Am i crazy for getting the Alienware M17xR3 for college

I start college as an undergrad this fall. Do you guys think that I am crazy for getting an alienware for college. I had already ordered my m17xR3 but due to the sandy bridge fault it is delayed and now I am having second thoughts. Is it too big for college? I wanted to know from sum1 who uses one in college. Do you have any alternatives then please suggest.
I don't think the m11x will last me thru all 4 years of college and the m15x has bad battery life. The m17xR3 seems perfect but for the mammoth size.
I am also considering the Asus G53SW which will come out in April according to xoticpc. But dimensions wise it does not seem much smaller than the alienware but a friend tells rhat it feels much less bulkier in comparison. Is that true.
Or should I just completely foret about alienware and go with XPS 15 with i72720M and the Nvidia gt540M. Will that be enough for playing the latest games. I do not want to play on lower settings but I guess I can compromise. My dad has the XPS 14 and I absolutely love it. The only problem is that it won't be able to play the latest games at higher settings.
I probably won't play a lot of games at college but will play during the vacations and stuff. I live in India and am going to college in the US. I will be staying at my brothers house during vacations, so I cannot get a desktop coz u will have nowhere to keep it and getting a desktop to college is not really an option. So basically the laptop will be my primary and only computer.
NOTE: it would really be helpful if someone posted pictures of the M17xR3 with the Dell XPS14 or 15 or even the studio XPS 16(the laptop I currently own) so that I get an idea of how big the laptop is(I have never really seen an alienware in person since no one I know actually has one). Even a picture of the m17x next to any other mainstream laptop would be really helpful. I really tried searching the Internet but I could not fond one. So owners of the m17xr3 or even r2 could u please post a picture of it next to another laptop for size conparision. Thanks

 

just a heads up, i do not own an r3, but think about it logically:

first, this is a pretty big laptop were talking about, and many have called it a desktop replacement. with that being said, if the m15x has bad battery life problems, do you think the m17x will have better battery life..? i highly doubt that simply because it wasnt made for that type of stuff, meaning, the m17x is meant for gaming and as such, it requires some top end specs, thus, it is not geared towards power saving, hauling around, etc etc. usually something that outputs alot, requires alot of input (power) as well.

what im saying is this, on lowest settings of everything and powersave all that junk on, you'll prolly only get about 2 to 2.5 hours of battery life.
now, am i for certain? no, but judging on these other machines (based of m17x r2), not much will change in respect to power saving. so for college classes and such, not the best choice, unless u can be plugged into the wall the whole time.

hope this helps

 

SB is a lot more efficent than the last core i series of CPUs, it only has one GPU too.

My bet is a much longer battery life. 3-4 hours at a guess.

 

Demons, don't spread bad info.

r3 gets around 5 on the IGP.

Hawk, look at the review threads of several posters. Dr. J, usshellfire, DaneGRClose, Mandrake all come to mind.

Their threads will give you the best info on the r3.

 

I wouldn't get it for college unless you for some reason have to have the 17" screen size or are doing something computer related that requires the additional power and/or screen size. It may be a lot friendlier than most 17" notebooks on weight and battery life but it's still not something I would personally pack around between classes. I would go with a 13-15" notebook with a good CPU and decent GPU. You may even want to consider going with something like an m11x for classes and a DTR or actual desktop for at home for power. Just my 2 cents as an R3 owner.

 

Thanks but I do know that te m17xr3 has good battery life but I wanted to know about its size and portability. I have read all reviews by users here but none of them talk about portability but then I guess if you are buying an alienware portability should not be a concern but in my case it is a big concern. That is why I was hoping to find out if anyone does use the m17xr3 or even R2 in college.

 

Thanks for Ur advice. I am not crazy about the 17 inch screen but I have not found any other gaming laptop that fits my needs. Any suggestions are welcome.
I even posted this request on Ur Thread that i was hoping if u could post a picture of Ur m17x next to Ur XPS 14. it would really be helpful. Thanks

 

Check the other thread for your answer

 

Maybe the clevo P150 hm it is smaller and can be configured with the fastest stuff out there. I think i read it is like 7 lbs, but lacks some of the neat stuff alienware offers ie. pretty lights......check the sager/clevo forums for reviews and such

Just not as sexy as alienware, but very practical

 

For school use, I would recommend a tablet computer such as Lenovo X201 tablet or HP tm2t. With OneNote 2010, you'll have the best note taking computer for your studies...

The M17x is big and heavy so you would have to treat your backpack with great care as any drop could potentially damage your computer.

 

Hawk, we have both the sxps 1645 and the r3s.

