Totally New Dell/Alienware - Summer 2010? (Computex/E3?)

So the first joint Dell/Alienware 17" "all-powerful" M17x laptop was launched on June 2, 2009. They're up to R2 of the unit now, and I'm wondering if anyone with access to information in the "hive" has a clue as to whether or not to be expecting an entirely new Dell/Alienware 17" laptop to replace the current model come the one year anniversary in June, or simply yet another revision, ie: R3? Perhaps instead something altogether new, a product inbetween the M11x and M17x? Dell/Alienware would more than likely be announcing anything new at either Computex or E3 which are both just around the corner now...

 

Exactly why would they re-do it at this stage? At most, there will be a better GPU option, and that's it.

 

Pretty sure we will see an all new M17x during this summer.

 

May as well wait *sigh* I may never get an M17x. Maybe thats when they will roll out 5870's.

 

idk - to remain competitive, dynamic, and innovative?

after everything i've read, i'm inclined to think this as well...

kinda where i'm at, lol! it's true there's always something new just around the corner in the ever changing and fast paced tech industry, but i've waited this long to place my order - whats a couple extra months for a totally new 17" flagship product?

anyone have any "contact" in order to clarify if we're only looking at a simple R3 modification to accommodate newer gpu's as tears believes, or something totally new overall as 5150Joker suggests?

 

Not gonna be a new design till Spring/Summer 2011.

 

I hope that m17x owners can just pop in the 5870's

 

Yes you will be able to upgrade to them, but the cost is going to be very high on those cards. And it will probably be a while before you could ever buy them from Dell Parts.
Probably be better selling your R1 and going with a new R2 5870. Just my thoughts though.

 

thanks for the info Darkhan, truly helpful!

so for clarification (as far as you might be able to say) we're looking more at like what tears believed (R3 merely for gpu) and won't see anything totally new (in the 17" arena) as 5150Joker suggested until summer 2011?

 

Yes, I don't see anything other than various upgrades to the all ready in place platform.

 

Darkhan,

How far until we see the 5870s in the m17x-R2? The end of march is near Can you enlight us with some good news?

 

Very soon.

 

That's not like the Blizzard "Soon (TM)" is it?

 

So Darkhan is a man to trust right?

I hope you are right Darkhan. I'm losing the last bit of all my patience and faith.

 

Darkhan is right, one potential upgrade we'll see is the 5870s.
I wouldn't be that optimistic though about the time. Have you even heard that the 5870s are getting CF-ready? All current resellers say they don't even have a clue... Makes you think.
There's another potential upgrade for the current system - USB 3.
Plus, but that's a rather personal wish, they could offer a matte screen in addition to the glossy ones.

 

Forget about a redesign what about something new/better coming out?

 

Yea, when Diablo3 is finally out the earth will tremble

Don't get too discouraged m8, although you might have to wait a few months.

 

and money.

it doesn't hurt for a cutting edge design. Just don't make it a priority.

 

Are all these 5870s release rumors regarding a Crossfire release or just a single 5870 gpu?

 

It was already mentioned to me that they had something new in the works that would blow us all away. I took it as meaning a redesigned M17x but it could easily be a new notebook though I don't know where exactly it would fit in. If it's >17" then the market for that I think would be too slim to justify a completely new design so then it would probably have to fall into the 13" range but that would hardly blow me away. Shrug, wish I had some insider info. like Darkhan.

 

Yes, the "blow us all away" gaming system is what I'm waiting for.

 

I bet it is a flying car. Jetsons style. wot wot

 

Well USB 3 won't take a full redesign, just a slightly changed motherboard really. So hoping that will come.

I'd like to see 285M's on the R2 or (on blind faith that is wearing thin) that we might see DX11 capable mobiles at least to balance the competition.

Of course I'm aching to see the 5870 CF's hit as well. Because I might get convinced to use them instead, especially if NV has no DX11.

Wouldn't mind a changeover to 3 mini displayport (just use adapters if you want HDMI or DVI). It would take less space and basically support all needed standards and maybe Eyefinity as well I can hope can't I? Seriously, VGA and the space it takes up on the chassis is so 1990's. I'd take 2 more USB ports if nothing else and make better use of the space.

Touchpad could use a bit of improvement, though I think Synaptics still makes the best touchpads I've used. It's just the implementation of this one that seems to have gone a bit off track.

Wouldn't mind a digital audio out to run to an external receiver, but that's purely bonus time. Probably could use 2 more USB ports more, if budgeting the space, but still one cable to the receiver is a desire I have.

Latching screen maybe? That'd be an easy fix too probably. I can live without it, of course, but refinements are refinements.

Probably will come with the Intel 2.13 Extreme mobile I7 as well.

