For those considering the Alienware M11x

So, there's a lot of buzz about really good discounts when pre-ordering the Alienware M11X: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=456512

Was ready to pull the trigger on this when I thought back to the Asus UL-VT series of laptops.

With my discounts on the Dell website it would have worked out like this:

-Dell Company discount($80)
-$50 dollar email discount
-$50 limited offer
-Free shipping offer

I was looking at $657(incl tax/shipping).

But then I thought about the Asus UL30VT-X1 and the Alienware deal becomes less compelling. You can get one from Amazon for $799 with free shipping/no tax(and free two-day shipping if you go for the free Amazon Prime trial)

Dimensionally, they are almost identical. Asus is a little longer but thinner AND packs in a 13 inch display instead of the 12 inch of the Alienware:

Asus: 12.68 (L) x 9.17 (W) x 0.59 ~ 0.97 (H) –inches

Alienware: Height: 9.19 inches(L) x 11.25 inches(W) x 1.29 inches(H)

Specs-wise, the Asus comes with a bigger hard drive standard(500gb vs 160gb), more standard memory(4gb vs 2gb), the SU7300 processor standard and a longer battery life. It does lose in the graphics card dept. but the importance of that is up to your preferences(definitely a consideration though)

Plus with the UL30JT coming out soon and Asus' much higher reputation for reliability, I think I'm going to hold off. Either the UL30JT will come in at the same price and rock or the UL30VT-X1 will be discounted further to become an even better buy.

The M11X is still a really slick package though and proof of how far we've come(though I could do without the Alienware bling-ery). These new CULV+switchable graphics laptops are the future.

Just my two cents

cheers!

 

The 335m is twice if not three times as powerful as the 310/210m. Does the Asus have a backlit keyboard? No. Is the Asus able to play 95% of the latest games at medium-high settings? No.

Please go register somewhere else and make your first post complaining about there product instead of here.

 

You're missing the most compelling reason to get the Alienware, the Nvidia 335M. The 310M on the Asus UL30JT (or 210M on the Asus ul30vt) doesn't compare to the 335M. That the one thing the M11x has over the other 13" or less laptops, the videocard. Which ultimately is it's main draw because it's good at what it is advertised at.

 

I am considering picking up an m11x. do i game heavily? no. would i game more if i got this? most likely. What will I be doing? College work: internet, music, and writing a lot of papers. Why? outstanding build quality, good warranty and customer support (with dell), great cooling, and general 1337-ness.

Yes, I am also considering the sony cw, sony e, asus ul, asus k, dell studio 15, dell studio 15z, lenovo y450, lenovo y550, and lenovo t500.

yikes, that is an awful lot of models. the ul im leaning against because the ultra long battery is its selling point, and i really dont need it.

 

@sn_85. Thanks for clarifying. I thought I had done my homework on the videocard but looks like I didn't.

Found this site for ranking video cards. It's helpful:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-335M.24060.0.html

@filipp. Backlit keyboard. Really? How many fps does that add? I wonder if the glowing alien head helps processing power as well. Seriously though, I don't know how stating the M11x is a "really slick package" is a complaint. Thanks for reply though.

 

alienware is like a mac, only it can actually play games really well. i doubt very much that the asus has a metal case or an edge to edge display, among other nice features.

if apple made a large unibody macbook with core i7's and dual graphics cards, I'd be sold. until then, alienware produces the most structurally perfect gaming notebooks on the planet.

 

There is a certain feel that comes with an alienware. sure the backlight, alienfx, and style dont increase processing power. But does that mean it is totally useless, and we should in fact hold it against the machine? HELL NO.

but let me ask you, how often are you working late into the night, fingers sore from writing all day, and you keep mistyping, and thus have to slow your writing speed to go back and fix your mistakes?
or what about that late-night programming code. those pesky brackets and symbols are out of the way.
or how about tilting the screen down and squinting trying to find that one fn combo?
another, what about that late-night gaming session? trying to find your menu, command, or toggle-weapon switch without pressing a billion buttons and guessing?

how much easier would all those be with a backlit keyboard? infinitely. get used to the fact that your precious asus is not the best design in the world.

 

Uh have you ever used Macbook Pro or any other laptop that has a backlit keyboard? It is a huge convenience to have it in a dark room or on your bed. It is only offered in high end laptop's.

 

You are missing the build quality also the reason of being the only gaming capable netbook, the nvidia graphics, the battery life, the backlit keyboard for me it is very useful cuz Im a programmer and love to code at night, the screen, the nice service, the look, the other capabilities.

For me this is a HUGE win and Ill get one ASAP .

 

And good luck with the tips of your fingers burning off. Just my 2 cents

 

do some research - these are in no way comparable systems

you really missed by not grabbing that M11x at $657

 

The alienware 11" looks to be a great NOTEBOOK. Not NETBOOK. There's a difference.

 

Nice first post troll

 

I bought the UL30VT 2 weeks ago. Great laptop, but I want more GPU power. The M11X is perfect for me.

 

I kinda wish they would have squeezed a DVD ROM inside it

but an I3 or I5 CPU would be nice as well

probably in the next refresh

 

How can you just discount the Alienware looks when factoring in your purchase...almost everyone factors in the look of a notebook. Almost feels like a troll attempt.

 

I think this thread has lived long enough. Closed.