I made the switch....m17x

I had originally ordered a Dell M1730 earlier in the week...and had been second guessing myself all week because it was a choice between the M1730 and the m17x.
I cancelled my M1730 order today and placed an order for a more expensive m17x...and I'm glad I did....so far.

I like the design better on the m17x, it's more stream-lined and looks less like a carnival light display. Most of all it is packed.
Here's what I ordered:

[1] Area-51® m17x

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8800M GTX – SLI Enabled
Display: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology – Black
Includes AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design!
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Blue
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme X9000 2.8GHz (6MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2048MB
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Ultimate with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Internal Digital/Analog (ATSC) MiniCard TV Tuner with Express Card Media Center Remote Control

System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 500GB (250GB x 2) 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : 2x Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Burner (BD-R, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Mobile Essentials: Alienware® Orion Backpack
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Mouse: Wireless Mouse - ExpressCard MoGo Mouse X54 w/ Multimedia Mode Learn More – NEW!
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mesh Cap
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mousepad
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mobile Binder
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Personalized Nameplate
Alienware Extras: Owner Identification Card
Alienware Extras: Area-51® m17x Protective Cloth Sleeve
Alienware Extras: Area-51® m17x Keyboard Diagram Overlay
Alienware Extras: Area-51® m17x Smooth Mylar Touchpad
Avatar: Alienhead 3D
Window Style: Default Window Style
Mouse Pointers: Standard Mouse Pointers
Wallpaper: Alienhead 3D
Power Plan: Standard Power Plan
Automatic Updates: Automatic Updates On
Sidebar Gadgets: Calendar
RSS Feeds: Alienware News:
Get the latest Alienware news delivered directly to your desktop!
Time Zones: (GMT - 5.00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Anyone else with a similar system that could give me their opinions on it and whether or not they are satisfied with their choice?

 

That's about as spec-stuffed as it gets.

Just be prepared for a wait on assembly and ship times. Whatever you do, don't look at the Phase-Page!!!! You'll get sucked into a vortex and never emerge.

Just be patient, and when it comes, it'll be unbelievable.

 

congrats on the purchase. unfortunately we havent heard from anyone who has the 8800 yet so i dont think there is a person who could give you an opinion

 

Well, when it finally DOES get here...
I'll take some pics and give my opinion.
If I can I'll try and post some stats.

In the mean time, does anyone have a suggestion regarding a notebook cooler for this MONSTER?

 

The Zalman-NC2000.

Also, get 1 gig of ram and upgrade to 4 yourself.

 

Ditto on the Zalman. I have two - they're awesome.

Ditto also on the RAM (but you might want to check w/Alienware's techs as to which is "certified" to work w/your system). But if you go w/Lessa's advice, you'll save some $$$. And if you even ask where to buy RAM online for cheap that ships to Canada - so help me God...

Also, that's the m15x ya got in your avatar there. Switch it to the black m17x, since that's what you ordered...

 

I have heard good things about the Zalman NC2000 and will probably go that direction.
Not from Canada I'm afraid....lol
I have already ordered my system complete with 4Gigs and I'm not about to rock the "PHASE" boat if you know what I mean.

 

will you able to OC the x9000?

 

That is a ridiculous notebook, I hope you enjoy it.

Though I haven't seen the m17x in person, I agree with you that it looks better than the Dell M1730.

 

Good call... you won't be disappointed.

Oh good. We love Canadians and all, don't get me wrong. It's just that we've had a few bad experiences and had to make sure you weren't someone else...

I don't disagree with that logic. Have them install it, then you don't have to mess with it.

When you get it, we'd all like a full review!

 

Tigerdirect.

They gave me free shipping on the last sticks I bought, actually.

 

I am just assuming but I think Alien Adrenaline is an interface/program within Alienware computers that may allow you to OC. More for video optimizing I think.
I wouldn't think of OC'ing without a notebook cooler though.
(This will be my first experience with Alienware)

Anyone else know about Overclocking the m17x?

 

Yeah, I figure with a notebook this loaded I shouldn't have to upgrade to another for at least....a couple months before it's obsolete...

I have no doubt I'll enjoy it.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY....AUGUST ....SEPTEMBER?
It's coming early this year regardless!

 

wow that's an insane config you got there. do you mind me asking how much the total cost of that system was? thanks.

 

With tax and shipping it was a bit over $6200

 

That's actually not so bad for a super-computer that you can toss on your back and haul around with you.

 

Yeah it's about the baddest mofo made...pay the cost to be the boss...
lmao

 

awesome computer the only thing is just be prepared to wait...

 

Yeah, no kidding....
But it's worth the wait.

 

We'll of course be waiting for pictures and benchmarks.

What is your estimated ship date?

 

That thing is obscene, rude, and disgusting. Frankly my friend I find it offensive!!!!

That is a true beast. Sorry you didn't want to go for the M1730, its a good computer too, but I understand you want the fancy mcpants alienhead.

M1730 would have taken much less time to ship, but you will have greater bragging rights in return.

Enjoy!!