Have to see how things pan out. With Optimus technology out I wouldn't be surprised to see 3 chips on the 2 SLI/CF cards, 2 high power chips and one lower power one just to fall back for battery life. This was a good idea on the first gen M17X, but it wasn't worth the price of a Nvidia chipset to get it done. It could still be done on the MX cards though I believe.

Any other ideas out there?

 

who could possibly resist waiting it out a few weeks or less for something "soon" that will "blow us all away"?!?!

 

What if they're working on some 17-18" Clevo D900F competitor?
Wouldn't it be great to get the AW cooling (hopefully with better HS) tested on X58 i7-980X + SLI/CF?

 

Now that would be freaking awesome!

 

That would be pretty awesome though I'd imagine a chunky beast.

 

that would be a tank!!

 

They could give it a nice name - "The Mother Ship"
We have to stop giving Dell free ideas though.

 

Gaming Ipad anyone? lol
Where is that Alienware/Ipad photoshop WAR

 

Only useful if it was compatible with Wacom styluses.

If I could draw, animate, surf and game on the go I'd be stoked.

Perfect for school then.

 

Last time he mentioned it will come soon. Today Darkhan said " VERY " soon. I am feeling like its within weeks.

The dell website is already making changes on the system configurator.

The WUXGA and the RGB LED is no longer an option, only the 900p screen is available.

So this is what I am assuming the upgrades for the R2.

1) RGB LED will be default screen with an option of a new type screen
2) ATi Mobility 5870 in CrossfireXT

Anyone want to add something to this?

 

Wow you're optimistic..RGB LED default? lol don't count on it. The most that will happen is they will replace the CCFL with WLED and keep the RGB LED an upgrade option. That's assuming this isn't all due to a supply shortage which I suspect it is. The 5870s will probably come at the end of the month or beginning of April and be quietly introduced on the website. The same thing happened with the Studio XPS 16, a lot of us were waiting on the switch from 3870-->4870 and Dell one day just changed the options.

 

Well, what's the saying? "Version 1.0 always has nasty bugs". Hence why I jumped on M17xR2 rather than the SLI M17xR1.

 

lol, i was about to order one today, and came here first, now i see this. well there goes that must be a sign to keep waiting for 5870's cuz thats the only reason i hadn't order. i was about to give in and now this. lol how fortuitous

 

I can't see why they would re-tool another production line for a case refresh. This is a mostly metal chassis not based on any ODM design. And the volume shipped is low. It's really expensive to get a factory up to speed on a new design of this caliber.

IMO I think this is 'the look' of AW laptops for a few years - with slight cosmetic changes and internal tweaks.

But I am just guessing.

 

I think you might be onto something. And I have the feeling it won't be "within weeks" but within hours - like tomorrow Dell tends to update their system on Thursdays.

If there was a shortage of RGB LEDs it would say "May delay your order" instead of completely removing it from their website. Plus, who in their right mind would buy a 17" laptop with 900p screen. Dell should not offer their flagship notebook with a crappy screen for few weeks. System update is the more reasonable explanation.

This is just a theory, though.

 

I'm not too sure about that. Dell change their website almost on a daily basis to adapt it to shortages of any of the components. You'll notice especially if browse their sites from several countries a couple of times per week.

 

I hope the 5870 CF is out tomorrow I'm ready to order

 

There is a guy and hes order changed from in progress to be advised. Anyone else getting that? Maybe it means there officialy out of LEDs and are replacing them with something better or the same, same goes for the 5870s. Only supplying one card means they can run out of stock fast so who knows

 

Dude I just checked Dell's website for the M17X and it's starting price used to be 1699 or 1799 depending on what cpu you got. Now it's 1849. Also it doesn't offer the 4870's anymore. Now you can get a 260 SLI. Can someone give me a OVER.


EDIT@ Never mind. When I went back later, It's back to the 4870's and 1699\1799 price. Don't I look like a liar.

 

Nah you're not. You look nothing like Nixon.

 

Prices have not changed on the dell.com website. Not sure where you are getting your prices from.


EDIT: Sorry I had not read your EDIT...

 

another proof that there busy on something

 

I hope so. It was just weird. I checked the cpu choices and they were all the old ones like the Core Duo's and the QX9300. If Dell is changing their website around, I can't imagine why they would have the old M17X on their web server. Oh well here's to hoping for the 5870's...

 

lol, on dell.ca the 1200P CCFL is gone.

 

Hrmmm RBG LCD option is gone and the 4780s both show as "May delay your Alienware ship date."

 

Something is brewing

 

Wouldn't it be just great to see a 5870m option pop up? Though the lack of RGB LED doesn't make it too appealing right now.

 

That would just be a kick in the nads.