Alienware M17x r3 for College ?

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum.

I am in college right now and was planning on buying a new laptop. I looked at the alienware m17x r3 and really like it. I am not a hardcore gamer, i just need laptop for normal college stuff.
I just like to know

That is it a good laptop for College and daily use ?
Is it really heavy to carry around ?

Thanks for the help !

 

IMO It is quite heavy to carry around compared to other 'casual' laptops. Not really something most people would carry around in their bags all day. The laptop on its own weighs 4.26Kg
If you are just going to use the laptop for work and no play, then you will really be wasting money paying for hardware you are not going to use lol. Kind of like buying an expensive racing car but only using it to go to the shops..

The laptop can do anything you want, games and work. But its up to you to decide how to use it.

 

That is it a good laptop for College and daily use ?
I use mine daily with no issues. It is heavy and large so a good backpack is a plus. There are times the size gets annoying but this system can work on campus perfectly based on the users needs.

Is it really heavy to carry around ?
Carry mine around daily with no issue. I think over time you get use to the size.

You say your not a hardcore gaming so this laptop may not be best. That being said I would be classified as a light gamer and love this system. Build quality, high end GPU/CPU, great multimedia (blu-ray/1080p), can fit two large HDD's for storage, 4 hours + unplugged battery life, and its unique. It has many more qualities than just gaming going for it.

 

It's the best 17" laptop out there. It has a weight to match the performance. I personally wouldn't want to lug it around a campus, but that's just me. jwolf doesn't seem to mind

Is there a reason why you like the M17x versus the smaller form factor AW systems like the M14x?

 

the m17x-r3 weighs more than most normal laptops, buts the weight isn't really an issue if you have a good backpack

The m17x is a desktop replacement designed for gaming and/or resource heavy tasks such as video rendering. I'd say if you don't like to game, get a dell XPS 15 or 17 as they are cheaper and lighter, but also pack a bit of power if you ever need it

 

i use it for college but i am also a gamer. I would highly recommend a good bag or backpack. I use the one in my sig...Everki. It works well. But if i could go back id probably get a backpack...My shoulders hurt -_-

 

If it's just for "college and daily use" you can definitely go for something easier on your wallet. The XPS line that bigtonyman mentioned would be a good choice.
Then again if you can afford the R3 and you like it, by all means! It will be able to handle pretty much anything "college and daily use" can throw at it.

 

even if you are the casual gamer (like I am) just buy a laptop with a good GPU (why you are not considering m11x with an SSD and 2gb GT 540m?) otherwise you will come to regret it when it is not able to run anything next year..

 

Hello!

If you're looking at an college-PC, a PC to carry around, and you're not supposed to do any hardcore gaming, DO NOT buy the M17x.

When i bought mine two years ago, i had the intention to use it as an school PC as-well as an LAN(gaming) and home-gaming PC.

I ended up never carrying the M17x with me.. Its too heavy, big, bad battery-lifetime and it gives a load of attention = people always want to use it, as well as some retards will try to steal it..

I know that a load of people are going to kill me for saying this, but for an college-PC, i would suggest an MacBook or an MacBook Pro. It gives you good performance, OS X is "too simple" and it has a good battery capacity, combined with an design that doesn't freak people out wanting to use it. At the same time, i must say that the battery-lifetime for it is overwhelmingly good. I've poured half a liter of vodka on it, i've used it every day at school for soon two years, and it still gives you 5 hrs of mobile use. (With WIFI and OK screenlight in Bootcamp, running Windows 7).

Thats my advice, at least..


Edit :
Of course, if you're going to do gaming, you can just skip thinking about the MacBooks.


Razer Gaming is soon releasing a new, compact and portable gaming-laptop,
check out this link;
http://www.razerzone.com/blade


That should be an good alternative..

- Scott.

 

heard that thing is gonna be expensive for its power ($2800 was the last price i heard). Some of the prototypes got stolen from Razer's lab here is the source

 

ya, but for $2800 you get the nvidia gt555 and a dual core processor? Is this for real? and no SSD?

Forget this...its a paper weight with a nice keyboard

 

I carry mine in a swissgear Pegasus. I just got done doing that up and down hills in the third world for 6 months while my wife was in school down there. The laptop, the 7 lbs bag, plus misc stuff in the bag meant it usually hovered around 25 lbs. So ask yourself if you have the legs, feet, and back to handle that extra weight every time you leave the house. Walking up hills in the tropics with 25+ on my back meant the laptop was gradually traded for the ipad on most days. If you'll be driving everywhere and you'll have tons of desk space it's gonna be nice having that large screen to spread thing out on and pwn noobs with when you have time. If not get an M14 or look at a 15 inch Sager/Clevo. All the power and weight savings on not just the machine but the luggage. Good luck and as Twain said "never let school interfere with your education".

 

That UI panel is pretty slick. It looks like they're teaching Apple how to build macbooks for gamers. Somebody is looking for a buy out Good luck to Razer on that. For 2800 I need more than 850 worth of components and a glass touch pad. But the days of people who know how to build PCs and understand what things cost are dwindling. The days of the "do I have enough room on my credit card and is it shiny enough" are almost totally upon us.

 

what i really dont get is what is that trackpad is for because who plays games on a trackpad.

 

They had to justify charging $2800 lol

 

I don't understand how anyone can complain about carrying extra 10-15 pounds around in your backpack. Seriously 10-15 pounds is nothing. Its not like your hiking up mountains and across streams.

