Is R3 too big or heavy for a college student?

I think may 14X A good choice but someone say it is noisy?
I am not sure which should I buy

 

The M17xR3 is a beast. *I* wouldn't want to carry it around all day long. Then again, I'm a 46 year old guy that sits at a computer desk all day...

I think it could be done if you're determined and get the right bag.

 

i would go with m14x. in fact i wanted just that for school. but i already have my m17x r2. Anyway im not sure about it being noisy since i dont personally own one. The r2 is very big and heavy and theres no way im gonna lug this bad boy around campus. However i am a rather small guy weiging at around 130 lbs and 19 years old. Also i heard the m17 r3 is lighter than the previous m17x models. I supposed it depends on how much weight ur okay lugging around.

 

You should be fine. Its not that bad. Its heavy picking it up with one hand only because its hard to grip and feels like you will drop it. But carrying it (not 1 handed), and possibly in the Alienware m17x bag, you will be fine. Its not noisy either. If your taking notes in class on your laptop the fans wont even kick on and if they do you wont hear them. The only time you actually hear the fanes is when putting the system under heavy load, like gaming which you probably wont be doing unless your in the back of the class, in which case it wouldnt matter.
The R3 is great if your going to game, but if your not a PC gamer, go with the m14x.

 

I don't have any experience with the M14x, so I cannot comment on the noise. The M17 only makes noise when you are gaming, and if you are wearing headphones that isn't an issue, but it could bug your roommate if they were sleeping in the same room. I imagine the M14 has the same noise level.

If you are taking the laptop to class to take notes on, get the M14, the portability difference is huge. I took notes on a 14" laptop my senior year of college, and I didn't look too dorky (and that was in 1999/2000 when hardly anyone did that). But if you show up to class with a M17 you can probably kiss your chance of asking the girl next to you out goodbye

If you don't take the laptop to class, the M17 is the clear winner for power, performance, and ease of use.

 

I had the m15x which is similar in size to the m17x and didnt have a problem with it in class. Its heavier so be prepared for that but has a larger screen if you like that. It will draw attention in class for the first day but after that I found most people didnt know it exist.. Actually I think the girls like it but that shouldn't be your reasoning for purchasing a system.

Since both have similar battery life it just comes down to size and power and which you prefer.

The m14x admits little sound when doing basic task.

 

My M17x R3 makes no noise, even when gaming.... So thats not an issue and I have had people comment on how quiet it is. It is heavy, but its not "that" heavy... It is a pain trying to find a nice bag that will accommodate it though..

And although its not terrible on its own weight wise with books its could be very bothersome....

 

Thank you all!

 

Not if you're big and strong like me (and determined to have 1920x1200 resolution, lol)

 

^ Oh boy... no get the m14x anything above 15 inches will be too annoying

 

Honestly, if you are not doing any serious gaming- the Dell XPS 15 is IMO a better laptop than the M14. Get it with a backlit keyboard and the 1080P screen and you will not be disappointed. Yeah, I know, no colorful flashing lights and alien head, but you can get custom art on the back of the screen to jazz up the design.

 

It's heavy, with books and what not you'll be struggling after the end of the day. I use mine on my hiking trips cause it's heavy

 

I used the m17x for an MBA recently. It is way too big. The lecture theatre space tends to be small and the thing weighs a far bit. Bare in mind you will also be taking your lecture notes and books with you. All in all, its quite a load.

It not impossible but I would recommend getting a little netbook and leaving the beast home for when you get back

 

There's a plan - get an M17xR3, and one of those $300-400 mini-netbooks...just sync the files from the netbook to the real laptop after class.

 

Thats why I got a Motorola Xoom. Same concept for me but I'm not in a college setting. I don't reccommend the Xoom/ipad for note taking and research papers obviously but the Xoom is extremely mobile and the games are awesome on it that utilize the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor/GPU. Apps are just limited right now for the Xoom because its only 4 months old. Very very happy with it though!

 

If you're not going to carry around the power brick it's not that heavy. It's hefty but no moreso than a large text book. The main problem I've encountered is that it's VERY wide so its somewhat unwieldy to carry around one handed and even the largest jansport backpack I could find barely fits it.

 

You carry a 2.5k dollar piece of technology with you because it's heavy?

How rich are you people

 

For me it isn't that heavy and im actually using pretty crappy bag for now
So i dont find it that hard to carry , although im not small so .. XD

 

I'm 6ft and 150lbs. Even the alienware m15x was a total pain to carry...

 

I don't know if its the bag (everki beacon 18', it's just brilliant, it can even hold a m18x with no problem at all and is so comfortable to wear) or my size (190cm), but I find carrying the m17x r3 around quite easy and trouble-free, even with the adapter, mouse, headphone, ipad and other stuff in the bag as well.

 

Ok i just got mine for college. It IS bigger and heavier than I expected, but I haven't tried carrying it on my back yet. I'm gonna have to make do though, because I an NOT giving this thing up!

 

Thats exactly how I felt haha it was much larger than I expected, but I wont be giving it up ever!!! lol!!! =P

 

like seriously... i love mine just because it is FINE to carry in AW orion backpack. plus it helps me to get to library after with my own machine and not need a re-charge for 5 hours
btw... best thing about it? everyone's like "Oo is this alienware??? its a beast right? gotta be expensive"
and I'm the guy to get all shy and pleased and respond like "well.. yea "
so don't think about it.
Unless you are a skinny kid it should be just fine to carry

 

Well im 183 cm and about 83kg :X , but im in the army so the 4.5kg of this laptop is piece of cake for me :].

 

Im 5' 10" 155lbs and its not a problem, though im military and for my job im used to carrying 80+ lbs for miles....

So I guess you can disregard my opinion on carrying it!! lol

 

I'm currently enrolled full time for summer semester at my university (9 hour schooldays).

I have an M17x.r3 and this thing is heavy as balls. Its not completely overwhelming, and it wont really impact you *too* much, but it is a total pain in the constantly having to move it in and out of pack and getting up and down as you move around, and when you get the backpack full of early civilization books, english books (x4), calculus books, and what have you, it gets to be quite a load.

On the plus side if youre planning on joining the military, you will have an advantage over all of the other recruits when it comes time to carry your pack around all day lol

Really though for actual in class purposes, the PC makes absolutely no noise when you are not gaming, you have to put your ear to the pc to even hear that it is on, and the lights can be disabled for those of you too nervous to carry it around.

However, when you are in a lecture hall with only a little mini platform that folds out from the armrest, the m17x will dominate all of your deskspace making it the only thing you can use at any one time, and when you have to share a table with other people, you will again have absolutely no room.

But it types quietly and accurately, makes no noise, and if you get it in black and turn the screen brightness down, no one knows its a monster PC in disguise

I would recommend getting something smaller for school only purposes, but if youre on a budget and you just want a gaming laptop like I did, this will serve the purpose very well.

If you already own an iPad or if you have money to purchase one, I highly reccomend getting an iPad with the keyboard attachment (70$), or one of the Macbook Air series for sheer portability, they weight almost nothing, and are absolutely great for school only purposes.

 

or a Motorola Xoom....they are good too

I bought my wife an ipad2 and it too is really sweet. has alot more apps than the Xoom right now.