M17xR3 First Impression

Btw, R2 comes with both HD bays too (at least mine did), so I had no problems installing a second drive.

Thanks a bunch for all the info. Great great stuff!

 

Hey Mandrake I like to say thanks for the pics and hope to see what it looks like on the inside

I just have one question regarding the M17X and your M15X comparison. Does the M15X prop up that high? or did you add some extra feet? It doesn't seem like the M17X is high enough to allow proper air flow

 

This is GREAT to hear. You just saved me time and money (cancelling order and adding drive). Now I know I can retrofit my own drives once it arrives.

Bleh, would have preferred a WD Black.

 

I believe the m15x had an optional extra cell battery which props up the rear. I may be wrong but I think that's what it is.

Mandrake that's epic funny that you still get questions about the g73. Here's one that is relevant: how would you compare your first days impressions of the g73 vs the r3?

 

Haha thanks, but I want Mandrakes benches, wanna see what a real pro can do with it.

 

Something you can certainly put into yours when/if the time comes! Until then, let's let Drake have the spotlight.

 

I seem to recall you once being impressed by the pictures I took with my cheap sony point and shoot haha.....your pictures are just awesome!

Good stuff

 

Mandrake,
how many hours can the laptop last when fully charged? Does it bother you the fact that it doesnt have the optimus?

 

I know your getting a ton of questions haha.

But when you get some time I was wondering how bad the flex is? Does it still feel solid? My gfs XPS m1730 keyboard flexes slightly but it really isnt much.

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.

 

Indent think the r3 has as good an aggressive look as the m15x or r2
I'm not sure now if I'm disappointed about the angles now

 

Nice pics !

Are you able to change the alien head color on the stealth black case? (or does it only lid in blank like on the M11x)

 

This was answered and on the FAQ list. See here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...m17x-r3-initial-impressions-observations.html

The AlienHead on the back of the lid is exactly like the M11x. Its lit by the display backlight and the color of it cannot be changed.

 

The bigger battery on the M15x is what gives it that extra tilt.

I remember really liking the looks of the G73 but not the build quality. The first G73 I had didn't even sit flush on my desk as the keyboard squeaked as you typed. Overall the AW is still a more solid system but the G73 is lighter. Heck the G73 is lighter than the M15x.

Started getting back into photography over the summer. Haven't done much prior to that since college where I took a bunch of photo classes. The hobby has become fun again for me.

Don't know about battery life yet. Optimus would be nice but not necessary for my usage. On the rare occasion I need a system with good battery life I use my netbook.

It feels solid when you type but if you try to make it flex it's obvious. It doesn't impede my typing but I can see a a lot of disgruntled users because of it.

Haven't tried yet but I would be shocked if I couldn't.

 

BTW, the integrated graphics driver is on the resource DVD.

 

Anyone know what this is?? Dr.Google says something about a smart battery.

 

Drake what changes did you make already?

Also if you don't mind me asking: would you say the display is nice? For example when I walk over to the pc area at the local store the lcds are mostly dull and drab. They all look greyish blue like old school crt. Then I walk over to the apple section are bang they're so bright and vivid it looks incredible.

 

Put in my SSD and XMP HyperX memory. Still need to add my Intel 6300.

 

would love to know if the bios CPU overclocking works and how the CPU throttles with prime 95.


thanks!

 

Cool so the hyperx is 1600mhz correct?

 

Overclocking options are not grayed out even with my non-extreme proc. So I'm hopeful.

Yes.

 

If you pull up the original size of this photo on flickr you can see the keyboard in great detail.


M17xR3 and Nvidia fiber cloth by Mandrake Photography, on Flickr

 

Does the touchpad allow two finger scrolling?

 

It almost looks like it's bigger and so far to the left I would have no place for my left wrist.. Does it get in the way at all?

 

Don't know yet. I don't have a clean install of the OS yet. It's proving to be tricky especially since all the drivers needed are not on the resource DVD.

Yes, it is really far to the left but it has not gotten in my way, at least not yet. I don't remember the previous version M17x systems having the touch pad so far left.

 

Most anxious to hear about the noise levels .

Great pics btw Drake.

Is that bottom cover really as flimsy as the M15x one ?.

As for missing drivers you can always pop in the factory HD and run something like this to get your drivers ..

http://www.boozet.org/dd.htm

 

it seems to be somthing to do with the battery..install the smart battery software of if there is another driver having to do with power or battery.
i googeled it as well and the dell mini uses the same type driver if you cant find it elsewhere

 

I think its an illusion considering the system is wider and the pad is placed in the middle of the keybored.

 

OT but rather funny...

This is my Flickr views per day for the month....

 

Noise is about the same as the original M17x if you removed 1 fan. The Slot-load drive is just as loud also. The bottom cover looks and feels exactly the same as the one on the M15x, just a bit longer.

 

Nothing on the resource DVD, makes me think it's part of another software package I may be missing.

It really is farther left. I noticed that right away when I started using it.

 

Was it easy installing ram? ( ram = plug and play right). I'm trying to help you on this driver issue but I'm getting the same things as you guys. Btw now that you have SSd what's boot up time like?

 

Battery test would be really appreciated
Just try to leave to laptop on playing a DVD or bluray and see how long does it last before it turns off

It's the only thing stopping me from ordering the laptop right now since 3D laptops does not support optimus

 

For replacing the existing two modules yes. To get to the other two slots I would need to remove the keyboard.

Haven't done any speed tests yet (I'm at work now). Soon as I get the OS working properly I can.

Same answer as above. I need to get the system working correctly first. It probably won't be until Friday that I can do some real tests.

 

Oh this is what I forgot to ask. You buy the 4gigs of ram? Which means only 2 ram slots?

 

Interesting, i will like to know will that be a reason for people to not buy this machine? because apparently a lot of people cares about noise levels more than me

i personally don't care about that and i am more concern about the cheap plastic cover but o well

Sorry Mandrake for my question seems like you have the thread flooded of questions but i will like to have your opinion on this "

 

Doesn't work like that. Dual core i7 only supports 2 slots while quad supports 4. These are all quad so the support for 4 slots is there. I didn't physically see the slots but I did see the entries in the bios for them.

 

The build quality? Did you ever own the original M17? It's closer to that and has that same rubber coating.

 

yes it was very nice and very good quality , what about the noise ?

 

Not as ridged as the M15x but yes still nice. There will be others complaining about the keyboard flex. Seems like a common complaint with new systems.

Noise would be equivalent to the M15x. They didn't do anything special to dampen the noise but there is at least one less fan than the M17x R1/R2 so that helps a bit.

 

Mandrake, What about the wireless display?

 

I don't have the push2tv box to test it. Definitely didn't come with one.

 

But do see any software related to it?

 

Sorry, I didn't look for it. I already wiped the system and there is nothing on the resource DVD for it except it did mention a driver for the wirlessHD card.

 

First post cleaned up a bit.

 

Drake- Looking forward to pics of the SSD, ram installs. Now, thank your boss for the continued postings while at work.

 

pfft....I am the boss.

No more pics until I get a working system and get lightroom reinstalled on it. (I don't shoot jpeg) Mandrake = photo snob.

 

RAW all the way .
Congratulations on new toy Mandrake.

 

So do you think the optimus can be made to work if the integrated graphics driver is installed?

 

+++++++1

Thanks!

 

More like enabled in the system bios then the driver install.