*OFFICIAL* M17xR3 Owner's Lounge Thread - Part 1

I was able to get $75 off that price plus NBD shipping for free. Had to do some haggling though.

 

If anyone attends the University of Phoenix, you get deals like $330 off on the M15x and I think even more off the M11x.

Also, 24 Hr Fitness members get like 7 or 8% off through FitPerks - not sure if it applies to AW though, might just be general Dell laptops.

Incidentally, UoP students get sick discounts on other Dell products like accessories, TVs, cameras, etc... they have a 70" Mitsubishi 3D TV on sale for $1099

 

Nice! ty for the reply.
Could I use my DPA under his discount

 

Wouldnt mind paying the 300 for the wheel, but how about a (free) upgrade to the 2720qm?

Btw, what's the savings on the 1699 deal anyhow? Why's it so sweet?

 

You may be able to buy the card on Amazon for $35, but you still have to run the 3rd antenna wire (I doubt Alienware includes this in their laptops by default) which is a downright pain (take apart the screen and run the antenna through the laptop, behind the screen, around the hinges, and tape it all up).

I'll pay the extra $35 for Alienware to do that for me!

Installing the card is easy. Should be easily accessible behind a panel on the bottom of the laptop. 2 screws and it pops up like a RAM chip.

 

You get $425 of upgrades for $200

 

The card works great on just 2 antennas

Is what I have in my R1. Few routers can do the 3x3 connection any ways

 

Ah-ha! Sounds good sounds good. Net savings of 225, not bad. Nonetheless, Dell's overpriced anyway, which is why there's always coupons, chance for hagglin, etc. Gonna try it nonetheless when funds come rollin in

 

Thats true, but I'd still rather pay the extra $35 and have it done right and be able to use it when I encounter a proper router.

A year or two from now 3x3 will probably be just another feature they put into routers.

 

Overpriced compared to what?! The comparable Asus is more and lacks the 120Hz screen. The sager cost about the same but also lacks the screen option (but has some nice GPU options)

Both lack the AW warranty

 

Hmm.. I guess you're right. Without this 1699 deal though, upgrades rack up the price really fast

Is this the correct number to call to get the U.S. reps: 1-800-695-8133 - Option 3 ? (It was in the dell/aw ordering advice thread).

Gonna call to see if they'll drop anything.

 

Asus G53 vs M17x r3 Dimensions battle

Okay here is an interesting fact the M17x R3 is actually SMALLER than my current 15 Asus G53 laptop

G53 and M17x R3 Depth is identical
M17x R3 Width is 1cm (10mm) bigger than G53 (G53 got big screen bezel)

But because the M17x is thinner by 6.35mm (little above half a cm) so it wins the overall score

Kinda interesting since M17x R3 got more usb ports/hdmi out and hdmi in/display port/etc and both laptops own 2 hard drives

G53 is lighter though since the M17x R3 got an extra 650 gram

 

So the wireless card works just fine without the 3rd ant.? Good to know thanks for the info scook. Could someone tell or direct me to what the advantages of it are? Is it just increased ranged and speed? Thx

 

How can it be smaller? Is it because the ASUS uses a bigger bezel for the screen? INTERESTING indeed! I want def want one now! Who needs G53 if m17x r3 is actually (smaller)?

 

Anyone know how long this aafes discount promo is going on for. I'd hate to miss out on it...

 

Smaller overall yes but if you want to talk about width only m17x R3 got 1cm more in width (Which you can not notice but you will diffidently notice the bigger screen 17 vs 15)

Identical depth but m17x is thinner overall so it wins as being smaller
Thickness effect every point of the laptop but the extra 1 cm in width is pointless

Here is me showing my amazing skills in paint lol (made it in 1min)



Seems like as i said because G53 bezel is bigger than m17x, to be honest though g53 bezel is not something that I'd call small

 

Hi all

I've been reading this thread from page 20 straight until now. I would like to know if OPTIMUS will be completely disabled (at all time) on 120Hz - 3D versions, or if it is only when displaying 3D content that OPTIMUS will not be usable. The note from page 50 of the manual sounds more like the latter...
"The nVidia optimus technology is not supported on computers that use nVidia 3D vision." Please give me some hope

Batboy: Any chance you can find this information?

