worried after ordering.

so i finally ordered a m17x-R4 today, instead of my original plan to buy sager NP 9170.
for the same spec of:
- i7 3720
- amd hd 7970
- 16gb ram 1600 MHz
- 256 gb SSD
- 750 gb HDD (strange but 2nd hdd is not an option in alienware website unless you raid, so i had to buy this outside and ask my reseller to put it in for me)
- dvd rw
- win 7 pro 64 bit
- intel advanced network card
the price different is only about usd150 more expensive on the alienware. i don't have the exact usd amount since my reseller gave me the converted price to my country's currency.
so, after much thought, i decided to go for alienware since dell have a local service center in my country and will easily handle alienwares of any type should anything went wrong, whereas sager i have to rely on US based service center.
my second thought was i have never seen any sager hands on (only in vids), whereas alienware have showrooms here where i can test drive all models.

now about my worries, i tested the m17x-r3 in dell showroom today, and i can confirm that the keyboard ghosting problem is there on s + d + spacebar key, based on the microsoft keyboard ghosting tool.
so i was wondering if this problem still appears in the R4 version, or whether if its really bothering any of you proud AW owners while playing any games that uses wasd to move and spacebar as a jump.
because theoritically this means you can't move backward right and jump at the same time.

 

If this really is an issue you should get a USB keyboard from razor, you can press any buttons you want on those. Are you actually going to be playing on your lap? I'm assuming that you wont be playing with the track pad.

 

Hmm...I don't think I ever noticed that on my R3...but I'm not a great FPS player. Even so, I still think I'd notice if I couldn't move a certain way. I'm sure someone here will test it for you (I'm still waiting on my R4, and my R3 is sold).

 

external keyboard is not an option for me, i got cramped desk, barely enough for a mouse (i ordered the tactx mouse btw).
and i don't play any "laptop" on my "lap", my first experience playing a "laptop" on my "lap" was not a very good experience. i guess this is why the name changed into notebook pc, coz you just can't play them on your lap anymore.

hope you're right, the demo model in the showroom don't have any game installed on it, so i just can't test it out.
its just plain stupid imo, because they definitely emphasize gaming on their showcase ads, but there are no games whatsoever installed for ppl to try out save for the solitaires lol.

 

I dont even know that AW have keyboard ghosting issues until yesterday when I read it from one thread. Honestly, I haven't noticed anything. I have been playing on my R3 since I got it last month.

 

Maybe it's just that I've never needed to go backwards and right while jumping...

As for the lap thing, I actually play on my lap all the time. You just need a lapdesk or something else that will make the weight more comfortable on you.

 

good to hear, i can sleep now
do you have game references? if you don't mind.

its not the weight that's problematic, its the heat. not good for your b***s

 

I haven't had any problems with my FPS games, But im not a pro or anything so Maybe I just don't notice it.

 

Me neither but now I have a technical reason for my dyslexic keyboard stabbing failures during moments of panic

 

I never actually noticed the ghosting on my R2 until I read about it in forums.

Yes, sometimes it is there but not enough of an issue for FPS games.

I think it more impacts those playing RPG's and their casting abilities.

 

i don't think you'll be moving around and jumping a lot in RPG compared to FPS. for example MMORPG like WoW where you'll be standing still next to the mobs while you spam your abilities. plus i'd use the numpad for casting abilities if i need to move around during pvp (its pretty hard to use the number keys up top while wasd-ing imo).
now for RPG's like skyrim you'll be using mouse clicks to atk.
so i think theoritically FPS would be more suffered from ghosting.

regardless, i would thank everyone who gave confirmation of the non issue.
when i got my R4 i would definitely test it out on games and give feedbacks in this forum.

 

Yup guess now we can blame the keyboard haha. We are alienware owners, when would we ever hit the wrong botton?