So, should i buy M17 now or wait?

M17

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™ Enabled!
Processor: Intel® Core™2 P8600 2.4GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Chassis: 17-Inch WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p)
Keyboard Options: Illuminated Keyboard – Alienware Exclusive Design - Astral Blue
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB

System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 320GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless Network Card: Internal Wireless b/g (Full Mini-Card)
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with Surround Sound
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Onsite Service and 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mesh Cap
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mobile Binder
Alienware Extras: Owner Identification Card
Alienware Extras: M17 Protective Cloth Sleeve
Alienware Extras: M17 Keyboard Diagram Overlay
Avatar: Alienhead 3D
Window Style: Default Window Style
Mouse Pointers: Standard Mouse Pointers
Power Plan: Standard Power Plan
Automatic Updates: Automatic Updates On
Time Zones: (GMT - 5.00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

For about 2000$, first off all.

I DONT need a laptop YET, i will when i start school, hopefully in Fall. Its just tempting for me to get it now. Would it be better to wait a few months or just grab it now. Is it possible for another cheap yet good alienware laptop to come out by August?

Another thing, any suggestions on what i should add or remove from the M17?

 

That's only 2000? Wow, not a bad deal...

Anyway - there will always be better, newer coming out, causing current prices to drop. If you will use it then yeah, I'd say buy it. You're buying this beefy system so you'll be gaming on it over the summer I assume. Not like you need that caliber of laptop for school

 

Get the cheapest RAM and hard drive option and put that money toward a better CPU. ATI graphics cards are extremely CPU dependent. You can get hard drives and RAM off of Newegg, etc.

 

What would be a good CPU selection?

 

if you dont technically need it til fall i would wait. nine months from there will be a better laptop for the same price. and this one should be even cheaper.

so i would wait, if u can survive

 

The T9600 or the X9100. Depends on what you can afford. The X9100 is the best "bang for the buck" quotient right now, as it runs at 3.06Ghz.

 

Other than CPU any other changes need?

Is 1200P needed? or will 720p be fine?

I dont need Blu Ray since i have a PS3 and rather watch movies on my HDTV.

 

I personally would stick with the 1440x900 display... will be better for gaming on the long term. Other than that, resolution is purely a preference thing.

 

Its not 1200p >_< Its just not. 1920x1200 might be right. But anyway...

1920x1200 is always going to be better. A screen at tyat size can easily scale down to show games running at 1280x800 without you noticing much different. Sticking to 16:10 resolutions works much better.

The screen is just much better allwng you to work more effciently.

 

Actually, technically, 1920x1200 would be considered 1200p (though it would officially be 1080p compatible, as the 720p screen is really a 1440x900 display capable of 720p) since the number comes from the number of horizontal rows... anyway, I digress.
It's an opinion thing, not a fact. I would prefer the 1440x900 display, you clearly would not. All that can be done is list the benefits of each one.

 

Well, if you plan on gaming anytime before college, then I would suggest buying it. If you don't plan to use it until college, I would wait.

 

Just buy it.. you know you want to

 

If you got a desktop at home, which you probably have, then theres no reason to get one now. Since after 9 months its bound to be something newer out there. Not to mention the same price or cheaper.

So just be patience if you dont need it yet and order it like 1-2 months before you go to studies.

 

I would wait. The Radeon 4870s are going to come out. Why buy something when the next refresh cycle is in a few months?

 

See, the thing is, i just want to be able to play games for then next 3-4 years on at LEAST medium. That is all i want.

 

Well, if that's the case, the M17 will more than take care of you. My E1705/7950GTX was still playing most games on MAX settings, and it was nearly 3 year-old technology. It would have been quite a while before I needed to start tweaking things to medium settings.

There is talk of the 4870s fitting in the M17. You've got to decide if the current price, plus the price of the future upgrade, is worth it to you. OR if the price of the M17 if/when the 4870s come out (and actually fit) is worth it, because the price will go up.

There is always something new on the horizon. If you wait for the right time to buy, you'll always be waiting. That's how computers are.

 

The 8 core CPU will be released for notebooks in the next 3 months I'm sure.. then the 32core CPU, then the CPU with a built in keyboard and screen.. You get my drift. Technology will always move faster than your cash allows you to. If you're considering it, there's really no reason to postpone. It's a top-notch system and I'd suggest making the purchase, before the refresh because you can always upgrade GPUs down the road.

 

Any word of when the 4870 will be released?

 

nope. shouldn't be too long now though.