 

OK I SEE PHASE MOVEMENT lol

I'll keep you up to date on how Alienware is handling my account and will follow up with additional details once it arrives. I'll answer any questions you may have.

As far as a ship date....I remember seeing 7/28/08 when I ordered it, but can find no ship date on the Order Status Page.

6/26/08 - Order date
6/26/08 - Phase 1: (Order Confirmation)
6/26/08 - Phase 2: (Billing)
6/27/08 - Phase 3: (Payment Processed)

OH BTW:
I have a Zalman NC2000 in Black on order...it will be here WAAAAAAAAAY before the m17x though!

 

haha, as in, they took your money

Nice one!!!

 

Yeah...now that's out of the way
Now comes the hard part....the wait.
Remember during the holidays when your mom is baking all those great smelling sweets and you know when she put them in the oven, you watched salivating through the little glass window as they baked, and then stood wide eyed as she pulled them out to cool...closing your eyes a bit and inhaling deeply...
Just to be told you STILL have to WAIT!
ARRRRRGH, lmao

 

All good, Look at it this way.

You have a month left of summer before its ruined and you spend all your time indoors, so get out there and make the most of it before you're cooped up inside gaming like a fiend....

 

Yeah, Next week I finally get some vacation time....heading down to Myrtle Beach. Time away will definitely make the time go by better, but I'll still be checking the PHASE STATUS....LMAO...I'm in QUE hell and my mind is OVERCLOCKED about right now...

With the holidays coming up...I wish all of you a very SAFE and ENJOYABLE Independance Day.

 

I think the m17x was the better buy. I can relate in that I canceled a m1730 to go with the m15x. Here's another perspective. There's much talk and inside leaks about Dell shifting focus away from their top of the line XPS systems and devoting additional R&D and resources to Alienware. I read an article that some of their XPS teams will be merged with AW. It's obvious that they want AW to satisfy the niche market for top of the line gaming systems in the future. Now, this caused an uproar among current XPS owners and they quickly released some PR claiming solid future support for the m1730 series of notebook but it still didn't make me feel any better about it. They are still supposed to drop up to 3 XPS lines this month or next and it's increasingly obvious that they want to stop competing with AW and strengthen AW's hold on the boutique gaming laptop market. So... I felt uneasy about buying a m1730 only to have Dell potentially shift away support in the near future which would not only devalue my 3yr complete care warranty but also devalue the laptop and make it less valuable to sell in the future. (Who wants to buy an XPS gaming laptop when XPS gaming laptops aren't the cool laptops to own anymore?) Regardless of some of the problems in the m15x design and possibly in the m17x design, I still feel very good about future support and the direction that AW is going from this point on. They will continue to have increasing support and involvement from Dell and will more than likely have a firm and solid hold on the boutique gaming laptop market. Dell's supply chain, financial resources, and R&D will do nothing but benefit AW, improve support and lower production costs. Either way, the future of AW looks bright and it makes me feel much more comfortable in purchasing one of their laptops because I know they aren't going anywhere and support will only improve from this point forwards. Anyway, that was part of my reasoning for canceling the m1730 along with the fact that it's got to be one of the ugliest 17" laptops out there! The m17x is like Heidi Klum next to the red headed step child who got beat with an ugly stick, aka m1730.

 

Grats on the system mon! its out for a kill!

 

Thanks! I'm Psyched.

I'm new to this forum, but I really like it so far.
It's almost as if everyone is as excited as I am.

Everyone here ROCKS!

 

Yeah M17X looks far better than the M1730 but I wish the M17X also implemented the Logitech mini Screen like the M1730 coz i personally use it alot with my G15 keyboard.

 

Crow28277,
Congrats on your purchase. Been in phase 4 for awhile but rather have a perfect system than a rushed 17X with problems.

 

Amen to that...

 

I thought that was an erroneous statement made by the WSJ?

HA! Funniest quote I've seen thus far.

 

We`ll see who wins the battle

 

Which battle would that be eleron911? lol

 

Eleron are you getting an m1730? is that going to be your new rig?

 

he bought the m1730 already. SLI 8800

 

I just got the M17X

 

Congratulations on getting your new laptop I should be getting mine next tuesday

 

oh, congrats. how is it?

 

Great! Hope you write a review...

 

6/26/08 - Order date
6/26/08 - Phase 1: (Order Confirmation)
6/26/08 - Phase 2: (Billing)
6/27/08 - Phase 3: (Payment Processed)
6/27/08 - Phase 4: (Pre-Production)

WOO HOO! More movement on the PHASE page!
They've taken my money and NOW they're THINKING about BUILDING it!!!!
:twitcy:

 

Congratz on the pruchase

 

phase 4 is the longest phase you will be in . you will be excited now but as time goes on that excitment suddenly goes down the drain until phase 8 - 9

 

Got confirmation that my Zalman NC2000 has shipped...
BUT, I'm still stuck in Phase 4 Hell. :confused2:

No movement, lol

Should have listened to Friar Tuck about not watching the Phase Page.

 

That made me lol IRL!