Is the m11x your main machine?

I'm thinking about getting one - if I do - it will be my one and only machine. I'll use it for gaming of course, and some web development tools like visual studio and sql server.

I would like to know if it's your main machine. If so, how has it been?

 

I would also like to know this, I currently have a 24" iMac so my only trade offs will the screen size, and OSX. Im not sure if I could use the m11x as my sole machine, I sure would love to though. I imagine it would not be much different from when I had my 13" Macbook pro. Look forward to everyone's input.

 

I don't have an M11X, but I *do* have an inspiron mini 10, which is about the same size, and I prefer to use it over my airbook for internet browsing but not much else. The keyboard is cramped(although adequate), the screen is small. Actually, the processor in this is a bit more powerful than the M11x, and I still can't see it being useful for anything except the Internet and managing my backup discs. Ultimately, if you're 18 years old and have 20/20 vision as well as the ability to read small text for hours, have the patience to deal with slow performance then by all means, use it as a main desktop replacement. However, if you're not *all* of these, the M15x or even a comparable 15" latitude/inspiron should be the better choice. The M11x was designed to be taken to the coffee shop and play a few light-medium games while you wait for your car to be serviced, not for long-term use.

 

I have a dell mini 9 ( with OS that I can speak of on this forum ), a dell mini 10 and a bunch of other random laptops, but I use the m11x for most things I do other than surfing the net, I use the mini 9 for doing that.

 

Eh - I have both the M11x and Mini 10 - M11x is approximately 20-30% larger - quite a difference in size actually.

I'd agree with these assessments overall with the Mini 10 (which you're trying to compare the M11x to - which is an entirely *off* comparison)...

Keyboard - while "cramped" on a few keys (i.e. cursor keys) - is still quite roomy considering the size.. and I'm able to easily transition from a normal sized keyboard to this laptop with minimal effort (and I have very large hands) M11x's screen is much larger than a Mini 10 - and much better (again - you have to see them side by side).

???????? An Atom processor is more powerful than a Dual-Core / C2D? - what are you smoking man? I want some..

Disagree completely - while yes - it's "designed" as defined above (and works wonderfully doing so).. I've had no trouble using it for extended uses. I also have pretty much *everything* I need / want on it (think DESKTOP replacement) - Office / Various Browsers / Various games / Visual Studio (2k8/2k10) / Development, etc. - you name it - there's nothing I haven't seen it handle.

Short of doing major calculations (which it can handle - of course - however compared with the Core iSeries coming out - there's more competition) - this little machine can really handle about anything you can throw at it.. Yes - it has some quirks - but it's a great overall laptop. I personally use it for my main laptop rig (other than my desktop / work laptop). The Mini 10 is child's play comparatively speaking..

 

Well I have a pretty high end desktop for gaming, and the difference in performance is very noticeable. Even everyday tasks I can notice little areas where there is a slow down.

 

I have mixed feelings on this one. If you had a suitable external monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc, this laptop would be fine for a main system if you can live with gaming at 720p like resolutions.

The major limiting factors that would prevent me from recommending it as a main system:
Relatively low performance CPU (but remember, this is a ULV, you trade performance for battery life / power consumption which in this case is an excellent tradeoff in my opinion for this form factor).

Size- while it's definately the best keyboard I've used on something this small I much prefer my destkop for coding / general work.

Lack of external connectivity for drives- you have no USB3 or eSATA which limits the speed of any external media you'd connect. Not a big problem for this form factor but when you need loads of drive space for something it's an issue.

[edit] Lack of Gigabit Ethernet- going with the above point, the lack of gigabit ethernet further adds to the problem of connecting external drives. If the system had gig- you'd be able to connect network drives at around 90-110 MB/s. Not a huge problem for a small system like this but if it was your main / dekstop replacement that would be annoying too.

Personally, I'm considering getting an m17x to go along with this system. The M11x is an excellent laptop to do almost anything on the go- in my opinion it's a jack of all trades but master of none. I can't think of a better laptop to take with you running around town (especially with the built in 3g options) or for a weekend trip.

