The "Why you shouldn't buy the M15x" thread [OUTDATED] [FIRST GEN MODEL]

This thread's purpose is to inform and help. It’s mainly targeted at new people that come here looking for information regarding the M15x, but also present owners that have the M15x and are having several problems with it.

I've been around for quite a long time, following the M15x story. From day one, I read about the problems, the complaints, the solutions, the praises, etc... I tried to get myself informed enough before I would give the next step. Well, I did finally end up giving that last step and bought myself a shiny M15x.

Even if I was aware of the terribly long list of problems that have been reported, I still gave that step. Why? Because this was the laptop I wanted and I thought I would be lucky. Unfortunately, this has very little to do with luck but more to do with reality. And if you decide to buy the M15x, it’s reality that you are going to get.

And what’s this reality? Well, I can only say that in the past two weeks I’ve tested my laptop so thoroughly that I don’t really know what else I can test. From construction design to hardware performance, the reality might seem a bit too much to new eyes, but trust me... there’s no exaggeration here. I actually think I got a quite decent laptop compared to most of the reports and experiences I’ve came across. If you choose not to see these problems, if you choose that this won’t matter... then probably it won’t, but I can only say that "worst than being blind, is to look but not see".


Here's a list of things that above 80% (I'm being generous here) of the M15x will have:

- The laptop lid is really wobbly. The hinge system they choose was quite a poor choice. Try typing fast and looking at yourself in your webcam... you will be shacking quite a lot. The lid also makes a weird noise when opening and closing.

- Camera does not focus. Very poor quality.

- Speakers are bad. It's more like they are hissing rather than letting sound out.

- Pipe Light bleeds through the plastic of the lid.

- The AlienFX Keyboard is nice, but the different colours can bleed through one another. Very obvious with the white colour.

- Keyboard has a bit of flex close to the arrow keys (I didn't have mine till I opened it to change the RAM. It's not too much, but it's there.).

- Touch controls are not very responsive.

- There's no VGA exit (forget CRTs, projectors, etc... only HD mode).

- My favourite one... The Security lock DOES NOT WORK. Want to use it at work? Some public place? Forget it... you can't lock it.

- GPU and CPU overheat. GPU works around 87-90C (other systems with the same GPU work around 70C). CPU at max load for a good amount of time will work around 92C. Bear in mind this is in a new laptop, dust free and working perfectly. Can’t really tell what will happen when some dust starts to collect on the exhausts.

- CPU (T9300 and above, most notorious in extreme processors) will downclock under constant heavy load.

- Stealth mode is great; it turns down the clocks of CPU, GPU and fan speeds. Once the fan of the GPU forgot to turn on and my GPU reached 107C. I've seen people reporting exactly the same.

- If you are planning on using the laptop on normal mode and balanced settings, be ready to have the CPU fan on most of the time (not terribly noise, but you can hear it).


So that’s the reality. As an owner of the M15x, I do feel it’s my responsibility to convey this information to potential buyers. If you are thinking of it, think about it again, think about alternatives and give it some time. As it stands now, I lost any hope that this has to do with luck and some people are unlucky and get “lemons”. No... That’s not reality. All M15x that come out of AW are the so called “lemons”. Whether you are able of seeing all the problems or not, that’s another issue. As I said, I tested the M15x through and through and studied it a lot... it was a long time till I decided to take this position.

Right now, I can only recommend/suggest staying away from the M15x.

I hope this will help people on the market for a new laptop and the old ones (like me). I guess that if people are informed well enough and stop buying the M15x, then AW will be forced to take action and come up with true solutions. And if you buy it thinking a new bios will solve it... think again. All the problems come down to one BIG PROBLEM. The M15x is a complete failure in design, from top to bottom. From the case to the cooling system (the biggest failure with this laptop)... it’s all just a big mistake.

And that’s it... this is my advice, my experience, my opinion. This is my responsible way of fighting for something fair. I can’t just sit back and not say anything about this and watch as new people are dragged into this trap.


I just hope more people will be able to “see”.

Take it as you will... just take care.
Keep smilling,
M.

