Few questions about M17x R3

Hey all
I'm currently debating between Sager NP8170/8150 and M17x R3.I've heard good things about the Sager ones but it seems their keyboard isn't top notch and the battery life isn't great either(which are both important for me)
I'm going to study computer electronics overseas so I can only get a laptop and my main concerns are build/keyboard quality,battery life and of course performance.
The specs I'm considering are
i7 2630QM
6GB RAM
750GB HDD(will add SSD later)
6970M
1080p display

1)Can I expect 3-5hrs of battery life for normal tasks such as taking notes,web-surfing etc. ?
2)I've read a review of M17x R3 on Anandtech and they were a little worried about the keyboard felx,how big is this issue ?
3)Does it support SATA III 6GB/S ? Because some users are saying that only one of the ports support it
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/576313-m17x-r3-port-0-true-always-sata-6gb-s-2.html

Thanks

 

1) Brightness at lowest setting, GPU off, bluetooth off, I can get over 4 hours just typing out on work and using the internet. Havent test it to full lengths but 4 hours easy.

2) My keyboard does have some flex in it but nothing to be worried about. More flex than a m15x or m14x but nothing to alarming.

 

i have a simular system as you can see in my Signature.....you wont be dissapointed!!! i had a Asus G73 and before that a G72...i have also had Sony Visio and A toshiba Qosmio....This is BY FAR my favorite system......i first ordered one with the 460 and that system was a train wreck....returend it for this and 4 months later, still no problems.

 

I see
And how do you find the build/keyboard quality ?
And is it too hard to carry ?

 

I wouldnt worry about the keyboard quality. Its above average (its no Lenovo but above average quality). Easy to type on with good response and excellent feedback. Build quality is again above average if you ask me. Its a solid put together machine. Has a nice higher quality feel and look.

If your use to a larger laptop it will be fine but if not you might have issues.
I find no issue carrying around a larger laptop on campus but I came from a m15x which is similar in size.

 

I agree.....if you are concidering this laptop, you shouldnt be worried about portability....its big, it heavy, and it wont fit in most standard laptop bags.....this is just something you need to accept if you want this system....If you want to see something funny, watch me try and use this laptop on planes lol.....if the person in front of me reclines, forget about it....
If you want portability get the m14x.... personally i want bigger....

 

The problem is that I want a desktop replacement but i want to be able to carry it and it needs to have a good battery life(in which m17x r3 is fine)

 

Actually after getting the notebook the keyboard is extremely disappointing. I'm coming from a Dell vostro 1500.

The m17x has the worst keyboard flex I've experienced. Including crap acers.

I totally disagree it's better then most. I've never felt so much flex on any notebook or net book. The high keys make it more pronounced.

 

There is some flex but on my system it in no way impeades use of the system...

 

Yes. But how bad does it have to be before you can't type on it?

I notice the flex every time I type. It's impossible to get use to. If I typed regularly I would be sending it back. Luckily my work is mouse based.

Great notebook but the keyboard and control panel flex is very very noticeable.

This is perhaps personal. But I've used notebooks for 10 years and this is the worst keyboard flex I've experienced. Very disappointing since this is by far the most expensive one I've owned. Let's face it every review mentions the flex.

Don't get me wrong. It's a great notebook and i might get a second but if u care about flex and typing. This is not the notebook for you. For me the benefits outweigh the flex issue.

 

Now,that worries me I type quite a lot

EDIT:It seems the flex issue isn't very annoying
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/562837-keyboard-flex-new-r3s-3.html

 

I wouldn't know if it flexes or not. The only thing I've ever done is type in the Windows password on occasion. I use it for games only and have USB Keyboards and mice for most input. It screams. The display is not perfect (sort of dim compared to my G73 and my Mac) but the machine is very fast and plays all my games well. I get the occasional crash in SC2 but I got that every so often on the G73.

Cheers,

 

I have basically 0 flex on mine and i am fairly heavy handed so its from machine to machine because the other R3 i had here exhibited more flex but nothing unbearable.

The other R3 also had the same exact screen but my screen was much brighter and better colors side by side, so things can be very different from one to the next even if they are all the same parts .

Not the first time i have experienced things like this in laptops but you dont know until you have 2 of the exact same product next to each other .

 

Thanks guys
I'm still deciding between this and sager np8170. With the AW I get better build quality and battery life but it costs more