Thank you !

BTW In Canada until yesterday a 1TB Raid 0 (2x 500GB Hybrid SS) was available for 175$. The option has disappeared as of now.

Also, would anybody know if the standard 802.11n is 2.4 GHz only?

 

Third antenna allows for 450mbps speed vs 300mbps we currently see. 3 transmitting, 3 receiving antennas is what the 3x3 mimo card is about.

That being said, it probably provides a stronger signal too on routers that support 3x3.

It can be enabled in the 5 GHz mode, or within the 2.4 GHz if there is knowledge that it will not interfere with any other 802.11 or non-802.11 (such as Bluetooth) system using those same frequencies.

Source

 

Optimus Technology:

After recently placing my order, I started wondering the same thing due to Page 50. The sales staff that originally sold me the unit could not answer this question so they put me in touch with technical support. They explained briefly to me that Optimus will work when the graphics card is NOT needed and vice versa. They did not offer any comment about the statement in the manual. Without going into details that would derail this thread, I just want a clear and definitive answer about this. That answer may have to wait until we actually start seeing these machines in the consumer’s hands.

I sent an email asking for clarification of what the manual states and what technical support said to me. I will let you know if I hear anything. I am still not convinced one way or the other at this time.

I am also hopefull the experts here can shed some light on this.

 

I really hope that the Optimus question is just miswording on AW's part. If Optimus isn't supported and the battery life sucks because of it(anything under 3-4hrs) my R3 will be going back the day I get it in favor of an R2. The only 2 things the R3 got ordered for over the R2 was the 3D and the Optimus(battery life). If anyone has any additional info or knows a reliable source we can find out from it would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

I've never been impressed with any of the Asus Monitors as I feel they've generally been pretty cheap and low quality, I haven't seen the 3d ones but so far I haven't been impressed with any Asus Monitor especially when compared to an RGB (The previous 73 series vs R2 Argument). Now I understand you gotta pay a premium for a good monitor but when you're DIRECTLY going to be look at it almost every single day why go cheap? It's the most immediate thing you're going to be looking at so why settle for less?
And thus far the reviews on the Asus 3d monitor Have NOT been so great...

 

I was really impressed with the aesthetics of that system when it first came out. Now everything I see it I remember how much I hate chiclet keyboards and it gives me the shivers. lol

 

if only they kept that matte screen..........

maybe dell will offer the option one day. Apple did something right there

Actually, does the R3 have the glass 'edge to edge' cover? atleast those are easier to clean than the crappy plastic glossy coating on most notebooks.

 

I found that the connections were more stable and had better range compared to the "dell" (realtek or broadcom) wireless that came in my R1.

Should be edge to edge

 

Cleaning R3 screen wont an issue, lot of close up screenshots here Dell Alienware M17x and Aurora hands-on - Engadget Galleries

 

The lid on that looks exactly like the R1/R2. doesn't seem to have the groves the new one has

 

The photos didn't pickup enough details. Maybe they just need a better camera.

 

Does anyone know if the Alien head logo on the lid lights up? Of all the pictures I've seen, its always surrounded by a white border, never colored. Just curious, not really a deal breaker for me...

 

It should light up....that is kind of the trademark of Alienware systems haha

 

it does according to the manual page 34 and can change the color too or even make it shine RED when battery is low (when unplugged) make it green when battery +80 and yellow when battery drop below 50% etc

 

Looking at the manual, it looks like that is referring to the Alien head logo above the keyboard, I'm wondering about the one on the lid. From what I've seen, it looks like it might only illuminate white like the m11x.