EDIT: As someone else suggested, I should add here a "solution" or a word of hope.
One of the reasons that actually pushed me to write this is the fact that there are new "competitors" for the M15x coming soon into the market. The Clevo M860TU is around the corner and it will pack the montevina together with the 8800GTX (and sometime in the near future, even the 9800GTX). I'm not trying by any means to promote a product, I'm just stating that there are new laptops coming out that will perform (or most likely out perform) like the M15x. So if you really want a 15'4 gaming laptop, I would recommend waiting a couple of months and hope that this new laptop will deliver more than just promises. I'm sure that if AW wants to stay in the market, they will have to come up with better solutions than advertising and Bios updates. So... if you wait, it can only be good for the whole of us.

EDIT 2: As I don't want to sound completely catastrophic... There are good things about the laptop.
The laptop performs as expected. I haven't seen any downclocking with the GPU (even if I've seen it hit 99C while playing Stalker) and it's really, the fastest computer I've ever used. The high performance comes at a cost... too high temperatures (that will only tend to increase with the "age" of the computer).
More, the looks are quite amazing and I doubt anything will ever come close to this. The lights are trully something from another world and a joy to look at. There are some minor problems with them... but they can go unnoticed.

EDIT 3: As promised, here are some pictures of the reported problems.

Idle temps and fan always on:



GPU temps during gameplay (playing Stalker)



GPU temps and clocks while in Stealth mode (Only saw this once)



CPU temps after being stressed for 4 hours with Orthos



CPU downclocking (happens very rarely in my laptop... I've seen it a couple of times)



Lid with light bleeding through








EDIT4: Design problem in M15x's hinges
EDIT 1st August 2008 - Seven owners (three just in the last 24 hours) have reported their hinges breaking when opening the laptop's lid. Added links and pictures to each owner's report.
EDIT 2nd December 2008 - Thirty two owners have now reported the same problem

Several users have now reported the same problem happening to them. The "stress" of opening and closing the laptop's lid is leading to several hinges breaking open, by literally being broken apart.
The reason for this is thought to be the poor design of the hinge system that relies mainly on plastic to keep it in place. Here's some owners' descriptions:

Bellow is a compilation of the owners that have experienced this problem, together with their reports and pictures. I'm also adding the status of their problem.

Fex- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=251765
Status: Repaired, problem resurfaced, refund agreed.- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=273885
Jayonhavok- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3705525&postcount=98
Status: Repaired, problem resurfaced, refund agreed.
buzzin- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3552968&postcount=304
Status: Refunded for store credit.
mr_fro2000- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3632570&postcount=148
Status: Received from repairs
Tacomenace21- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3705525&postcount=98
Status: NA
iElSayed- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3709019&postcount=110
Status: NA
Gabez- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3709413&postcount=1
Status: Refund agreed.
daveh98- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3758794&postcount=1
Status: Sent for repairs
Tyronne- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3769765&postcount=69
Status: Full refund given in Store Credit. Acquired an m17x
yankeesbaseball- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3412390&postcount=1
Status: Sent it back for repairs, had to pay $50 because warranty didn't cover the damage. Has been fixed
Mappy- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3784405&postcount=1
Status: Problem fixed. AW substituted the chassis and said a new improved chassis was used
rifle_shot- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3838259&postcount=1
Status: Living with the problem by using scotch tape to keep the bottom of the LCD together
Infierno- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3876829&postcount=36
Status: Trying to get the problem repaired
D4rkMisFit- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3895974&postcount=564
Status: Laptop received sometime around March. Trying to get the problem repaired
Mystik- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3900047&postcount=1
Status: Laptop received late March. Trying to fix the problem.
Ricky_S- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3912758&postcount=1
Status: Laptop received 6th March and broken after 6 month. Trying to fix the problem and hopefully get a refund
Terabita1- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4029090&postcount=55
Status: NA
Xenon345- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4106297&postcount=1
Status: Moved from USA to Europe. Sorting out solutions.
linuxguy- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4106606&postcount=5
Status: Laptop received in the end of May. Sent back for repairs.
Koshinn- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4108115&postcount=1
Status: Sent back for repairs
WindyDays- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4115415&postcount=86
Status: Received around September, sent back for repairs
Catflap- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4116724&postcount=91
Status: Sent back for repairs
RFrancis- Reported it to me on a PM
Status: Looking for solutions
loveit_ownit- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4160171&postcount=102
Status: Received in the end of April.
evilwill32- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4175981&postcount=115
Status: NA
Toejedi- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4208506&postcount=635
Status: Received the laptop in July. The problem reported seems to be different from the usual reported hinge cracking problems.
dawnkeeper- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4208836&postcount=636
Status: NA
pokefluffy- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4217384&postcount=33
Status: Sending it in for repairs.
highfly- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4222079&postcount=1
Status: Had the laptop since June 2008.
Luxury- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4220039&postcount=34
Status: NA.
crystak- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4192397&postcount=1
Status: Got it repaired.
nofate- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4192550&postcount=8
Status: Sending it back for repairs.


