What users want in the M18x R2

Wish I had the 6500 to buy one from Originpc but got this one refurb with no issues so far for less than half that price. Maybe I'll win the lottery soon...

 

EON17-X is the Clevo P270WM. It's still on pre-order due to some stability issues. But even though it's got a desktop unlocked CPU, don't hold your hopes high of ever OC'ing it. Also, think of ergonomics. The Clevo is quite a bit thicker. Battery life is non-existent.

 

The EON17-X (or its Clevo Brothers) is a MONSTER of a machine. Aesthetically, i feel the Alienware is ahead of it by a fair margin.

Technically, my biggest peeve is the 17X is that the SLI version requires 2, 300W Power supplies.. Kind of a Pain..

You do get BIG power out of it.. And a 120hz Screen too..but its just that much less portable.

 

This is not the newest news, but I follow these threads pretty closely and didn't see anyone else post this...

Alienware M18X R2 - New Info - Dell News and more

M18X R2

GPU options:
2x Radeon HD 7970M (CrossFire)
2x GeForce GTX 675M (SLI)
GeForce GTX 660M (not sure if it's going to be offered as a single card or in SLI configuration)

Wireless HD (WiHD) Card - optional extra for both M18X R2 and M17X R4.

Does anyone know if you can drive multiple monitors out of the box with the M18x on the Radeon?

 

you should be able to power multiple monitors if you have the ports available. Don't take my word for it though as I only have external monitor plugged into at a time.

 

At this point, 120hz screen is just a speculation. The X7200 was also rumored to get that option but was never more than a hoax.

 

7990M Ha can't wait uuulalaa.

 

I would like this feature in the M18x R2: Mobility and Sleek Design Without Sacrifice - Asetek, Inc.

 

Soon there will be the PAX East where someone told me that m18x R2 news should be revealed

Live Stream(s) :
PAX East 2012

Bill are you there ? Some infos ?

 

I will be patiently awaiting for this reveal, still hoping to hear RGBLED will be a configurable option such was the case with the M17XR2.
This (for me) will point the direction I will follow, if RGBLED an option for new M18X, I will be buying one, if not, I will upgrade my M17XR2 with 6990 Xfire, for now, my trusty 4870's Xfire are keeping up, barely but keeping up....

 

It'd be cool if the added back the RGB option, but I fear that it's probably a thing of the past. The 16:9 format is pretty much an industry standard now.

 

Ultimatedly the screen can be 16:9 (even many of us still prefer the 16:10)... but it still can be RGBLED/IPS... and, of course, a much better pixel density for a 18.3" area... This is much needed! 1900x1080 can look ok on a 14" area, no more than that... when you disperse the same amount of pixels on a 17" or 18"... things do not show ok anymore.

 

+1 to all the above!
Yes, we would need higher pixel density for the bigger real state...
Sometimes I feel that the RGB on my M17XR2 ruined me for all other display choices, once you use RGB is hard to use anything else, it just looks washed out and lifeless...

Bring it Alienware! you can doit!

 

A market research will show that "the people" demand it and are willing to pay for it...

 

What the 1-2% of the potential buyers want is not gonna be enough, I'm afraid.
I'm 100% sure the best we can hope for in terms of screen quality is 3D 120hz 72% gamut and most likely - super glossy. I've decided long ago that my next laptop will have a high gamut matte screen. So, no R2 for me

 

Sorry to dissagre this time: Only a deep and wide market research can evidence if we are talking of "just" 1-2%...

PS: I do have my own sources and based on them I believe that the percentage of people interested, ready and willing to pay for a "premium" screen with all the mentioned "goodies" will be much higher and bussines profitable...

 

Oh yeah, sure. Even on this forum, the majority of users wouldn't opt for the "premium screen goodies" if it costs 450-650$ extra (HP 87x0w and Dell Mx600). Not to mention that to make such a screen an option isn't as simple as adding ssd's/blu-rays and other gooodies to the configurator. Dell would have to make a special order for a 18.4" IPS RGBLED panel, since no such screen exists on the market. Not only that, they would have to make a new mobo revision for that and the damage$$$ on that would be significant.

The veterans of this forum are in 1-2% (if not less) and as such can't be considered as part of the market research. Our opinions can't be taken seriously here. Big vendors will only address actual problems (stuttering, latency, overheating, etc) something that may affect the majority. So, IMHO, no matter how much we talk about IPS RGBLED screens, it's not gonna happen...

Unless...

