VT can run MW2 on a CULV and 210M

[INsano Posted Jan 8th 2010 4:08PM]

If we see USB 3.0, a solid Core2 Duo and a primary drive SSD option we'll talk Dell.

Anyone have any idea how powerful the Nvidia chip is in this? Googled it but there wasn't anything about it, other than the fact it's in this little notebook. The wiki on Nvidia's chips has a bunch of question marks for the 300m series...

[artshark Posted Jan 8th 2010 5:08PM]

think i found my next computer