Pictures of the reported cases

Fex










Problem resurfaced after being repaired one first time










Jayonhavok











After being sent back from repairs the problem quickly came back:





Buzzin











mr_fro2000








iElSayed








Gabez




Tacomenace21








tyronne








Mappy








rifle_shot




D4rkMisFit










Mystik




Ricky_S












Terabita1










Xenon345








Koshinn




Highfly




crystak




nofate

 

Noone likes you Milc's

 

Im staying right away, eek my friend wanted one i better tell him the bad news, i heard they were bad just not that bad.

 

I just wanted to touch base on something Milcs.
- There's no VGA exit (forget CRTs, projectors, etc... only HD mode).
You knew this when buying the lappy!
-J.B.

 

eltocliousus, just give it a shot, maybe you will get a good one, so still be excited, just know that you can always return it. play with it for a few days and test it out. I cancelled mine because they kept delaying my order. This is like my 5th time trying to get an alienware but never recieved them, because i cancel after waiting 3x the amount they tell me....i hate them lol

 

Thanks for being frank

 

Actually, my lack of information (and inteligence) didn't gave me that one. My fault really, but still think it's quite a drawback. And if I didn't think about it, I'm sure some people won't as well.

@Eltocliousus- I enjoyed the M15x (and I'm still enjoying). It gives me real pleasure when playing on it. But one has to look ahead, to plan, to try and have some grasp of the future... The M15x will not give you safety.

 

you just cant use a lock that turns. you need a lock that can expand. i do think AW should put that piece of info on the site when they sell you the laptop though.

 

theres always the hdmi

 

There's some contradictory info:

Anyway, the point is... how is it possible a laptop won't be compatible with a Kensington Lock? They invented it...

 

I just want to add one thing... I'm not going to be discussing my opinions and trying to "fence" every little single comment. My post is a serious, honest and frank one. It's meant to be informative and not sensationalist... If some "imprecisions" were written, let me know and I'll change it.

 

well the only thing i hate about mine is the cpu down clocking, before i found out about the cpu problem I loved my m15x I still do i guess the features that it has are great but if any asked me what kind of notebook they should get I would say wait for the new Clevo

Edit: o yeah milcs u should fix this part, "Keyboard has a bit of flex close to the keyboard."

 

Milcs,
If you go to the tech specs here
http://www.alienware.com/product_de...Code=PC-LT-AREA51M15X-AI1&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT
If you read under Graphics & Video you will see it says video out: HDMI optional hdmi to dvi-d adapter which I bought. With that simply said, all the new tv's and pc monitors have hdmi, only future proofing the system. I liked this feture do to the fact I am a Home Audio buff and hdmi is the simplest way to get all digital audio and video through one simple cable. Crysis and CSS is awesome for my friends and I watch to play on the 60" Pioneer Elite. A simple adapter will change everything with about $5 and a trip to parts-Express.com I do feel your pain and conserns about alot of the problems you and many others are experienceing, but I don't think the hdmi out-put is one. Just a friendly opp.
-J.B.