If Apple brings the retina display to their MBP series and it shifts the scales a bit, it may, just may create enough resonance for other vendors to start adopting the new panels.

IIRC, far more people voted for matte screens vs high gamut or/and IPS and yet as you see, Dell doesn't offer any choice. Still the same "mirror". Why? Because ppl love it

 

Well, here is my humble opinion, and I will emphasize first that I am no expert on this matter...
I remember when I bought my M17XR2, and they did have the RGB screen option, those screen flew out of their inventory faster than they announced them, afterwards, in this forum and others, the consensus on the premium RGB screens was nothing short of, "That is an awesome screen", they sold out fast, and I mean fast, people where waiting and waiting for more, till the bad news came that it was the end of the line...
I was just very happy that I was among the lucky ones with this great screens and been enjoying it ever since. I did buy an 11XR3 for my son, and regardless of the difference in size, the colors on the M11XR3 looked lifeless and washed out, simply not even fair to compare, of course, if you never seen and used an RGB screen, this perhaps would not be an issue, and the truth is, if you have a properly adjusted RGB screen, it really is hard to be happy with anything else, as simple as that... With all this said, I can honestly say that I have no loyalties to any company, if Alienware will not invest on what ultimately makes all that powerful hardware inside shine and present it to our eyes with all the possible candy, the monitor, then eventually somebody else will, and that is where I will be doing business, for the time being, I will keep that fully paid Dell credit card in stand by, and study the competition well...
Also, here is hoping that there is still a chance this year, even if the odds are low...

 

One question, why is it then that there's no RGBLED in the M17xR3/M18xR1? If it was so popular and important, why wouldn't Dell offer it for the last gen?

 

I do understand your point, not sure you understand mine...
I wont speculate on reasons why they don't have RGBLED available anymore, I am not in the know, I just know with certainty that RGBLED screens are without question a superior monitor.
I do realize your reasoning is sound, but I also know Alienware, or whats left of it, used to take pride on being in the cutting age of gaming technology, if this motto still lives within the company, then we at some point in time, shall see this elusive monitors again...

 

PAX live near to start, the stream is already on.
PAX East 2012

 

You know.. Other than getting 120hz/3D an possibly having a Matte Option.. I have to say.. i really really love the current screen in the M18x. Even with a little tweeking in the Catalyst Pannel, you can make it extremly nice.. It is a huge notch above most Laptop screens and i have to say, I don't know that it could get much better from a general consumer point of view..

Now.. im not a "pro" when it comes to doing Art/Media what-have-ya.. but for me, its excellent. I am more than satisfied. I sit in front of screens all day long.. sometimes 4 or 5 of them.. and when i sit down with my M18X when i get home at night.. i can appriciate what it has. Maybe its because i don't have the exposure to pro-grade monitors.. but i think its quite nice.

 

better stream for Alienware :
AlienwareArena

 

The stock M18x screen is good, no doubt. But it could be way better

You know, RGBLED anti-glare panel is what I want more than anything else in the AW laptops. Even if Dell would fall behind Clevo in absolute performance but managed to add the mentioned screen option, I'd be one of the first adopters hands down. I totally support your point of view but there's also a reality. When the M17x R2 was launched, the TN RGBLED panel was already on the market. It was cheap and actively used in many other 17" notebooks. The 18.4" category is different. There are very laptops in it and their screens mostly mediocre. Dell managed to grab the best one from what was available. And as it stands today, there's no better panels out there to choose from.

 

I've seen the display type posts flying by in Outlook notifications today. Wanted to add one more thing to think about into the discussion.

Supply chain. At our scale (more than Clevo), we have to have a clear line of sight to some pretty big numbers, comparatively speaking, when contracting to purchase screens for a product run. If we settle on pricing for screen X, if we can't get a guarantee for enough units in a given time frame, we may be forced to go with screen Y. I'm making no comment on quality of any screen here. Just saying there are other constraints beyond pricing.

 

Thanks Bill for the update,it's good to see ya on here.I thank you again for all you did bro,TB and JD are AWESOME! Hope you have a great weekend and see ya on Twitter!Plus1 Rep!BTW I know what you mean with supply vendors look at Apple they had 3 screen manufacturers 5 months before the Ipad came out and there are issues still!We had a 30% return the first 2 weeks because of heat and people thought the screen looked yellow.

 

IMHO, it was obvious when Dell was R&D'ing the M18xR1 and entered the 18.4" screen realm.