Don't get me wrong, I love the M11x for what it is, I'm just saying why I wouldn't recommend it as a main desktop replacement.

 

@OP: Yes. Works perfect. The only annoyance is lack of docking station, so I have to plug/unplug 5 cables every time.

 

Might I suggest a USB hub and plug all devices into that, and only one USB to the laptop

 

damn... that is genius!

 

Well I'll have to get something like that if it will work... my keyboard has an extra USB, but the mouse won't charge when plugged into that. Works fine when plugged into the laptop directly...

That will only save 1 cable slot tho , I still have to connect external speakers, VGA monitor port and a LAN cable (since I started WoW again, I need a bit less latency ).

 

Ive used this as my main machine since my asus's motherboard died 2 months ago and also because my advents internet doesnt work at home for some reason. I cant see any problems with it really, the screen size doesnt bother me and its alot quieter than any other laptop ive had

 

it's my main machine now, too. my pc practically belongs to my baby sister (high end quad core crossfire gaming rig, too) so i spend more time fixing that than using it.

it's small, fits on my lap with no overhang, light, even though it's heavy for it's size, it's a reassuring heavy, and i just got off of a 3 hour left 4 dead 2 gaming session and still have 39% battery life left.

this little machine has made me rethink everything i know about processors and whether they really matter or not.

 

I didn't plan on my M11x being my primary computer, but that's what it has become.

I just love the portability/power combo of it. I have a 17" Laptop that never leaves the house, because it's just too big. Ever try flying with a 17" laptop?...It's a pain. I don't want a Netbook, I would just get frustrated every time I tried to multi-task. I have plenty of desktops at home, but I don't like being tethered to my house.

My M11x can sit next to me at work all day while I download, upload, edit pictures, and watch the occasional video. Then when I get out of work I can game the entire hour long bus ride home. After I get home, I can plug it into my 42" LCD via HDMI and watch some HULU. Pretty versatile IMO.

This might all change in the future, But for now my M11x is top dog!

 

I have mixed feelings about this one as well. I mean don't get me wrong the m11x is awesome! I use it to bring to friends houses for lan parties etc. Everyone is lugging around 17" beasts and I have the luxury of carrying something with almost the same amount of power but a fraction of the weight. I'm sure if your doing mild gaming as well as office docs etc. you'll be fine with this as your main computer. I just get bored of mine easily, hence I have so many lol.

 

unreal25 i love your setup!!! How much did that all cost ya?

 

Thanks!

- Monitor is from my old Dell Inspiron 531 desktop (you can see it below the table). I think it's this model. Nothing fancy, no exotic acronyms and what not, but it works good enough for me. It's 3 years old now.

- m11x was $980 total - $90 Bing Cashback = $890.

- keyboard (Razer Lycosa) + mouse (Mamba) + mousepad (Megasoma) = $10.99 on Easter ^^ (the retail value is around $260, so with taxes and shipping it comes out a little less than $300)

- speakers you can't see on the pic, but I love them; Cambridge Soundworks 2+1, they were $80 at a time (but they match everything )

 

The m11x is the computer that I use the most during work or at home due to the battery life and portability. Also the fact that I find the keyboard on the M11X easy to type on, not everyone has long fingers.

I enjoy that FSX with the original planes and lower detail settings still looks good and has a fast enough frame rate on the M11x.

However when I need a easy to read screen and more powerfull graphics for FSX with the addon aircraft from PDGM then it's back to the Asus G71X with P8700 and the GTX 260 video card.

 

I use my m11x as my travel computer. I have an external Blu-Ray Drive and a USB HDTV device so I have a complete entertainment center with me where ever I go. My main computer is an m15x which I quickly realized is to heavy and too much of a power hog even with the extended battery to be my main traveling computer. (My usual travel day is about 6 hours in airports and on planes, twice at least twice a month.)