 

@Milcs - Thank you for taking the time to create this guide. While other people may argue with some of the things you are saying, I think that everything is spot on, and I really commend you for being so honest about the M15x. I also support your suggestion to stay away from the M15x at this time.

@JB - There is actually a problem with what you have said. I have actually tried this with my Viewsonic VG2030wm with my xbox 360's HDMI port and my monitor did not recognize the signal. I have yet to try to take it all the way to VGA but going from HDMI -> DVI-D didn't work for some reason.

@Packer? - I remember in your review (if it was your review) that you said the M15x speakers killed the M9750s speakers in terms of quality. I think I'm going to have to disagree as my M9750 speakers are pretty damn loud and I have used them in public many times. I think that was a hint of fanboyishness (not the right word...) toward the M15x.

 

HDMI worked everytime for me. I remember reading in some of the early m15x posts of the hdmi situation, some experienced this problem. Sorry to hear that, try going into the display options and manully turning on the 2nd monitor. Your right though no need to argue and go back and forth, AW needs a reamp of their current problems, and try to hold on to thier fan base, with all the new money from Dell they might have to take some of it and take a loss and do a recall on some of the serial#'s or all, or find a physical fix such as new heat sink or something of that nature. Where are you at Alienware??????? I feel like I am in a abusive relationship.
-J.B.

 

spot on.

I never use the volume slider (touch/pressure sensitive button). its as if they purposely designed it to be that bad. (Mine is really bad) it only worked once ever since I got the laptop.

 

Make sure you keep the comments non-sensational in here, thanks. None have been thus far.

 

yeah but thier is nothing better gaming windows wise. the sager is just to expensive for what you get. everything else is ugly

 

One of the worst fetures, agreed. I dubt they will have a fix for this unless its a driver issue which I dubt, maybe a way to make it more sensitive or something of that nature or just work! I need that volume option too, really bad actully. Sad they could not get this one right. However I have rarely seen this technology pulled off correctly. I have a logitech keyboard with this same technology that works once in a blue-moon.
-J.B.

 

Sager, too expensive? I beg to differ. The Sager product line offered through XoticPC and PNB is by far the best bang for the bucks!

 

yeah its almost 2700 with 8800m and just a black laptop with really no cool look features or extras.

 

huys stop picking on him about a small mistake about the VGA......... personally at first i didnt know the m15x didnt have VGA output, im 100% sure it wasnt on the site when it firsy came out, and i faild to notice it on the picture cause i thought its obvious to have one..............anyway..

i think these info are very nice to know for ppl whos gonna or thinking of buying a m15x

the whole point here is not bashing on AW....i love AW laptops, they are great. however the m15x do have issues

 

hmm i personally love my m15x so

I guess I'm one of those lucky ones eh

 

oh and im not bashing sager by any means. imho the m15x is better bang for your buck than the sager. would i buy the m15x again? no. i would just buy a macbook pro and get out of pc gaming all togther.

 

Are you actually trying to argue that AW is more B4B than Sager?

 

dual boot vista on it and you can still game on the macbook, im assuming yours has a 8600m gt, your good dude lol

 

Why not add a "Solution" or something like that at the end of OP, mentioning Clevo M860TU .... sounds reasonable to me

 

Its good to have problem pointed out flat on the table, since this will help people that have doubts and its really help the buyer who wants to get it RIGHT NOW. But post some solution/good point so they feel a bit reassure about the m15x since there still are some good points of it. Since this is an informative thread.

And with all of that i really agree to stay away from m15x right now since some issues havent been solved yet. If there are still some buyer better wait for awhile until AW fixed m15x or add something new (montevina platform i hope)

I recommend to look into the Clevo M860TU in Sager Clevo thread, The first 15" inch DDR3 notebook, as you wait ; but it havent come out yet however there are configuration available for it.

 

Thanks for the info milcs! I currently have a m15x on order that should have shipped by now, but they still haven't received the part yet. I was kinda of annoyed about that, but I'm starting to think I'm lucky.