The r3s make the 1645 seem portable. The r3s are moveable.

Honestly we play the same games on both and don't notice a Hugh difference, even though the benchmarks are 7k v. 14k in 3dmark06. Granted my 1645 has an SSD and rgb screen mot found in our r3s but it's got a shorter lifespan toward future games.

I'd bring my 1645 to college and bank the money for a year. The r3 is sexy and might get you laid, but it's not freshman dorm portable and would be a big theft magnet.

 

with AMD GPUs yes; NVIDIA + Optimus...4 hrs max.

 

Confounded with that optimus stat.

I'd imagine I could get nearly 3.5 hrs without optimus if I tweaked to the max ( min really). Just over 3 hrs. With powersaver and brightness only turned down on our systems. Funny there is no battery benchmark I know of?

 

Thnx DaneGRClose. I actually dont think it is significantly thicker or longer than the xps 15 but it seems to be pretty wide.
I was actually interested I'm clevo/sager at first but disappointed to find out that it was built ou of plastic and the looks seemed a bit bland. I think the XOS 15 would be better than the sagerNP5160 which was the one I was considering. The P150 hm does not have switchable graphics so battery life would be a concern.
It has basically come down to the M17xR3 vs XPS 15. after checking out DaneGRClose's pics I think the size difference b/w the XPS 15 and the M17x would not be that much apart from the width.
At times I think I should just go with the XPS 15 as it offers the best of both worlds(portability and performance$") but when I think of the alienware I just can't but think "its so freakin awesome".

 

Thnx Dr. J. But getting my studio xps to school is not really a good option coz i dropped it and the body is cracked. Also the speakers no longer work, have to plug in earphones. Even the screen stops working at times. The warranty has been over for more than an year.
I loved that laptop would have bought the exact same one with newer and better specs but sadly it has been discontinued and I am not a big fan of the new XPS 15s design, but I guess that is seeming like my only option now.

 

It really depends how much you plan on using your laptop. As a college student also, I know your dilema (but don't have anywhere near as nice a laptop). Most of the time I just left my laptop in my dorm on my desk. I occasionally took it to class for notes, and then in a backpack it wasnt much hassle. Mine was a 15in though. If you plan on using it in all your classes, and are attending a big state school, definitely xps15. Width does matter trying to squeeze it in a backpack or carrying it around.

On the other hand, if you attend a smaller university/college then it would be practical.

Personally I say m17x r3 because its awesome and I plan on getting one myself.

 

XPS 15 vs. M17x-r3 (have both):
-r3: much heavier
-r3: wider
-r3: fans are louder
-xps: Cold (aluminum). If you take it to class on a cold day, your hands/wrists will be cold for the first 5mins of use.
-xps: much more portable overall

Also, r3 is very flashy. Peoples can be judgmental, even for something as insignificant as a laptop (good or bad, but I would say generally negative unless you surround yourself with PCgamers/hardware enthusiasts). Does this matter to you? Co-workers call my r3 the red glowstick rave laptop, which is good for a laugh on long days.

 

no.

i know of several that will be purchasing these systems at relaunch to be used as their sole daily grind machines, simply based off of the 'sweet spot' balance between performance/battery/quality/size (the unit is almost identical in footprint to the current M15x) alone - and a few of those are in fact seniors in college...

perhaps this review might help you to formulate your decision?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...eview-laptop-mag-2820qm-6970m-1080p-60hz.html

in the end, do what works for you - but you're most definitely not "crazy" for considering the M17x R3 as an option!

 

The fact that the alienware is flashy also concerns me. But I ordered the Black version which is less loud than the nebula red. Also switching off alienFX will help me. So overall it won't be that flashy but still a size such as it's would attract attention.
But when I think about it such a machine would look weird in class. I am getting more and more confused

 

my bad, i didnt mean to spread false info, lol, thats why i first stated i do not own an r3, and, take it in a logical sense. but if gaming is something you would want to do, then yes totally. but i dont think, that it would fit the case of using it for classes and such, but thats my own opinion,

 

I guess you are right I probably will be using my laptop a lot and the XPS 15 seems more practical.
My mind says that I should get the XPS 15 but my heart and the gamer part of my mind tells me to stick with the alienware

 

Still 90m to 2hr higher than the person I quoted was saying.

 

well...i figured i should answer as i currently am an r2 owner and am in university...

This laptop is huge, weighs a ton...and is the biggest one i have ever seen with my own eyes... is it practical? well, maybe not entirely... but i love it.

It all comes down to what YOU want... i personally was really worried about the huge form factor of this laptop because i move around with it alot.. whether it be to dj or to go to school... and honestly, if you have a good bag for it, it's not that big of a deal...

