I'm thinking of getting an M17xr3 for college?

We start school a little late, but before I go back I'd like to buy a laptop for school. I've been using a Toshiba Satellite since 2004, so, needless to say, my computer's a little old. Between what's left of my grant and how much spending money I'd be comfortable out of my own pocket, I'd say I have something like $2500-$3000. I don't do graphical design, and I'm no hardcore gamer like some are my friends are, but I do enjoy my Bethesda and I'm a bit of a movie buff, so the 3D screen is definitely looking good to me.

Overall just very indecisive about what I should get from my computer. I'm not even sure if M17 is overkill, and my friend keeps raving about his Macbook Pro, but if I'm going to spend $2000+, I'd rather be able to justify it with more than "Mac OSX is awesome" like he does. Kinda drowning in a sea of new information, lol.

Tips or advice for a noob?

 

first of all a MAC isnt a computer, its a religion or a cult, you choose the correct term. If you want a flashy, over-priced, yet brag worthy system. get an alienware. you can get a system with close to the same specs for far less but if you want the bragging rights get the alienware. if this isnt important to you in anyway, get a different system. To be honest that really what it comes down to. But if you look at my signature, you will see my choice

 

A movie buff who likes 3D???

 

I find it refreshing and new

 

Let me warn you ahead of time when it comes to getting. I have never heard so much complaining in my LIFE until I got a mac. I tell you, I can't talk about my mac without someone else complaining about how macs are terrible computers. . .from PC owners. : P


Anywho, to your question. When it comes to Mac VS PC, Mac is Creative and Art based, PC is Business and Gaming based. Now I will clarify, both systems CAN work with the other's field, but I would go with what the system is best at. If you are going to school for an art or creative based degree, I would advise going with a Mac, if you are going to school for just about ANYTHING ELSE go with a PC. If I wasn't a Film major(back when I got a Mac) I wouldn't have gotten one. However since I got one, it is my go to computer. I LOVE this thing. It is SO much easier to use than a PC and even now, 3 years later, still is fast when it comes from a full shut down to surfing the internet.

However, I will admit that it can't do everything. Most classes(especially internet based ones) will require you to use a PC based system. Microsoft Office will get you a lot further in school than Garage Band or PhotoBooth will. Online drop boxes will become your enemy with using a Mac.

Now when it comes to getting an Alienware vs another PC, I can't really advise on that. I've owned an Alienware for 10 hours before sending it back to get a better one, and have yet to use it in any scholastic(or gaming) capacity. Am I a hardcore gamer? Nope, and when I do game, most of the time it's on a Console. However when it comes to buying things, I don't tend to show restraint. I've always seen Alienware as high class computers and until now, I couldn't afford one as a laptop. Now I can afford one and I decided to go with a name I recognized as good rather than one that I'm told is comparable. I'd never heard of Asus before coming here and every time I saw it elsewhere, I just assumed it was an off brand.

Let me just say, I ended up buying an Alienware for these reasons 1. I can recognize Alienware as a good brand without burning through a thousand reviews, 2. I wanted a slot drive and very few other Laptop companies make them, 3. I wanted a Keypad, 4. The AlienFX seemed nifty. Those were my reasons to go with the computer I did. If you have $2500-$3000 to spend, then you should be able to get whatever you want.

 

If you want a gaming computer get an Alienware, if you want a general-use, expensive as hell computer, get a Mac

Notice my sig.

 

On a sidenote: the m17x is heavy as hell compared to my 15" Macbook Pro. When mobility is important, I would think twice going with the m17x - first and foremost cause you're not a hardcore gamer. In this case you should go with a 15" (btw: I give a $#?! on "mac vs pc" cause I love my m17x r3 for gaming and all my iDevices for the rest )

 

Oh right, weight. I keep forgetting about that. I'm a 6'3 former defensive lineman, so carrying around a heavy laptop was never an issue for me so I keep forgetting that it might be an issue for others.

 

ON a side note: I own both 2 m17'x systems and a 15 inch macbook. And I can also tell you that one of my Best Friends (whom I won't name) is a Starting LB and defensive Captain for The Ohio State Buckeyes and he uses a 13 inch macbook pro oh and in case if it's ever is in question the dude benches 400 on an everyday basis no joke. The point is portability can be a factor but above all else Battery life is most important. Luckily the R3 gives you pretty decent battery life of over just over 2 hours I wanna say around 2.5. It's a pretty big system about the same as a 15x system. But I use my Macbook Pro 15 inch all day when doing school work and traveling, I like it alot actually.

I wouldn't try to compare the two notebooks they're very different however I will say this if you truly wanna get work done and do the best you can within your schoolwork and embrace a great social group and experience college at it's fullest capacity get a macbook, you won't regret it. If you're either a compute science major or If you wanna game, keep to yourself and just get through college as if it were another extention of HS then go with an Alienware. I personally have used multiple alienware's and then as soon as I stopped gaming the need for one declined and ended up with a Macbook.

 

Here I'll do you a favor side by side is my girlfriends Macbook Pro and my m17x R3, as you can see pretty substantial size difference

 

I bought my M17x-R3 for college in May and I have since determined that I need to downgrade to an M11x. The 17x is just too big and bulky to *comfortably* carry around, in my personal opinion. Of course, I game quite a bit, but only if there is an MMO worth playing at the time. The 11x and 14x can easily accomplish most everything you seem to want to do in a smaller and lighter package, except 3D of course.