The thing that would really bug me is the wobbly screen. If I was trying to use the laptop as a passenger or on a plane that would drive me nuts. I've watched a couple of video reviews and have seen it do that, and even heard the hinges "creek" in the one. So before I cancel my order later today/tomorrow, can anyone who owns/has owned a m15x say that the screen "doesn't" wobble (more than average) and the the hinges don't squeek?

And as a final note, can anyone say they've gotten a m15x recently and had no problems what-so ever? (I'm also pretty concerned about the chassis cracking problem, which would likely be related to the screen wobble.)

 

I updated my first post to add the only reasonable solution at the time... wait. Wait for new products, wait for AW reaction to them.
Regarding positive aspects, there are several... but in my honest opinion, they are largely masked by the problems stated there. It's my solid conviction that buying this laptop now is not a wise choice and that's what I'm trying to pass to new people. This is me taking a position that I think it's fair, well thought and responsible towards potential buyers and present owners.

More, as I said, I don't want this to be a battle of arguments, a "company bashing" of a companies fight.

What I stated has been collected for a long time, by personal experience and community's experience alike. Those are facts and some people will probably be more sensitive and affected than others. If you can live with it that's great... I personally think that's looking the other way, but I don't want to go into any kind of judgements.

And that's all folks.

 

I just wana go out on a limb here and say that maybe Alienware m15x customers are really fussy and over hype there laptops...

It seems like alot of u are really pushing tight budgets with your configs and doing a BUCKET load of research/waiting hoping this system to be 100% perfect .. many laptops running in a gaming environment downclock esp if your playing in a very hot or very cold climate (ei lots of europians having downclocking issues in heated homes).. many laptops heat up .. wobbles are not new and abit of keyboard flex is not new eather...

mabye its because the m15x looks like the macbookpro... but my thinking has finaly shifted to thinking this forum is just full of sour grapes.. after feeling a m15x at uni today.. the thing really does feel more sturdy than a average laptop and it scrn wobbles no more than a year old MBP hate to say it but maybe u guys are purchasing out of your budgets and in turn being way over critical.

the lack of VGA out is the only issue i really see as a stand out.. its a shame they don't have support for it as projectors with vga only are still quite common in university's and schools.. but alas im almost out of uni and CRT's are long dead 2 me...

black skull cap m15x in matte paint job it is for me..

 

I think the main problem With Alienware is they need to change how they test the computers. It looks like the Area 51 5550i and M15X Was loaded with Issues.

Before people go Sugar/Clevo are plain Looking. Companys that use Clevo Laptop that also Includes Alienware sometimes. They are less Prone to problems. I think I had 2 problems on mine. One hard Drive Failure and dvd cdrw drive went out. Before the 3 year warrintee went out.

Fact is more Bells and Wistles the More problems you might have. This could be any Company. You can say this about Any Company.

What needs to happen the OEM company that supplys the stuff to Alienware and Dell and Other Computer Companys. Should Slow down research more. Test more on Newer setups. Then release. To Alienware, Dell and other companys.

 

To Heathkidd. I dont think anyone here Fussy. I think people here want Quality management is a method for ensuring that all the activities necessary to design, develop and implement a product or service are effective and efficient with respect to the system and its performance.

That what People want.

 

i disagree.. the complaints of late even since the GPU downclocking was fixed have turned very trivial.. its a gaming laptop guys come on u didnt get it to have a HD webcam convo with your grandma. and the hole CPU thing running prime is retarded... go do that on any laptop and see the result of heat. Personality from my judgment i think the hole hate started with the disaster that was playing crysis on a downclocking GPU and people have just taken it out of hand.. from there..

and at the end of the day the m15x has been one of the cheapest ever alienware products. This thing is expensive but its not even close to the old prices they pushed.

 

Heathkidd, I can only say that your comments are rather rude and unrespectful. As I said though, I don't want to start a fight of arguments.

I can only say that, in the old times, people thought the earth was flat. They didn't know better... I'm sure you have lots of experience with an M15x to make your very bold statements. Quoting you... that's quite "...retarded".