 

Most welcome. Even though Alienware is not one of my team's platforms, I just can't get away. lol

Bingo.

 

Brother Bill! - good to see you again! - you can never have too much of a good thing, right?

 

I wonder why didn't they at least offer the IPS RGBLED as an option for the M17xR3? After all, the screen is available with the Precision series. Was that the fact that it would require a different mobo revision? Or maybe the switchable graphics was too big a sacrifice for that?

 

Good point,they do have the 17 as more options on business models.I like you would love a high gamut screen,my most wished for change.The xps l502x even has an amazing screen.I just saw asus and sony even hp offering an ips panel.Just sayin.Aikimox makes a valid point!

Hey brother Stevie! I haven't been here in a while hope all is well and it's good to see you! And billB is always lurkin around.Lol He did help me as you also with TB and the social guys.

 

Hey Joe! - yeah...doing fine mate thanks. Hope you are too. Bill is a star, his prescence here on NBR is ALWAYS welcome in any way, shape or form...

 

Glad to hear! And yeah bill's a good guy,I still can't believe how he took care of me when it seemed no one else cared.I know you know 1st hand about having them on your side.And he tells us as much as he can without getting in trouble with dell.I know he and I chatted on twitter about the m18xr2 screen a bit and he knew some info but because of him being a loyal dell employee he couldn't say anything that would make him lose his job.Good dude!It was common sense the r2 was getting Ivybridge and new nvidia gtx cards and amd cards the few questionable items were the new screen and output options,until ssd changes and wifi cards I think the styling will be like most refreshes minor changes at best.Especialy since the m18x is pretty new as it is.Again glad to see ya mate!

 

Offer the M18 R2 with only one screen, a matte LED backlit RGB IPS display. Done!

 

Thanks Tommy for the news!

 

Or add Klypsch speakers to the M6700 with extra cooling and I'm on it.

 

Was the R2 not announced at that convention thingee?

 

Yeah well although I don't particularly like apple or most of their products, my favorite quote from them would definitely have to be the one along the lines of

"Improve the screen, and you improve everything about the product."

 

I haven't see anything about the m18x R2 on stream of the PAX East, Bill have you more informations ?

D/AW is waiting for processor, GPU or/and new Motherboard chipset ?

 

I am waiting for official announcement also,I think Ivy bridge is still waiting on Embargo from intel,everyone is anouncing Ivy in upcoming platforms but no one officially has any out.Intel Ivy had been embargoed,I guess still working out all the manufacturing platforms.The new kepler gpu to replace the 580 isnt out yet either supposed to be june or july.The 680m,the 675m isnt the replacement for the 580.Bill can correct me If I'm wrong but I heard Q3 for True next gen replacement of 580m and hi end Ivy mobile.I'll find the link and post what was said,from intel and nvidia.

 

@joegreen1967
Thank you for your very clear explanations, It's exactly what I think too.

 

No prob Anentropik,I am dying to hear more than speculation of when for New Alienware's.

 

Whoooo !
Not good news if it's true !
https://dell-lab.posterous.com/alienware-m18x-r2-even-more-info

 

2GB option for RAM? LOL

 

Yeah.. Don't see that as an option.

That would make 8gb the $1,000 Option.. lol..

 

Hopefully not and for some reason they dont have the usual 6GB option..Hopefully a typo

 

"2GB option..."
Why not? People compute on 2GB still, and I would take that and shove my 16GB sticks from my m17xR2 into it. Cheapest option for me.

These specs were exactly what i was expecting. Normal white LED (miss RGB, but i dont think it is ever comming back), Xfire and SLI with the current announced cards (680m later, assumed), CPUs and other specs are all normal. I know it isnt groundbreaking exciting, but I dont know what else it would be really. Would have liked a hydrix chip too.

 

2GB would be fine if we were talking about a Windows XP or Windows 7 Starter netbook. I've put Windows 7 on a few 2GB computers at work, and it's just not enough to run it properly. Plus, Alienware advertises themselves at high-end, top performing computers. To even have that low of a memory option would definitely send the wrong signals to consumers. Dell would have people buying them for the low price (not us, as it would be a cool cheaper priced option since we would replace the sticks anyways), and would have a flurry of support calls and complaints on their hands.

 

Yes, i think they run too much of a risk.

I wonder how much more Dell could make if they simply priced ram Reasonably? Even at $25 a Gig.. they could probably sell a lot better than the $1K for 16GB option.. I really wonder how many people really pay that?

 

There has to be here and there an ignorant to pay for it