If you want a beastly gaming rig then get a M17x or even an 18x for the money you are willing to throw down. However, if all you want is to watch movies and to occasionally game, I would suggest something a little smaller and more portable. Just my opinion. Best of luck in what you choose!

 

Just get both like I did Of course you could always go with a core 2 unibody macbook pro, those go for pretty cheap and then go with a gaming rig. That's pretty much what I'm currently doing, but plan to trade out my R3 system for a newer macbook pro.

 

The problem with anything apple is its so restricted. They treat there customers like untrustworhty naughty kids. Only things Idevices are good for are jailbreaking. Then the fun starts.

 

If you want cheap gaming portability, go with XPS.

 

If you want a system with the Top of the line graphics cards, great build quality, Excellent warranty (they come to your house with little downtime), unique/different then get the m17x r3 and easy to change internal components.

Otherwise get another system if your worried about it being overkill or to big.

I will be using it for my last year on college. Yes its overkill for me but still happy with purchase.

 

Both my wife and I were looking to upgrade our old Dell and Gateway laptops for school this year. I originally purchased myself the M17x R3 and her an XPS 17. The XPS arrived first and we were really happy with it compared to both of our older laptops. I almost wished I had ordered the XPS instead of the Alienware. But when the M17x arrived the following week my wife wanted it. She loves the keyboard and the overall looks of the M17x. So she asked if she could return the XPS and get an M17x. I ended up giving her the M17x R3 and tried using the XPS for a day but it just didn't compare to the M17x so I ended up returning the XPS so I could order another M17x. I waited almost 3 months before I purchased another M17x because I wanted to look around at some other brands and see if there was anything else that compared. I tried the Toshiba Qosmio X775-q7272 but was not impressed with the screen quality and the build quality is nowhere near the quality of the M17x. The keypad buttons made a lot of noise and seemed loose and there was a lot more flex in the keyboard than in the M17x. So needless to say within a few hours of having the Qosmio I returned it. I also spent a lot of time with the Asus G73SW-A1 but didn't care for the keyboard and didn't like the fact that if I had any problems with the computer I'd have to send it in for repair and from what I hear you can be without your computer for 3 to 4 weeks at a time. I also spent some time with the Mac in the store but it just looked so plain and I really wasn't a fan of the keyboard. It could have just been that it was a floor model that had been on display for a while, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money on the Mac.

So after all that I ended up getting myself the M17x and couldn't be happier. My wife still tells me that I've spoiled her with Alienware and that it's the best computer she has ever used. I have to agree with it being the best computer I've ever used also.

It is a heavy laptop but neither one of us mind carrying it around. Both of us are 5'6 and my wife is 130lbs and I'm 150lbs and she has a targus backpack and I have an Alienware Orion and we have no problems taking them places.

I know the Alienware may be overkill because neither my wife nor I game but we do video editing and use it for both classroom and online classes. The thing is we just couldn't find anything that came close to the M17x. Granted, these are our first Alienware computers we've ever owned or used so I can't compare to the older models. And on a side note, I was worried because I had read a lot of reviews with people getting poorly built M17x R3's with lots of problems, but both of ours arrived with no problems.

On a side note about battery life, I have the i7-2720 with 16GB Hyperx 1600 Ram and the AMD 6990 and I have been using it with the integrated graphics card for the last hour surfing the net and typing this post and it still shows me as having 3 hrs and 23 minutes of life left.

I'm not sure if this will help with your decision, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents...

 

Macbooks still get like 7 hours though and look at my collection or go through my postings, you'll see I own like 5 alienware laptops in total. But when it comes to doing work I won't use anything but my Macbook

 

This is why I have a cheap 11.6" netbook style PC (bought for $220) to carry around campus. Use a USB stick for all your main work and you can share it between the 2 computers.

Then when you need to sit at the library or crank out at home for a while use the nicer PC

The Macbook - While having awesome touchpad capabilities - Just lacked in usability for me. While the idea of multiple desktops in OSX was a good idea, the real estate on the 13" model just was not usable for solid work. Windows 7 is just more usable to me with less space.

You have to get the 17" model for a good resolution or upgrade the screen on the 15" for a decent display, and you're looking at a good Alienware for that price. So unless there is software on the Apple computer that you need to use, I'd vote Alienware.

 

Get yourself an 11" MacBook air and the m17xr3. Search around and you'll find used or refurb versions of both that will combined stay under $2500.

The air is an awesome university note taking, ms word paper writing, tool w/ light weight, slick design and great general purpose functionality.

The m17xr3 is the best all around gaming platform I've even used and with the hdmi input you can use it as a second screen when that 11" is too small. You won't be disappointed. Stick with the ATI 6970 and stock disk/ram and you'll find some great deals.

Best of luck to you.

Cheers,

 

Good idea! Thank you

 

might want to repaste the m17 xr3.. dell uses a crappy brand of thero paste called microsi. my r3 is overheating badly.. 90c playing crysis 2 on the medium settings.. and y gpu got so hot i have evidence on my leg from my name plate use some mx-4 or ocz freeze