As you said your getting or thinking of getting the r3, well its much lighter (like 5 pounds lighter), thinner almost by half an inch, and smaller in general than the r2... with 5+ battery life with the integrated graphics in SB... so to me... if you are a gamer, love powerful laptops, love 17" screens for a better viewing experience, and will not have a powerful desktop to fall back on... then I would highly suggest you get the r3.

My r2 isn't that hard to lug around, but just make sure you get a backpack and not a messenger bag cuz it will be a drag carrying it on one shoulder for long periods of time. Also on days i bring my laptop, i don't bring any of my books...or if i do.. only one or two. This is something to consider... because if you are one of the people who always carries your books around, then dont get the r3 and get a netbook! cuz many books + r3 = Hunchback of Notre dame!!! Lol... Battery life isn't a problem either, cuz even at school (well at least mine) there's almost more outlets than seats to plug in your laptop... so im honestly never ever on battery...

But, if you would like a much smaller laptop that won't get the whole class' attention when you pull it out of your bag... i'd say to get something else... it all comes down to how much you value lightweight, thin/portable laptops.

And if you want to go small, and stay alienware... then get the m11x. it is by no way a weak contender and WILL last you 4 years of college.... get the i7 version... slap in an ssd, and your set! it can play most games half decently also... just dont think your going to max out settings...

 

+1 well said (especially the M11x R2 as a smaller alternative! )

 

For college, get as small as possible. You wont regret it, that's why. Depends on what your needs are though, of course.

For example: if you play SC2, then get Envy 14 or 3820TG. If you play fps games, then G53/m15/m17. If just notetaking, then m11x.

Don't forget to post in the WNSIB section.

 

I am - but im majoring in CS so I need the 17" screen for programming and stuff and I won't have a desktop with me.

 

I carry my R2 everyday for college and i have no problems. It does everything i want it to do and i dont use the battery very often so its not an issue for me. My college is on the side of a mountain to, so im humping it up and down hills all day and it does not bother me and im not a very big person with not alot if muscle mass eithier The only thing that bothers me is that its a thick laptop and limits the space in my backpack.

 

Hmm, as far as the college thing, you definitely need a powerful machine for the more technical majors (probably good software too), and you definitely need reliability for all majors, but lugging an Alien around to classes.... nah, I think you should actually not lug any machine to classes, preferably. But whatever you do, make sure you have a reliable one available; I think that is the top thing to consider. Maybe don't carry it, but make sure you have it.

You'll see lots of people having computer difficulties and scrimping on buying the appropriate tools for the task. That is unfortunate, because school is important and the problems never come at the right time, so you need to do everything possible to avoid them during the school year.

 

Get a desktop for games and chain it to your desk so it doesn't get stolen. Then buy a Asus Eee Slate EP121 for note taking and portability.

 

I too live in india and completing my 1st yr this summer(UG).
I dont mind taking the m17x r3 to college. Though heavy If you dont mind the weight,Take it.
Battery Life is enough for me

 

Just depends really. Most colleges have outlets, but some don't because they know a laptop for a student can be a huge distraction and counterproductive.

I think the R3 with the 6970m and switchable graphics is as close as it gets to a portable gaming laptop because the battery life when switching to onboard graphics for surfing/word processing is comparable to ultra portables before there was switchable graphics.

But do you really want to break out the monster in class to take notes? Lol?

And don't leave the 2k+ laptop in your car, or in the library by itself. A laptop like this is a big red welcome sign for thieves.

Also do you mind carrying the weight? You can always lose 10 pounds on your body to compensate for the extra laptop weight. To me 10 pounds + books for an undergrad can be daunting.

There are some sights where you can buy your textbooks online and view them on pdf. Or alternatively you can scan two chapters ahead in your textbook...and buy kindle/ebooks. That way you won't have the laptop + books to have to carry around.

 

Bringing a laptop to class was a terrible decision for me. If I were going to do college again I'd get the biggest laptop I could so I wouldn't bring it to class. The internet enabled classroom is just a giant distraction and oftentimes its easy to overestimate our self control.

Big laptop is still better than going desktop even if you don't take it to class. You'll use it for projects, study sessions, and labs. You'll really appreciate the bigger display in a portable.

 

Yeah, gotta agree with Shadow on that. Don't get too crazy about having a computer in class... it's more of a distraction than a learning tool. Go old-school (I guess that's a pun) and take notes and think in class, then you can light up the multi-colored keyboard and go big at home/dorm. The "computerized classroom" is over-rated and sometimes a big excuse for a lot of weak content and poor teaching.

I guess I'm leaning toward the go-with-the-Alien idea, but don't bring it to class if you don't have to. The portability will be extremely helpful IF you need to give a presentation (don't trust other machines of unknown pedigree when time is short and the chips are down; I've been burned many times when I knew my codes and data were perfect and had been tested exhaustively) and the power and quality, those speak for themselves.

 

I'd also agree with this, I tend to learn less when using a computer in a classroom setting and find I learn more by physically writing things down.

If you need something for just notes buy a netbook.. They're stupidly small (and portable!) and the batteries are amazing. Low price as well... Honestly, though, I think after seeing this 17" laptop in front of me its a horrible idea to bring to class.

It isn't that its heavy or hard to carry around.. Its that once its on a desk you've got no room for anything else.

 

What would your suggestions be on how to secure it in the dorm room? I'm afraid mine will get stolen since it has such a high price tag. Would you get one of those metal computer cables that attach it to the desk or get a footlocker and lock it in there when your gone - Are there any other methods of prevention if you're not carrying the beast around?

 

Kensington lock or a safe IMO.. I'd go for the safe.. If you're that paranoid about losing your laptop in a dorm I'd also worry about other things so a safe will come in handy.

 

Yea a safe is a great idea. Most people in college will be cool and respect your stuff but it only takes one jerk to swipe your comp.

 

somebody on here managed to get almost 5.5 hours of battery life on the IGP. the new macbook pro 15/17 have a real world tested battery life of 5 hours. I'm considering one for college too

HOWEVER, the optimum solution would be a M15x R3 with switchable graphics, should get like 7 hours of battery life w/o being as much of a brick as the m17x. Hopefully we'll get a refresh before we head off into undergrad, you and me both

 

Yeah, there are some fairly beefy locking cables out there now, plus I think there are some tricky little electronic devices that respond to movement and/or disconnection with all kinds of noise, lights, good stuff like that. Your machine is valuable and could be a target, but then I SO often hear of things walking out of un-locked rooms or open windows, and not really much from locked rooms. I'll bet 99% of the risk (or more) will disappear if you are merely diligent about locking the room whenever you leave. Keep in mind, the majority of those kinds of thefts happen very quickly, and are done by people who may be acquainted enough with you to know your habits and not raise your suspicion if you see them hanging around. A truly random forced break-in is extremely rare.

 

I'm in my second semester of college, and I've had my R2 from the start. The R2 is a bit heavier and bigger than the R3, and I use it as my primary laptop. I take it to all my classes, do all my work on it, etc. 15lbs sounds like a lot, but it's never bothered me - and I'm not some burly guy - 5'10" 118lbs. I've never understood people who complain about weight. Don't tell me your so weak that you can't carry a 15lb weight on your back.

Battery life isn't a problem either. It gets 2-3 hours on battery in power saver mode when not gaming, and in college, you're never more than a few feet from an outlet, so it's not like you're gonna be searching for juice.

. . . . however, I will admit, it's been a bit of a distraction.

 

I agree 100% - I'm extremely paranoid about locking the windows and doors when i leave, but i don't know if my roommate will be as well. I'd even want the beast locked up if the doors and windows were locked in case my roommate brings back a classmate or someone like that into the room when im not there. So I guess I'll get a safe and chain it to a pipe or something so that someone can't just pick up the safe and leave.

 

A safe is really great, if you can make that work for you. I don't know if you can swing this one, but the ultimate would be to try to bolt it to a large piece of furniture or something similar. The better safes have drill zones for that purpose. I know it's ambitious, but hey, you'll probably only do it once for your entire college career. Another awesome advantage: Who really knows what's in it? That will definitely keep an "honest man honest", so to speak!

 

To answer the OP...

No, you're not crazy for wanting an R3 for college. Just make sure you don't have shady roommates before you make the purchase. Not worth it to deal with the trouble of stealerz. I hate stealerz, and would hate for you to have to go through that kinda thing.

Kensington lock for the desk and library. LoJack for laptops if it's available too.

 

Thnx for Ur replies everyone. I think I am gonna stick with my R3 for college. I am a CS major and the screen will be a huge benefit. There aren't any other good 17inch laptops with similar battery life(except the MB Pro but I want windows)

 

I think you'll enjoy it! I certainly loved having my R1 at uni. My only hate was getting it TO uni... lugging 5-6kgs on my back (sometimes more if I stuffed books in my laptop bag) was hell, but only for a few minutes each day.

I considered it a means to lose some of that weight I gain from sitting in front of it gaming