Getting the R3 for college- bad idea??

After a couple of suggestions from the WNSIB section I still could not make up my mind on whether I should get the R3 for college?? I decided to post here to get some feedback from R3 owners. I'll be starting college as a freshman undergrad this fall and wanted to know of getting the R3 would be good idea? I don't really mind lugging around the weight but will I look too geeky with a 17inch laptop or are they common??
I actually drew the dimensions of the R3 on a piece of chart paper to get an idea of it's size(I know how pathetic that is) though on paper it did not seem too large but how much of desk space does it use? How big does it seem in comparison to a 15.6 inch laptop?
I am going to major in CS and that too from one of tyne top 5 CS programs in the US. I don't know how big my lecture halls will be or how much crowded will they be, but I think generally CS is less crowded Coz not a lot of people opt for it, am I right? Any of you R3 owners using it in college?
The reason I want the R3 is the GPU for gaming.

 

As a student at Syracuse University, I know that my 13-inch MacBook usually fills whatever desk I might be working on in ALL of my classes.


I did know someone that had one of the PC's. I don't see why you wouldn't use it, but you'd have to scope out which classes have desks next to outlets so that you can plug yourself in, I'd imagine.

 

Battery life is not a problem with the R3, it gives more than my other 15 inch option .

 

Bad idea for size, battery is good though. I voted no purely on size.

 

In all honesty I think the 11x or 15x would be better choices due to the size, however if you feel youll have enough room to place the laptop down then I would go for the 17x as you will get nice battery life and a powerful gaming machine. however, DO NOT buy the 3D version, you will lose all that extra battery life rendering the laptop useless for school purposes, there is simply NO way to get that extra battery life with the 3D version due to the screen it uses the difference is between around 5 hours with the non-3d(60hz) screen and 2 hours with the 3d(120hz screen).

I could go into more detail but theres no need. if you get the 17x just dont select the 3d option and you will still have a powerful gaming laptop with a long lasting battery, at that point you need to just decide if the size will be ok for you.

 

If you don't need a computer in class (honestly they're major distractions, even in a CS classroom) then the R3 fits well. Think of it more as a portable desktop; something with serious screen real estate for projects, labs, group assignments, anything but the lectures themselves

That was just my college experience. The CS students who made do with pen and paper tended to pay attention/do better in class.

I'm going to vote yes purely on the basis that you definitely need a computer for college, but not because you need one in class.

 

Even though I am in the UK, I voted "no" - only on the basis of sheer portability. Given that you will be lugging this thing from class to class, its not going to be the most practical solution.

I guess alot of it depends on how you feel personally about a 17" laptop. Wether or not it has to suit multiple needs - eg home use for gaming and portability/practicality for education.

I dont think that the AW brand would draw any more attention or make you any more "geeky" than a macbook or any other system. After all, they are ALL laptops...the AW doesnt have to be "all lights/guns blazing" - I know people who use them professionally due to the power and ability to NOT be brash and "in yer face"

Maybe a more ideal solution would be a smaller AW so that you can game and be portable in the same breath.

I know I wouldnt want to lug around my R2 on a day to day basis...yep its heavier than the R3 but the R3 is still 17" of laptop and still weighs a fair ole amount.

My two british pennies!

 

Yeah, my brain us constantly telling me that the R3 makes no sense, I am probably not even gonna play that many games in college, but when I do I want them to run on max details. My other option the XPS 15 measures 10.4x15 inches, the R3 measures 12x16 inches, is ut really gonna be that much of a difference??

 

I, too, think it would be a little large. I think a better idea would be to have both the M17x and M11x!! But go for it!

And I can't agree with this comment about people that own Macbooks being "geeky". IMO, it's an insult to geeks. Apple products are geared to people that are generally technically non-savvy that bathe with loofahs and use too much moisturizer. They're also geared towards women. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Fair comment LOL, I forgot that macbook is aimed at a specific segment...the same segment that appeals to female owners of Prada handbags etc.... - i recall watching a youtube vid of some girl who had got an AW (fair play to her, she did the right thing lol) but she just kept banging on about how fast it loads internet pages......god help us.....