Anyone ever watched biggest loser where they carry all they're lost weight in a golf bag? If your not a stick figure then carrying this extra weight isn't going to be an issue.

 

carrying mine to department all the time! with a slim laptop bag, it feels like nothing (seriously)

 

For the record I was actually hauling it up hills and over TWO rivers every day. It was crazy. But it adds up on your feet hauling all that stuff over a few months. I'm 6ft 175lbs and in pretty good shape but I can understand wanting to factor in the weight. You're right though man, if it's short trips in the air conditioned western world enjoy the walk and free exercise.

 

I really don't think an m17x would be good for taking to class. Heavier than it needs to be, and too much power for taking notes lol. That Doesn't mean you shouldn't get it, its a great machine. I suggest you get it if you really want it, and get a crappy netbook for 200 or whatever else for cheap to take notes on.

But it kind of depends on what kind of gamer you are. If you're a light-moderate gamer, consider the m14x. That's what I did. Although I don't take it to class, it has a great keyboard, only 6.5 pounds, probably 3-4 hours of battery life, and can still game really good. I get 60-100 FPS on bc2 maxed out via a small gpu overclock.

 

I had a toshiba with geforce 4 when I went to college.

5.5 pounds still felt annoying to take to class.

 

I refuse to believe that the Razer will cost that much. If it happens to be the case, then the laptop has allready lost its title of being the first mobile gaming laptop. (Because, for that price vs. performance, its actually "The worlds mot expensive piece of s.." instead.)


Rumours will be rumours

- Scott.

 

Well I suppose you get used to it. I only carry mine around university rarely so it does feel a bit of an effort on the days I do take it with me. But if you take it out everyday you get get used to the weight I suppose. And it probably keeps you in good shape too

 

Get the m17x R3. I've had mine since March/April, and I'm in grad school and take it with me everywhere I go. I'm also 5'4" and not thick/macho, and I don't find it troublesome. Get a good backpack like a Brenthaven or Astro Scout and you'll be good to go.

JOIN USSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

P.S. someone's gotta edit this post for my terrible grammar. LOL

 

NIIIIIIIIICEEE advice THANKS! I was just looking for a better backpack

 

Dookie, quick question ( / hijacking thread ) I am looking for a slim bag (not the biggest fan of juggernaut sized bags), can you offer me some, I just checked the bags you wrote,

PROSTYLE SLIMPACK - BLACK/WHITE

does this come for 17"?

 

Not sure if the Slimpack fits. I have the Prostyle BP-XF, which is as small as it gets in terms of padding+enough storage space for stationary, a/c adapter, a few textbooks, a notebook, a water bottle, and the R3. Pictures of the backpack are in my sig.

 

Thanks Dookie! nice pics, gave me an idea, however I am clueless about what is going on at picture 13? it is a separable part?

 

That's the "airport friendly" feature. The backpack basically splits into two for easy fitting into metal detector/xray thing.

 

I would recommend getting something smaller...m14x maybe...if it's just for class and notes.

I mean the opposite would be someone asking if they should buy a MacBook Air for playing BF3 at 1900x1200 so they could get 60+ fps. Just not really the right approach, however, a lower powered Alienware could very easily accomplish the task for less money, longer battery life, fits on more desks, fits in smaller spaces, etc.

 

Get the R3. Quit being a wussy. Also, isnt the 17x the only one that's "upgradeable" ?

 

id agree with this. I had the m14x. But when the new one comes out it will be completely obsolete. At least with the R3 you can always upgrade the gpu as new ones come out . next year is this monster game comes out and your r3 cant play it, upgrade your gpu. if you had the m14x, your out of luck. Now i have an m17x and im very happy with it. over all just feels like a better machine. Makes less compromises, and doesnt feel like half alienware. Im not sure how someone got 60- 100 fps in BC2, with a max overclock i barely got 30

 

if you are looking into buying the M14x, I'd Say wait until the next revision. Right now dell engineering is having to scramble and attempt to fix heating issues. The i-7's get to to hot and some people are getting 90-100C on the CPU . the i-5 runs a lot cooler, and plays games just as well ftm, So id say if you Really want the m14x go with the i-5

 

Haha, you tell him Dookie!

But seriously, I haven't seen an M17xR3 in the wild but going by my R2, you'd have to be pretty soild to lug it around with you all day. I'm sure a good backpack would help though.

 

what you talking about? ten lbs is nothing

 

Maybe for you. I've still got a long way to go before I get to that stage

But in that case... Challenge accepted!

 

lol i was just messing with ya its definitely got some heft, but the power i have access to on the go is amazing

 

Buying an M17x R3 was probably the best $2000 I have spent, and is certainly one of the best electronics purchases I've made. I don't typically carry my laptop to class with me (I prefer taking notes on paper), however having an SSD/HDD hybrid setup with my OS and Office on the SSD and other files on the HDD has in and of itself been a buge bonus for my ability to get work done. As an IT Management major an ND, I have to do a lot of work on my M17x and I really appreciate the extra desktop area and power. Nothing beats getting all your schoolwork work done and then firing up Metro 2033 or Skyrim while sitting on the couch. I absolutely love my M17x for both school and play. The size is large, but definitely manageable and well worth it considering the power that these machines offer.

I also like that my Alienware is so capable and good looking, all while being cheaper than the MBPs that some people tote around.

As a sidenote, outside of the M18x, there simply isn't another laptop that offers the speaker quality that the M17x R3 offers. This doesn't get mentioned very often, but its nice while listening to tunes and working on stuff.