Are M15x / M17x Professional enough or not?

Do you consider M15x or M17x R1/R2 professional enough to take them at your work, on a business meeting or a conference, or would you feel embarrassed and rather bring another Dell,Sony, Apple, etc... business oriented laptop with you?

 

I personally take my R2 with me, unless I have to walk, then I take my netbook

 

I once brought my M15x to our presentation at work (graphic artist). Hooking it to our projector while we present a proposition to our clients(Marketing peeps and some graphic artists). Room is dimmed and I still notice them taking a glimpse of my laptop every now and then (laptop lights are all off). Seems that theyre more interested with my laptop than our presentation lol. I think its because of the massive size and the shiny alien head logo at the back. After our presentation I get questions regarding the laptop as well lol. Anyways it ended good and we get good comments regarding our presentation. I think it depends of what field of work you are in to and the type of meetings your going to.

oh i always bring my M15x at work... sits on my desk all the time till I go home.

 

I am a Systems Engineer for an IBM Business Partner. I carry my M17x in to client sites all the time. Never got anything but rave reviews.

 

Imagine if they allowed engineers to connect this laptop as an SE or HMC to the mainframe? LOL dreaming...

 

a lecturer of mine used to have an asus EEE pc he'd take along for his lectures, however after seeing my m15x, he did a little bit of research and replaced his EEE with an m11x.

but then again this is the same lecturer who can convince other professionals that a Schenkerian analysis of Eminem is possible... even if it makes no sense.

 

Never ever underestimate what the M!5x can do.

People who only look at the wrapper and think it's a toy, really deserve the machines they currently have. Those people tend not to research, or know how to read the tech specs. And rarely do they know about NBR. Too many of them trust the Geek Squad and yes even the Geniuses to guide them.

And yes I know a few who have connected older AW's (Clevos) to SE and HMCs, and yes there were surprised looks at what it did.

 

I think the M11X would be less conspicuous But of you turn of all the lights,it looks a little like a Panasonic Tough Book. I actually dumpped Command control and installed AlienFX lite and only use the backlit Keyboard when I need it at home. If I was still going to work in a white collar enviornment (12 years of that was plenty) I probably would take a far lighter and thinner 13" or at most 14" notebook.

 

Unless my presentation required a demo of furmark or a benchmark of the latest game, I would be embarrassed about using my M17x at work. The only choices we have are lenovo or MacBook for our refresh.

 

i would be embarrassed beyond belief.

Alienwares are to impress my LAN buddies, not my boss or clients.

 

People do get impressed by it. I had taken my M17x to work for a month, when my company-issued laptop was at another office, in a different country. It was a bit embarrassing. After the curiosity fades, they eventually get used to it, and then it's less of an issue to bring it. Personally, I would have preferred a Clevo in this regard.

The M17x is fine for work...but it's the equivalent of over-dressing, a LOT. The only reason I would want to use it at the office is coz the company-issued one is really slow. But we're not supposed to use personal laptops for work and without VMware, I wouldn't want to run most of the work-software on this gaming rig.

If personal laptop use for office work was ok, I would (with vmware).

Depending on your job & position, it can be okay to have it at your desk along with your work laptop.

Also, "Do you think that they are professional enough?" really means "Do you think they look plain looking and typical enough for work?". The old Ripley designs are a no-no for work.

 

Professional enough? What the heck are you talking about? They are too professional

 

I guess that I have reached an age where I do not care as much about what others think. If it efficiently does everything I need & I am doing everything they need me to do, then they can get over it or provide a cheap boring system with half the power that takes me 3 times as long to do my job.

Seriously though, as long as it is clean, the appearance of my computer should have no more bearing on my capabilities to do my job at work than the appearance of the vehicle I drove to get there.

 

I don't understand why people think that business men (of all people) would not like the Alienware design. I mean, come on, these are the people who spend 60% of their time on the golf course and 40% of the time driving their $250,000 sports cars.

While working on a series of campaigns I had the opportunity to attend and present to some meetings for the Chamber of Commerce. Just to see what people would say, I brought my Alienware instead of my Mac (meetings are the only reason I bought a Mac in the first place).

ONE person didn't like it. He was also the least successful business man there.

Everyone else raved about how they had never seen a laptop as beautiful looking as this one. Over the course of a weekend, about 10 people asked me where they could buy one.

I did not expect a positive response from the oldest man there, and also probably the richest. I was wrong. He loved it. So much that he asked me to help him configure one, then helped him set it up when he got it.

So, are the M17x and M15x professional? Only to people who actually understand what professional is. There's a lot of stuck-up people who just try to pretend they're professional and hate anything that isn't Swiss design. They would never touch something that looks like an Alienware because it's not silver and designed to look like a boring slab of metal. They also pretend they make a lot more money than they really do and just want to look sophisticated. It makes them feel superior to everyone else in society whilst they drink their unpronounceable coffees with a neckerchief draped over one shoulder and write their novel in a Starbucks on a bland, silver laptop.

 

For people who are mature enough, it doesn't matter. Only in an artificially stuck-up location will you see concern against your choice of laptop design.

I know a few people who carry a gaming laptop for work, simply because they were the fastest, but for most me (airplane cramp), I like the backlit keyboards almost all of these laptops carry [I sprung for a M11X yesterday. ]

Overall, most of my collegues here at work just have a normal HP, IBM, or ASUS laptop. Nothing fancy, beyond the glowing logo on the back of some HP designs. And backlit keyboards Only a few of the engineers (HW) carry around a "gaming" laptop, but it mostly revolves around several requirements: large screen, high resolution, powerful CPU - and a penchant for the overbuilt cooling systems these laptops sport.

I love backlit keyboards. They make typing so much easier (I still glance at the KB every once in a while - not long enough to read the keys, but to make sure my hands are in the correct position).




EDIT: asthetically, I think the m1Xx line is rather subtle, it doesn't have any wierd contours, like the ASUS G73 series has.

 

Okay, done with the final edit. I won't double post again.

 

Once upon a time I would have said that it's like wearing sneakers to work. But it isn't.

It's like wearing your Rolex to work.

 

Anyone that judges me as a person, in my capabilities or class, education or success based on the "looks" of something I own or carry can go politely fornicate themselves with a spoon.

The way I look at it: you either like the Alienware for it's sporty, higher-end rich design or admire it's features and specs. Honestly it's impossible to not like something about the system.

If you're the type that says otherwise, than great news, Apple has millions of the same lifeless plain metal slab laptops in a box waiting for you.

 

That's not nice. There's a reason why certain occasions call for a suit and tie. Everything you do reflects how positive or negative you think something is, and dressing and choosing your equipment is no different.

That being said, I don't think the M15x is inappropriate at all. It is a gaudy thing, but it's no different than wearing an expensive watch or driving a luxury car.

Now if it came in pink... then we'd have issues.

 

There's no question going into a room waring jeans a a T-shirt that says "I'm with stupid" when it's a formal function is "questionable"; that isn't what my comment was disagreeing with as I don't CARRY my tie or suit... The topic here is the laptop, a phone, etc, above all materialistic type things and being judged upon them based on the aesthetics of the item (not in a it's a beater versus new deal either).

In my opinion, any one individual that's going to judge someones abilities, education, success etc because they carry around and use a laptop of phone that's old, thin, thick, shiny, lights up, or just plain different than everyone other person in the function/industry/whatever is ignorant and shallow to be polite about it.

"Our laptops don't light up and look like a sports car, he must be a unsuccessful high-school drop out!" - Rough example.

IMO, they like it, great, as others have shared they got the fun of helping others out in getting there own and what not. If they hate it, touch luck, they don't have to use it so move on. Unless something is physically/virtually/technically/in any way delaying, or causing problems to ones or an entire companies productivity or success, than it's an issue.

To each is his own and one is not to judge a book by it's cover.

 

I use my M11x to serial into switches and Power hardware all the time. Love the fact that I can work all day without a charge in the Data Center!

 

I am right there with ya. I don't care what people think about my laptop. I use it for me not for them. M17x when I am working in someones cube doing alot of typing and M11x when I am in the Data Center. Nothing but compliments and people immediately going on alienwares website to price one out for themself. I bet I have sold a dozen of these things at customer sites.

 

i used mine a work a couple time only my direct boss get iritated by it as the big boss is the one who lended me the compagnie credit card to buy this thing


people's faces are always funny when the keyboard changes color

 

M15x is the best laptop I ever owned. And it is way more powerful than a lot of desktops out there as well (unless that desktop is designed for gaming).

 

I love the M17x, but the weight itself makes it non-functional if your role includes going to lots of meetings, etc and carrying it around. M11x makes sense and could work, and M15x perhaps. There is a lot of options in the 15" range and if your company allows you to choose your own equipment, might as well go for something you like (and can do stuff with outside of work). If you are limited in what you can put on your work laptop (no external installs, verification when you authenticate on the work network), it would not make sense to get something like an Alienware, because you can get something cheaper that will do what you need it to in the office. Save the extra $$$ for your personal Alienware and don't use it for work...

 

I would definatly take my thinkpad or dell for most work, partly due to the fact the mx17r2 is huge compared to my 14" thinkpad and 15.6" Dell. Not to mention all the shiny lights. I want people to think of me as serious then fun not fun then serious...... if that makes much sense.

 

The lights though can be easily deactivated

 

Ah HA!!!


+1 People ARE indeed judged by their "covers" like it or not.One may not like it but to deny it is neive. People are initially attracted to each ther based on their "covers" Success is judged by one's"covers" as well as the lack of the same. People choose the "image they want to present" for a reason whther a poor man wearing a Rolex to impress or a rich man wearing a Timex to hide his wares. Both choices made to influence others on some level.

It is a nice though to believe we are all treated as if we are naked and all look the same. But it simply isn't true. Not today....not yeasterday and not tomorrow. People even choose and "wear" their cars like clothes.

How one ALREADY views you will determine what they think about your Alienware NB in a formal enviornment. How they view themselves will determine what they think of your Alienware NB. Where they stand in your personal pecking order determines whether or not you care.

 

I'm an architect. It makes a difference to my clients when i can show them a virtual walk-through right off my laptop connected to a projector. The '17 can do this on the fly just as any M6500 would.

The one trait most 'rich clients' have in common seems to be their love of 'toys' be it a sports car or a yacht. Most seem to admire the '17 and several had asked where to get it. Most do not believe its a dell.

 

Well, if you are an architect, it stands good to reason you have already a nice understanding of structural physics...


People like smart people (generally). If what they carry is fancy, that liking extends to that posession.


That's my theory, at any rate.

 

Others opinions don't concern me, it's what gives me joy and I'm comfortable using. In my community almost all know Alienware and once they lay eyes on it wish they had purchased one rather than a Sony and............................................wait here it comes............................................Apple Macbook. Ahhh the trendsetters are starting to see the light.

 

The first 10,000-500,000 Macbook buyers might have been trendsetters but the remaining millions? They're trend-followers

Sony buyers - No real bang-for-the-buck. Mostly brand value, though not for laptops imho. Unless you were considering their smaller models, which are 'pretty' at best. Setting a trend for idiocy maybe.

 

Apple prices are more reasonable now and at least you get a unique design and best in the world touchpad.

Sony, in the other hand, price their laptops crazily.

 

Sony Z12, however, just is without comparison.

1080p display at 13.1", with a DVD drive built in. Very thin, very light, i5 mobile (not the slower ULV, the real deal), 6+ hours of battery life, and very well built.
It can also have integrated BluRay.


Also a nVidia GT330m mobile in there (hybrid graphics with Intel GMA HD GPU, for more batt life).


I was very lucky a coworker has one, and I got to play around with it

EDIT: backlit keyboard, too. But that's just a given at this price

 

I somehow knew I'd start something just by mentioning Apple or Sony. LOLS

 

The Macbook in my sig cost $300 more than the Alienware with all of the discounts Dell gives when you order by phone.

The only difference is the Alienware is thicker and weighs twice as much. Big deal, I'm a fit guy. Most of us probably are.

The touch pad is good on the MBP but touch pads are only for when you don't need a mouse, like light surfing... And Alienware's track pad works perfectly when 2-finger scrolling is activated. I don't really see what all the nonsense is about how it only polled at 20hz. It's useless for trying to edit photos or playing games anyways.

Comparing OSes would be redundant since Windows 7 and OSX are on par; both crash as frequently as each other (which is rarely) and both run the same applications.

I'd much rather the performance boost from a quad-core i7, RAID0 drives and faster RAM than the 'convenience' OSX.

 

I really dont see any problem using them in a professional environment. Half the laptops companies provide to employees are ok at best. I would have no problems bringing one to my office every day. I think you would get more admirers than people saying posh your laptop is too nice..
Now if you had some crazy graphics / stickers all over the lid... well I'd probably not take that to a meeting.

 

13.1" actually.

 

Thank you!

 

I take my m17x to customer sites all the time (software architect/consultant). It is a great icebreaker for meetings with new clients - gives them something to ask about right off the bat. The engineering is excellent, the display is top-notch and the construction is exceptionally clean and solid. It "invites" you to use it, and it invites discussion.

I also usually get a chuckle or two when I bring out the 240W power adapter brick. Someone will typically exaggerate a bit and claim that my power adapter is almost the size of their entire machine.

When they ask "why did you pick that?" my answer is "my employer allows us to buy our own laptops, but they have to last for three years. this was the most powerful laptop with the highest quality components and engineering I could find." Also, my eyes aren't exactly in the best shape, and staring at source code for 12+ hours a day is rather painful on anything smaller than a 17" display.

The ability to play any game I want is icing on the cake.

 

I don't think this will work for me in some cases with executives either. But for a ceo who has a engineering background it's alright Just depends who's in the meeting hahaha although my typical meetings have various departments and suppliers :/

 

That's an awesome story!

 

Depends on the profession of course!

Too heavy for a writer or someone who needs real mobility.

Taking an M15x or M17x around with you as a journalist would be idiotic.

They are good DTRs so if you need a DTR for work, should get an AW.

If you bring an oversized, overpowered monster to a meeting - people might ask why you didn't bring an appropriate machine.

Professional is a diverse concept, but it's definitely a machine that would put some people off and distract others.

 

As it turns out, the laptops that are issued at the company where I work - the batteries lose life after about 6 months.

Funny thing is, even when I'm running on dual graphics cards, lower the screen brightness a bit (40%) with wi-fi on, I get more battery life than the supposed-ly work (normal) laptops. Usually about 45-55 mins. Enough to last a 1 hr meeting with going to standby at the end. The others had to run out and get their adapters That cracks me up everytime.

My battery wear is at 18% at the moment. Not sure if that's normal for a 1 yr old laptop that has had maybe 6 full discharge-charge cycles.

 

I think alienware is very rugged and professional... If you can limit the lights a bit to what is necessary like keyboard then it fits right into any environment.

Best wishes, StevenX

 

After 5 months my battery wear is 6.5%. Interesting topic has wear on M15x battery thread been started?



New thread on battery started

 

The poster you were referring to has an M17x. I would assume it is considerably harder on the battery than the M15x.

I thought the M15x was only 8 pounds...

I bring my M17x on photo shoots with me almost every day.

As for over sized, if it's 17 inch then it's 17 inch... My Acer and M17x are almost the exact same size except it's about a half an inch thicker.

 

Only 8pounds? That's pretty heavy for a laptop. Of course, it's relative. I lug mine around when I have to, but I'm not taking it in my car. It's on my back.

Size involves thickness too, yes it's 17 or 15inch but they are considerably larger than most equally rated laptops.

I suppose if you don't mind a laptop that is twice the size (thickness and therefore volume and weight) that's okay but my point is that there are similarly powerful laptops which are much lighter and easier on the back.

These machines are bigger and heavier mostly because they are gaming machines and they are designed and built to look awesome!

 

From what laptops I have owned, yes - you can get "similar" perfromance from an equally sized, normally lighter, and perhaps cheaper laptop.

But it's just that - cheaper. And I can feel it through it's flimsy frame. I'm refering to the 7lbs (iirc) HP DV7. I mean, the large screen was nice. But that laptop had more flex then a 100 sheet stack of 8.5"x11" 20lbs paper. I had to lift that laptop by both sides to prevent it from falling apart (IMO).

On the other side, there was my equally heavy D820. Admittedly it was smaller than the DV7, but it just "felt" like a quality laptop. It was heavy built, and didn't have any flex. It ran hot as cinders, but it made up for it by being very... solid. Even my M1210 had a definate flex to it. I didn't realize it until after a long trade show trip, when I returned home and picked up my M1210 from my desk, after using my D820 for a long time/.


Before I get too far off topic. The m15x provides some heft, yes, but it is like any other well built notebook. Yes, they are heavy. However, they are clearly of top quality (relative to other laptops with the same size).

I'll get some sleep now... ^^

 

To me 8lb's isn't heavy, but to each is his own. I take mine everywhere now and I'm out and about quiet often. But everyone has different tolerances.

I'm with Jeremy, I'll take the extra weight/thickness for a all-round well build machine. I was in Futurshop, Radioshack, Walmart, other elect less "mainstream" electronic boutiques before buying my Alienware to taste and feel the competition out there.

Acer, Sony, Emachines (essentially Acer), Compaq, HP, Toshiba, Asus, Gateway, every system no matter if it was economy, mid range or high end that I picked up was an all plastic chassis, had a miserable "slate" like keyboard and flex'd like a stack of paper. IMO, garbage as it'd either be destroyed in a drop, was miserable as hell to type on or felt like "dollar store" quality.

Honestly the Apple unibody Mac's were the only machines I could find that didn't flex, but DAMN did they get warm, especially considering they just sat at the desktops all the time, with the occasional person to fondle it quickly.

The Alienware, well, thankfully Dell haven't changed they're keyboard key design, very well designed keyboard, they chassis, still a magnisum/allow/aluminum case, takes a beating, feels solid and will keep everything work worst case.

Now id only the bottom service panel didn't feel so damn cheap...