 

-Retarded- "characterized by subaverage cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors with onset before the age of 18"

i apologize if my language was colorful but i used to to express that

running prime on a laptop esp a gaming laptop is a defective course of behavior ... and has no reasoning other than creating a folt
Yes my experence is not longterm but i am personally quite sick of people complaining about keypress issues which ive seen pop up on other SR laptops running vista with funky touchpad drivers ... complaining about webcams not being Production quality and mics not being studio grade.. .. and things like fan volumes... like come on guys.

I agree with you that alot of people are running after some fools gold with the m15x however i think a large reason for that is not the actual quality but rather is the very acessable price its being sold at compared to past alienware systems and issues relating to that.

 

Heathkidd you are the perfect man to work for AW

 

hehe cute..

but honestly guys its some thing that has hardly been discussed.

for the m15x people really are paying for alot less than they are expecting if u ask me..

thats not a fanboishing argument at all i openly agree it has some slight non gaming related flaws simply saying that at the price u get..

Brand + best gaming performance for a stable price...

if u want

Brand + quality of useless features not relating to gaming.. get a mac for the same price ^_^

if think if people had made some

"why you should buy the M15x" threads before they jumped in... we would see less complaints!

 

Hay Heathkidd I agree with milcs on this one Being Rude. dont help people solve there laptop problems.

Heathkidd You sound like the Tech That Alienware sent to me. The Tech own Words "Laptop Tend to Get hot and overheat" I had to Run a Dos Batch file So speed Fan would kick on to Bandaid my laptop to keep it cool. My laptop hit 110c in a Java game. Untel Alienware techs Listen to me and replaced the Motherboard. That was 6 Months of Trouble.

Please leave the people here so they can get help. We dont need fighting like milcs seid.

 

Heathkidd, just stop... You don't even own the laptop yet and have never personally reviewed it. It's almost humorous how you could find the audacity to judge us, the actual owners, much less accurately assess the present state of the m15x. Why don't you hold off on all those colorful opinions until you get the computer.

 

Hey Heath KID are your serioulsy sniffing to much glue.

Peopel buying the M15x are expecting a certain level of craftmanship. It's their hard earned money that they are spending. And expecting an item to be of SAID and stated quality is not asking to much. I think you are suffering from the spoiled kid syndrome. And spending out of their budgets. I bet if you actually asked aroudn here you woud probably find most people here have a very large income base. So please don't speak that nonsense.

The M15x is riddle with small issues taht in turn amount to a larger Quality Control issue. If these units are passed through a 200 point inspection and stated to be 100% functional, by all means they should be.

Milcs I think you have done a very nice write up here, and I hope that this could be stickied for all new M15x users/buyers to read. AW haev a very serious issue here, and their lack of response to any of these issues demonstrates their true stance on customer relations.

Good Job MIlcs.

And Heath Kid when you pay for the laptop yourself tell us how you feel about it.

 

i agree with Heatkidd that there are a lot of trivial problems being brought up
BUT
as owners (or past owners) i think we have every right to bring them up however trivial they are.
when you spend over £2000/$4000 on any laptop or computer it doesnt matter how trivial the problems are as people have a right to voice their opinion.
speakers,webcam,security locks are all trivial but people have a right to know what they are buying. you buy the dearest laptop with the highest spec available but you also get sub standard peripherals.

 

@Newfie- thanks for your words. I do want people to understand I don't feed any hate or dislike for AW. That's very important to note. I can even say, I like the M15x. But of course, one cannot close its eyes to the systematic and generalized problems this machine has.

@MrDJ- Right to the point you are... People should have what they paid for. Nothing more, nothing less. I bought this laptop to be my computer (not my gaming computer) for all possible and imaginary situations. So yes, I hope it will have decent speakers, I hope the 2MP camera will be at least good and yes, I do hope the lock can be used to lock the laptop when you're away from it... and yes, I also want to game when the time for it comes.
I also agree some of these issues are minimal (as I already stated in several of my posts) and the major problems are the very bad cooling system and the screen wobbliness. But even if being minimal... does that make them neglectable? No it doesn't... and people have the right to know that.

@everyone - Please, do not turn this into a pointless discussion.
Heathkidd gave us his opinion, take it as you want and leave it there. Let's not feed fruitless and pointless fights here.

