m11x r2 unboxing and first impressions

Hello folks, I just received my m11x r2 today 6/30/10 and made an unboxing video for your viewing pleasure here:
YouTube - Alienware m11x R2 Unboxing and first boot

Everything is AWESOME so far, I haven't tested much but the soft touch is very nice along with the touchpad and the touchpad keys. The hinges seem tight and smooth. Also, this thing has the best speakers I have ever heard from a notebook hands down.

Some things that are somewhat problematic:

1. So far testing the 4" paper, I was able to slide it out but only with some pulling, does this mean my screen is touching the keyboard? If so that is somewhat disappointing although I have already bought the razer kabuto pad/screen protector.

2. The fan sometimes just starts whirling like a jet engine, this doesn't happen often but once in a while, other than that is is super quiet.

3. My usb ports are insanely hard to plug in/ pull out usb devices, I put in my nano receiver for my m305 logitech and it is crazy hard to pull out. It seems the usb ports have some kind of "locking" mechanism.

4. Battery bar and windows say I am getting 3:30 of battery life on a full charge. There is definitely a problem here.... this is only with web browsing.

5. Finally, the only real big issue, the place where my display (LCD) meets the black bezel, I can see part of the plastic mold of sorts. This is only on the top and is easy to see when the display is slanted away from your face.

Pictures are attached. #4 and #5 are the only real bother for me ATM, I have yet to test game performance.

Thanks

 

How are your audio ports, are they a little loose when you plug headphones in?

 

They seem fine, they secure the plugs well and aren't really loose at all.

Side note: What does fn+f1, f2 do exactly. I press fn+f2 and it says battery enabled. How do I disable this? If I press it again nothing happens and it keeps saying batter enabled.

 

Thank you, repped, finally a video!

 

Exactly the fan behaviour I didn't want to hear, but I guess that is with the Nvidia 335M card active.

 

Actually, it does not happen very often and is not very loud at all, I was only comparing it to its normal 95% of the time complete silence.

Sidenote: I just installed mw2, but I can't even open it, I start it fine but it instantly alt-tabs itself with a windows notification saying "optimal resolution blah blah blah" and when I try to open it again it goes back to the desktop with the notification and repeats everytime you try to open mw2 which is tabbed.

 

Ok, yeah you actually said "whirling like a jet engine", not loud as a jet engine.

I think you unfortunately will encounter problems with games or similar, since the R2 uses Optimus technology, and it seems pretty unpolished for some reason.

Thanks for the video!

 

weird question, but does it have a vga port?

 

Not a weird question at all, many have asked this but No, it does not have a VGA port. Only display port and HDMI.

 

1. I've been using the Kabuto mouse pad for this and it's been working fine. I am over careful about holding the laptop on the hinge side in order to limit the amount of stress that having the pad sandwiched in there might cause on the hinge.

2. Never noticed the fan noise unless I'm gaming and even then it's never something that captures my attention. I'm too focused on kicking butt.

3. My USB ports were also pretty tight, but they've gotten less so with use.

4. You've seriously got some issues if you're seeing 3:30 after using your R2 on battery to the point of hibernation. Battery Bar will become more accurate over time. Heavy surfing, Outlook, RDP connections out the wazoo, a good amount of 720p playback (IGP) using MPC-HC, Office apps, etc. and BB is showing my battery full lifetime at 5:25. I never game on battery. That's a pretty good indicator of what you should expect for "non-gaming" battery life.

5. I can't really see what it is you're describing in your photos, but if there's anything that looks like a manufacturing defect then have them replace it. Not replace the LCD, but replace the whole thing.

 

Thanks for the great reply, well the thing is I'm not sure if its a manufacturing defect. This is hard to explain but if you look "under" the bezel by looking at the screen from a very slanted angle you can see this black "foam" type material that I suppose holdes the glass on the front to the display in the back. Now, on mine, it is all flush at the sides and bottom but on the top, it somewhat sticks out. I will try to make a better picture to point it out.

On another note, does anybody know how to run modern warfare 2 and bypass this optimal resolution notice?

 

My MW2 initially kept Alt/tab itself out to desktop, however I did not encounter any problem with optimal resolution. I did realize when I had messenger or anything that's active on desktop, whenever there's activity it alt tab mw2 back to desktop. I just closed everything and it ran fun the first time. Subsequently never had any problems.

My screen and bezel are clean and tight, none of your problems.

My USB port is tight, its not a locking mechanism..some laptops are just like that....

If your game still doesnt work right, may I suggest reinstall or even install the beta video driver on dell site for R2.

 

@ barry : Did you get silver or black?

 

... I got soft touch black, its in the video xD. Woohoo got mw2 running. Now only 2 problems left battery life and bezel issue. But WOW! the SPEAKERS are freaking unbelievable on this laptop, IMO. Super loud AND crisp I am very satisfied by this.

 

black, and whats wrong with ur battery life?

This one of course will be shorter than R1, R1 u can dedicated integrated which sips juice, this one not much control over it. r1's SU 7300 use 10W our i5/i7 use 18, thats 80% more.

 

Wow the official neoprene sleeve is a very very very tight fit. If anyone wants to see a m11x neoprene sleeve by mobile edge video I'd be glad to post it

Also: Battery life seems to be adjusting, think i just gotta use it more atm.

 

The 18w includes the integrated GPU. The Core 2 Duo doesn't.

 

QFT
No way in hell the r2 is 80% more power hungry. The dell rep told me herself the battery life would be very similar -_-.

 

hey barry how much was the total cost for the m11x?? im trying to find a good deal off the laptop but paying 1200 for an 11 inch doesnt sound too enticing

 

I'm glad to see you lived long enough to use the computer. Don't cut towards yourself, derp.

 

For me, I payed under $800, I think it was $728 plus taxes and environmental fee. So total out the door was around $790. Although I can't say how I got it this low, you can still achieve a decent sub 1000 price w/ these coupons


Use coupon code
DHBXMTCSSJQ62K
for 100$ off

Use coupon code
7$3CKR1K9GMKWD
for free shipping

From SD

 

I am still reporting ~3:40 of battery life on both batterybar pro, and windows. But it seems like the minutes are longer, I am not sure whats going on..

 

Yeah! I would only spend that much if I was getting a laptop so big a passerby would suspect I had mission control on my lap! What an outrage for this powerful laptop to be in a form factor that can't hide my thick frame!

PS: slickdeals.net...

 

Same here XD, 1200 would be for 2 laptops in my book D: