Experience re: soft touch

Hi, so I'm considering Alienware among others for my next notebook purchase. For those that have had the "soft touch" finish to the cases, how have your experience been? I've seen a few discussions regarding the peeling issue and I worry about this compared to say a smooth finish or brushed aluminum that you can get on say the Sagers. Seen the display models out in public it seems as though high frictions areas like the palmrest can get "smoothed out" or stained with normal use.

 

I have it done to both my M18x and M11x and have not seen any problems, of course the M18x has yet to leave home, but the M11x I take on the road a lot with me.

 

I move my M11x around a bit in various bags and my soft touch "coating" is perfectly fine. It seems to pick up oil marks from your fingers easily, but i can't imagine mine peeling anytime soon unless i start mistreating it.

 

I can't see mine ever peeling.

The only laptops I have ever seen peel are from HP/Toshiba (aka cheap junk).

 

My Toshiba peels as well... but it is quite glossy.

 

i noticed on my m14x that edges peeled just a bit but didn't stick out since it was the black version. the red one shows a bit more than the red. ive had my m17x longer than i did the m14x and haven't noticed any peeling at all.

 

No peeling here on any of the Alienware systems that I have had with the soft touch finish......perfectly maintainable if you treat it with care....if you dont, like with most things in life - dont expect it to last forever.

 

I've had issue with soft touch finishes , on previous laptops, and marks from watches that I wear. Not really that noticeable, but there are slight imperfections. I've changed my habits since then, but it is something that I constantly think about when using laptops with soft touch finishes.

 

I own an M11x and M15x.

I bought the M15x this time last year and it's fine, the difference is, the m15x never had the soft-touch option, it is painted stealth blach. It has minor scratches and a small nick about 2mm on the right hand speaker.
This was due to lifting it and it hitting an iMac. -.-"

The m11x I've had for like 2.5 months, it is soft touch, and to be honest, I prefer it.
I don't have to worry as much of it getting scratched or anything, it's got a really nice finish. and yes, it does collect fingerprints and oily marks, but they come off easy with a cloth.

So coming from someone from the best of both worlds, I prefer the soft touch, I feel it's added protection.

 

from my experience with the older m9750 alieanware, the rubber finishes are very gimmickie in that they will virtually wear out with any form of friction. for example, inserting the laptop in and out of a laptop bag. the very first attempt i made rubbed off the finish of the m9750 where the outer edges made rubbing contact.

the m18x is shielded from this because the shell is metal as the rubber is internal (when the lid is closed) and protected. the front edge does have some rubber showing but you would normally insert the laptop into the m18x bag with the rear facing down.

 

I have had 3 M17x R3's and currently have the M18. No issues with any of them.

More to this story????? Elaborate.

 

The M15x is painted black, not soft touch.
I was moving it in class when the edge, the right hand speaker on the lower corner hit the edge of an imac and the paint chipped off.


Now... I just noticed today that my M11X is actually peeling a slight bit on basically all the corners.
What's everyone's thought about this? Worth calling Dell? It's not vital, just looka a bit "meh"...
Might call a month or two before my 1-year warranty ends... :S

 

I have had my M14x since when it first came out. I have taken it to the desert in 29 palms California for a month, and now I am currently in Afghanistan. Dirt has gotten in the laptop and everything. I used to keep it in a neoprene sleeve for transport now its in the Orion backpack. I just did a in depth inspection on it. The only blemishes i found were the keyboard and touch pad is glossy from the use. There is no peeling on the soft touch. I do hate that dirt gets in the speaker grill, I can not get it out for the life of me. BTW I am OCD when it comes to cleaning my stuff, and being a Marine the Laptop takes a beating. Its held up quite nicely though.