 

simple...do what i did...get the R3, then spend 250 bucks on a netbook....

 

Haha. At least she has some taste!

 

I have an r2 for college. Which is somewhat bigger than an r3. In my CS classes at UTA my r2 fits on the desk. If weight is no issue then I dont think size is much of one. Some classes have small desks but engineering related classes tend to have bigger desks because the students are more likely to use a laptop in class. Hope this helps.

 

HAHA, I watched that same video and she doesnt even know how it runs games. I'm pretty sure thats your Internet provider not the laptop itself haha. And it's the australian girl reviewing it your on about right?

 

I'm fairly certain that it's fake. She uses the same video 3 times and has no clue what anything does. Anywho, I don't see carrying around a 17'' to be much of a problem. I currently carry a 15'', and can usually find an outlet in each class if need be.

 

Haha - yeah - i think. If its the same vid and she had a macbook, AW desktop and an M17x in her room then yeah.....dumb bint lol.....i cracked up when i watched it...."man, just look at how fast it load this internet page...."

I was sat there thinking maybe she had consumed one too many Castlemaine XXXX upon videoing.....

 

If I could chime in and repost from another thread, I am having the same type of concern-

So, after seeing that the M17x weights 11+ lbs, I'm starting to wonder whether this was a mistake or not- I'll be headed to med school in the fall, and while I am used to a 17'' laptop(I've had a Vostro 1700 for years), this is 4 lbs more than that. I will be sitting in lecture halls most of the day so desk space is not a problem, and I wouldn't bother with a netbook because I have very large fingers. I'm also 6'4, 250 so the weight really shouldn't bother me- I'm just wondering if perhaps I should have gone with a smaller 17'' laptop or even a 15.4''. Am i going to look like an idiot with this thing in class?

 

see previous responses here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...g-alienware-m17xr3-college-2.html#post7189706

 

Wow the OP in the other thread was pretty much in the same position I am in. Wondered what he did??
@kenichols29 how crowded are the CS classes at UTA?? also are you a grad or an undergrad??

 

Ok, I made a mistake, I said No on the poll and I meant Yes. I took the title as the question of the poll. So my answer is No it's not a bad idea to get the R3 to college. It's actually the best laptop you can take there and it will get you attention from sexy, nerdy girls...

 

Im undergrad. So far they dont seem to be too full. I just started this semester.

 

I voted "No", I'll sound like you father here, you need to be studying and NOT gaming young man!

Seriously though, the R3 is a sweet machine, but I would think lugging it around campus in a backpack, already filled with medical journals and text books, would be a pain in the shoulder!

But a guy has to game doesn't he?

 

It all comes down to what the OP needs out of a computer for school. If he's more into PC gaming than console gaming, and doesn't want to lug around a console, then knock out a few birds with one stone and just grab the AW. If you're not so worried about gaming and want a machine just for school, then a smaller laptop is a great way to go.


I'm carrying a 4.0 GPA at Syracuse, and all of my notes are electronic (save for Math courses), and I do it because it's just what works for me. Figure out how to accommodate your study habits and go with that.

 

Make shure you put the R3 in between fluffy pillows if you are putting it in a backpack. Don`t want that coating damaged while going to school..

 

Go for it. It will load your college web page really fast!

 

Yeah I am not gonna be gaming that often but I want it to be proper experience whenever I do. This is gonna be my primary machine for the next 4-5 years and I want to max out all games for atleast 1-2 years. I was gonna take my console along first but I have started to get tired of the outdated graphics .
@joebarchuck I know I screwed up the poll question. And by the way what is this mysterious creature you are talking about . Can nerdy and sexy even co exist??

 

Tell you what, grab that pair of pillows, invite the Aussie girl around to "test 'em out" and everythings rosy.....you could always ask her for advice over "pillow talk" lol

 

I think it's kinda funny how a lot of people are saying no, yet they are college students currently loving their R1/2/3.

Is it practical? NO. EVERYONE knows this. What is practical is to get a $400.00 dell basic computer with good CPU and RAM. You can get a shuttle box upgradable gaming PC for about 500.00 and a cheap 17inch LCD that will fit in ANY dorm room.

I hate to call this how it is but no one is really going to be gaming in their classes that much or gaming outside (battery, plus...that defeats the point of being outside on campus). So the majority of ALL of our gaming is in the damn dorm room or at a friends room.

No one buys AW JUST for practical reasons. AW buyers are discriminating men and women that appreciate world class warranty, great looks, POWER and versatility. Actually...thats pretty practical to me

Go buy it. Seriously.

 

...You'd be surprised. I see people playing WoW during lectures almost daily.


I'm a 4.0 student, and even I don't pay attention to lecture ALL the time.

 

I say, yes, get one for college. However, get it for use in doing your work (and gaming, and whatever) but do NOT bring it to class. Do not bring any computer to class. It would be a big distraction in class. Think, listen, write good notes, and participate. Keep your head in the class, not with the computer. Then, you will have the best of all worlds.

You absolutely do need a strong, reliable machine for college, and you cannot afford trouble and breakdowns when time is short and your grades are on the line. So go ahead and get it, but don't carry it around unless you need to give a presentation on it at class. Then make sure to turn on all the lights!

 

I keep recommending this because I wish I had one back when I was in school...

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Eee - ASUS Eee Slate EP121

This is the type of computer that you should be able to easily convince your parents to pay for since it can't be used for gaming and it is the ultimate electronic note taking device.

Separately, buy a cheap desktop like this one for gaming:

Slickdeals HP Home & Home Office Store Deals, Coupons and Promos: HP Pavilion Elite 510t Desktop: Core i7-2600 Quad Core 3.4GHz, 6GB DDR3, 2x 500GB HDD, 1GB GeForce 405, Blu-ray Drive & DVD Burner, Win 7 Prem (04/04/11 2:33pm)

These 2 combined will still cost less than a M17xR3.

 

Get the M15x with the lowest gpu and upgrade to 6970m. Now you have the power of a M17x in a M15x form.

 

The 6970m in the m15x wont help its battery life. To the people who are suggesting Netbooks, or <15inch laptops, please don't cause the min i am going to get is a 15inch, I need the screen real estate, and also I am uncomfortable typing on smaller keyboards, basically it is either a 15.6inch or the M17x R3 - and my question is that will there be too much of a difference between a these two in terms of size and would that difference be worth to sacrifice superior power??

 

This is a funny, yet excellent idea. The 15x has switchable gpu too, right?

 

Honestly, it sounds like all you want to hear is "Yes, get it, it's great". The fact is thi;, these things are powerful but they are not portable. At the end of the day, as one guy has already mentioned, none of us bought Alienware for practical reasons. We sit around trying to fabricate lame reasons to actually need an Alienware notebook and then go ahead and make a purchase. The driving force behind said purchase being the fact that we really, really, want it. You don't need a whole bunch of people to justify your decision with a poll! You want it? Go get it. No it won't be practical in the slightest, but it most definately will be awesome. A practical life is a boring life. Thats the way I see it.

 

Lol thats so correct.
Ikant, i am the guy from that other thread, and decided to get the R3 and am loving my purchase, though i am still to start college this fall but i have been carrying around the laptop and dont mind the weight or the size. As long as you love the laptop get it, and you'd never regret your decision.

 

M15x R2 Dimensions: (W)14.8" (D)12.2" (H)1.92" Weight: 9lbs

M17x R3 Dimensions: (W)16.14" (D)11.96" (H)1.77" Weight 9.39lbs

:wink:

 

Bottom line:

College or not, getting the R3 is NEVER a bad idea.:smile:

 

I bring my M17x R3 to my high school all the time. If you do buy it, the main thing i would recommend is to buy a good backpack so you can haul the thing safely and comfortably around.

 

Its practical if you're the sort of guy who always wanted to bring his desktop everywhere.

*shrug* I sure felt that way

 

^^What these guyz said.

I bring mine to work, and I'm also 5'4", so you better not complain if you're taller than me. Make sure you get a good, well-padded backpack though, for sure.