I wrote this thread to inform, not to start a love/hate fight. I decided this was my responsability as a M15x owner, to give some info to people and to let them know what they can expect. It's to each one of them to decide if they can live with it or not. I'm sure there are people that can...

 

Sorry Milcs if I upset the theme of your post.

I think everyone here knows the M15x on paper and in concept is absolutely amazing. I did enjoy my M15x and it will be a power house if the smaller issues get corrected in a reasonable time frame. Now wether or not that time frame has passed, is up to you to decide. For those owners with fine working systems I wish you all the best and enjoy that system.

 

im sorry if this has already been shown i cant seem to find it but could some one take some shots with the webcam in best and worst case scenarios.

a mic recording in "true" silent room would also be nice.

the main issue i have with people saying the mic is poor quality is under what condition they are using it.. in a gaming environment any laptop monitor mounted mic will also fail to produce respectable sound quality due to vibration and proximity to cooling.


but yes the "webcam cant focus" issue worries me as such mobile phone and laptop 2mp cams actually don't have a adjustable lens.. so mabye people are just seing a upscale low quality image on a high quality scrn and screaming fowl?... i would and im sure others would like to see this for them selves.

but yes data on the above 2 would be highly easy to record and upload.. any takers? seems like appropriate information to be put in this thread atm its just a lot of words and memories of angry/upsetting posts.

 

My webcam couldn't focus at all. It was a completly blurred image. The mic was clear though, I asked some guys on Vent how my mic sounded, and they all said quite good. And there was no feedback squeal.

The webcam I always thought could be better, and actually the Webcam was another built in feature I was looking forward too. It just gives me one less thing I need to travel with.

 

My biggest problem with this thread and forum with regards to the m15x is that it's not a true representation of people that have bought this laptop.

Yea, It's a new product, there will be flaws, you should have accepted that when you bought the laptop. I'd love to know of a car that hasn't had a single recall or unhappy person with the mileage of it, and those are much more expensive than a laptop, even an alienware one. As was mentioned before, the fancier it is, the more there is that can go wrong.

Unfortunatly the only people that tend to post are the complainers. Sure, there could be 100 people on this forum that bought an m15x and are unhappy with it, maybe only 50 of those have actually posted, the other 50 just lurk. Then there is the 500 people that bought an m15x and were completly happy with it and didn't feel the need to join this or any forum to mention it's problems because their either didn't have any, or they didn't have as high of expectations.

Unfortunatly, it's almost exclusively the unhappy people that complain even if they are a minority giveing everybody else a twisted view of the truth. Maybe everybody here just go Lemons.

I think we need to start posting threads with more "pros" and "cons" instead of just "Cons".

 

Very useful post milcs. Appreciate you doing it.

I do agree more people with complaints tend to post, but reading forums for other notebooks there are far more issues with the m15x than with the vast majority of other notebooks. I'm sure that's in part because the AW customer base is a bit more discerning and also expects a lot from their system (not unreasonable given the cost and the way they're marketed).

I'm 100% happy with my Clevo M570 (aka Sager 5793). Would I have been as happy with the m15x? Who knows. Got so tired of wait and getting constantly changing stories from AW (when I heard anything at all) that I gave up and canceled my order (probably would have stuck it out, but had a deadline at work).

 

Ok, what you don't know is the fact that more than half of us and maybe even more who post here, were present in this forum before we received the M15X. I know myself, MrDJ, newfie and others for sure created an account in anticipation for their M15X and not to complain about problems after receiving it.

I would normally agree with what you said and anyone who hasn't been on the forums for several months would say the same thing but unfortunately you're not right here.

 

Legacy, contrary to what you might think, this forum isn't filled with prima donnas with OCD complexes and not enough anafranil... try perusing the other pc manufacturer forums and contrast the general tone. If your theory is correct, then just as many people should be complaining in the other forums because after all, they are experiencing problems and therefore sought out a technical forum. I think that although you will find issues being posted, this is by far the most negative forum. It's either coincidence, or a reflection of consumer dissatisfaction with the manufacturer.