 

I didn't intend for it to be my main machine but it's just so damn good it has successfully usurped my desktop PC.

 

I don't own one (and if I did, my M17 would be my main machine and my M11x a secondary) however it could very easily be a main machine.

It really depends what you use it for. Hardcore gamers will probably look for something more beefy. However, a more casual gamer will definetely find using it as a main computer alright-although they may want to invest in an external mouse, keyboard, and monitor for use at home on the desk.

 

Nah. If I get an m11x, it would replace my Asus. My m17x will be my main machine.

 

From the use that this machine gets it just thinks it's the main machine. After all did you ever try to lay in bed and use a 17" Asus to surf the web?

 

This is not my main machine.

I would recommend it as a main machine if you buy an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse for long extended periods of use.

 

I love my M11X. I also have an M17. I primarily use the M11X due to its size and power. It is an amazing machine. However, I still prefer my M17, if I have the space to use it. They are both amazing machines. Using my M11X is like using a space shuttle, using my M17 is like sitting at the helm of the Starship Enterprise. Love both machines though, but the M17 is my favorite.

 

Yes it is now my main machine. I have gone through the following in the last 2 months

MSI GT640

G51J-A1

G73JH-X1 - waiting for Asus to send me this laptop back had to RMA it the first day I got it!

Alienware M15x - 920XM Extreme & Alienware M15x- 720QM See video here

My favorite is the M11x ever since I learned that the video card can handle a dual display external setup I went out and got another 28" monitor today!


I have 4GB of Ram and a G2 X25-M SSD in it. In all honesty you can barely see a difference in performance compared to the i7 machines I listed above unless it is multiple applications at once. Here is my thread referencing how to speed up your M11x: click here

It rocks and is ultra-portable.

It is my favorite and I have already sold off half of my other laptops listed above.

 

LOL...I have (with my m17x), and its not pleasant. One of the reasons I got a netbook, to browse in bed

 

I never intended for my m11x to be my main rig, but I definately spend around 95% of my computer time (excluding work) on it... I use it on my commute to work, lunch break, commute home, I use it while my wife is on the desktop, I take it out back and lay in the hammock with it, I take it upstairs and sit in a chair while my boys fall asleep. It has the power to do anything I want and the portability to go wherever I want... It is truely a remarkable lil beast!

 

That would bring it down to 4 cables at least for me:
1. HDMI out
2. Audio jack
3. Power adapter
4. USB hub connected to ext. hdd, mouse receiver and printer.

 

Throughout these comments the main thing that this laptop/netbook brings to the table is the size and portablilty. Yes there are bigger and more powerfull laptops out there that will crank out the 3dmarks. that weigh 10lbs with 1-1/2 hr battery life but that is not the purpose of the m1x.

But the real qestion is which one do you want hanging from your shoulder while running from gate to gate at the airport? Do you want to game on on a airplane traytable in "cattle country" in the back of the plane? If the answer is yes then the M11x is the answer.

 

She serves every purpose for me and has replaced my desktop which I have now sold to a friend.
She is definitely a worth main machine in my eyes!

Also @unreal25 I love the fact that you have a book acting as a stand for your monitor

 

I'm a hardcore gamer, I use this as my main PC, and it works wonderfully.

 

It has now become my main... in that I use it more than any other for gaming. My old laptop (a toshiba sattelite P200) is now acting as a media centre. My desktop (Q9550 + GTX285) I will still use for gaming - especially for the games which are just a little too demanding for the m11x (GTA4 mainly) or for when I want the extra comfort.

 

Last year I switched my main computer from a 17" gaming notebook to a gaming desktop (I built) primarily since the 17" never went anywhere, also because GPU and other upgrades are not only possible, but easy on a desktop. The M11x certainly has the potential to replace a desktop, for me it's the take anywhere / do anything computer.

 

Damn it s my hacking laptop.... and i use it on the run

My main lap is XPS, and i m having a destop.

>Cheers !