 

How do you know that? are you sure about that? and another question, is M17x R3 smaller than M15x? Thankyou

 

no the m17x is not smaller how could it be

 

Can anybody with experience of handling an M11X comment on the feel/quality of its plastic-over-magnesium casing?

(I'm working on the assumption that the R3 will be similar/identical)

 

M17x got thinner body and less less depth than m15x but it's wider a bit so in general they are about identical size wise

i made this picture from the official dimensions


That's a good question, here is the data

m15x is lighter by 200 gram only so it's not big deal

m17x 16.14 x 11.96 x 1.77
m15x 14.88 x 12.15 x 1.92

Sandy bridge overall package is smaller than previous system and m17x r3 lost sli option so it become smaller (so m15x successor will be properly smaller than current m15x a little bit) but again you have bigger screen/extra HD/full keyboard with m17x

 

A further question: Is there any possibility that the embedded DRM in the SB CPUs could now, or in the future, have any implications, regarding torrent downloads (or are these issues entirely unrelated)? Thank you

 

Sad to admit it but I've owned all of the AW laptops made in the last year or two(m11xr1, m11xr2, m15x, m17xr1, m17xr2 and now the m17xr3 coming). The actual casing on the M11x is alright, I can attest that it's far from the quality that the Aluminum casing feels like, but is still a solid case. I would think some sort of lighter Alloy composite would have been a better choice as it would still have the durability of metal but be lighter than the R2, just my 0.02

 

Nice collection! Appreciate the opinion, even if it's a bit downer with regard to an (likely) upcoming R3 purchase. Does the M11X case have a 'rubbery' texture? (curious about the 'soft-touch' label)

 

I don't know that I'd call it "rubbery" as most people think of almost a latex feel that your fingers kind of catch on when they think "rubbery". Its a smooth almost slightly velvety feel with a bit of soft/give to it like rubber.

 

I just found this on an 'engadget' review: "We just wish Alienware had used the soft-touch matte finish found on top of the keyboard deck all over the machine, rather than glossy black paint".

So, perhaps this area of the M11X might provide the best indication of the R3 case...?

 

Fair enough... thank you for that. If you have any info/opinons on my earlier DRM/SB enquiry, would be grateful to hear... Cheers (tried to add a rep point, but apparently you were the last person I gave one to, and wasn't allowed )

 

so as of my finished purchase if somebody is yet interested in purchasing a m17x DO THE FOLLOWING: order the laptop, dont ask for any cut offs, choose NBD. next day call Order Modification Department (at 1 800 247 2076) and tell them you wanna cancel your purchase unless they can cut some bucks off since u got whatever hard times keeping it together.
so, my little savings (still pleasant though) were: $25 off the backpack, free NBD on backpack, free NBD on laptop. i didnt bargain about cut offs for laptop though, only about the backpack. the reason of why i didnt do it is that person told me that it is already being manufactured (while usually it takes up to week in a queue) and frankly 100 bucks are not worth waiting several days more for me. Good luck ya'll

 

What's a cut off?

 

a cut off is what they call "discount"

obviously its a rep. slang
p.s. English is my 3rd language so be easy on me plzz :S

 

I just didn't know, thanks.

 

well, you're very much welcome.
actually, if there's anybody here who knows like what steps (with time) does the laptop take before to arrive into the owners warm shaking hands, please dont hesitate to post. from what i know, it usually takes around several days to begin manufacturing it, then there are 3-5 days while its built. all i know
you know more - share pls.

 

just got quote for an r3 for fun. but wondering what you guys think of the deal.
here are the specs: 2820, 460m, 3d screen, blu-ray and 4 yrs complete care all for $2,394 everything else is stock.

 

That sounds might good to me.....what is the savings?

 

i think its around another $300+ off of the 3d package deal. just wanted to see if anyone has done better.

 

before taxes or after? if after that's really amazing.