M17x R4 First Impressions (from an M15x Owner)

Greetings Everyone,

I thought I would post my first impressions of my new M17x R4 for anyone else who might have been considering upgrading from the M15x...

Packaging:
The M17x came in the exact same size box as the M15x, and externally you could not disinguish between the two. When I opened the outer box, the enclosed inner box is different. It is more colorful (more red designs simiiliar to the Windows 7 OEM screens) and does not have the fancy plastic handles to hold the box shut. The box is just simple closed with a folded flap. Opening the innge box reveals the accessory tray. The Accessory tray contains the Alienware Mouse Pad, AC Adaptor, 2 DVDs (Windows 7 and Resource DVD), a "Safety, Environmental, ...." booklet, and an instruction fold-out. My M15x accessory try contained a thick and bound instruction book (very nice) and an Alienware Hat.

Underneath the accessory try, is the laptop suspended by two pieces of foam, and enclosed in a red felt bag. The M15x was packaged the same way, but had a black felt bag (my M15x is Lunar Silver, and the M17x is Nebulae Red).

Verdict: M15x has the better packaging and included materiels

Build Quality and Impressions:
The build quality of the M17x seems very solid. The actual laptop feels like it weighs a little less than my M15x. I like the "soft touch" finish and it seems very high quality. The engraved nameplate is fine, and says what it is supposed to. I noticed the "Klipsch" logo on the bottom as well I the touch pad and buttons is vastly superior to the one on the M15x

Notes for Thought: The M15x had little rubber stoppers on the palm-rest that kept the screen from rubbing up against the keyboard. The M17x does not have these, and I am not sure if this is goign to be a problem? - UPDATE: The M17x has a little rubber strip along the right and left sides of the display, preventing the screen from impacting the keyboard.

Verdict: M17x hands down....

Initial Power Up and configuration:
I plugged in the power and turned it on. The first thing that comes up is a Windows Boot Selector, informing that the last shutdown was unexpected and asking how to continue. I chose "Start Windows Normally" and let it boot. It continued and ran through the initial Windows configuration, setup, accounts, and network. After the desktop displayed, an error message popped up telling me that the connected AC adaptor was not correct, and the computer would switch the integrated GPU and run off the battery. So, unplugged and plugged it back in, and it again started to run off the A/C adaptor. As I always do, I went and grabbed my thumb drive (USB Flash Drive) and started the Alienware ReSpawn to create my OOB recovery media, I started the process (noted how it said it was Alien ReSpawn Premimum) and let it set there. It set there for about 20 minutes at the "initializing" screen before I had to leave, so I left it, thinking it should be done when I got back. I came back about 4 hours laters, and it never progressed passed the initialization screen. So, I re-booted the machine, and it came up with no errors and I logged in. I launched ReSpawn again (this time it said Basic Edition), and was able to create the restore media (took about 30 minutes).

Notes for thought: The system keeps popping up a "Switchable Graphics" dialog asking which GPU to use for the program I just exited, so far I have cancled the prompt because I am still trying to figure out how that function works. I am pretty sure it has been running on the integrated graphics the entire time (don't have any games installed yet).

Verdict: M15x had a less strange initial startup situation, but this wasn't bad.

Over the next few days I will continue to get my software load moved over, and will hopefully be able to get some gaming down. I'll update my post with my final thoughts once that is done. I hope some folks find this useful!

Good luck!

Rich S.

 

Congratz on the new R4 LinkRS!

 

Nice buy, will be following this thread.

 

I'd much prefer the M15x R4 over the M17x R4, if it ever existed...

 

Get the machine on the internet so the intel graphics can update, should should fix the problem of asking which gpu to use.

 

How long ago did you purchase your M15x?

I'm guessing the hat and the leather bound manual are no longer included in current packages for that model. My opinion is based on seeing what people have been receiving across the model spectrum recently.

 

Glad you're enjoying your new machine. The earlier m17x versions (namely R2's) did have those little rubber stoppers on the palm rest. You can maybe find some online that can stick onto the R4's palmrest. I never even noticed the R4 not having them. I will have to check my friend's R3.

 

Hi Maizy,

I purchased my M15x in Dec 2009, so it was a little more than 2.5 years ago. I didn't know they still sold the M15x? The leather bound manual was a nice touch, and it was kind of a let down. Every Alienware I owned had some sort of novelty manual, with my two desktops having a 3 ring binder, the second had a paper folder (after Dell aquisition), which had little personal touches. Overall it is not that big of a deal, but still a difference Thanks!

Rich S.

 

Hi Radji,

I took a closer look today when I got home from work, and it seems that there is now a rubber edge poking out along the left and right side of the screen, preventing the screen from touching the keyboard. This is actually better than the little stoppers on the M15x, as they tended to leave rub marks on the display. So, I consider this another improvement

Thanks!

Rich S.

 

It's disappointing to know that Dell skimped on some basic things that, although they are frivolous, make the customer feel that much better about their purchase like the leather manual and hat.
I think they still do this with their desktops, however they should still add these things to their laptops considering that they're supposed to be "high end special computers."