adventures in athlone (review + pics soon)

I know there's quite a few reviews of the m15x but this will be mine cone Monday! I think some how I slightly differ from the rest, having today reached phase 9 (though the unit doesn't getcollected by dhl until 430) as far ad I can tell I'm the only homegrown European customer. Which is to say Irish, with alienwares base in athlone, 200 km away. Furthermore alienware customer service (a well clued in Irishman) were more than helpful with my enquiry earlier, again very rare!

Having been stuck on phase 4 for over a week and phase 5 for as long again, I rocketed to 9 today, which is apparently due to their poor updating of buyers staus'.

Right now my baby is in a box awaiting collection to he brought to the local DHL depot. If they ship it tomorrow I could have it Friday but I expect to open her up Monday evening. Anyway the aim is to add pics and a review asap.

ARRIVED!

First impressions are WOW! This thing looks out of this world. It won't please the Alienware fan boys to have to wait for the skullcap (which looks tacky and cheap imo) but this is a piece of design perfection. Every bit as sleek and clean as say a MacBook/ MB Pro yet still alienware at heart, much due to my purchase of Alien FX Lighting.













As regards build quality this thing is built like a concrete block, solid through out. There's no creak with the screen, it needs a firm hand to open and close which is reassuring. There is absolutely no sway on the area to the left and right of the touchpad. The keyboard is a masterpiece to behold. I particularly like the font used, modern and bahaus like. The one problem I have with the keyboard is the sway by the arrow keys (right hand corner). It has been sorted somewhat from the original models but its still prevelant. Furthermore when tapping any of the lower right hand corner keys, they make a worrying tinny and cheap sound you might say very hollow. Would be an idea for AW to pad this area much like the guide in the NBR review of this laptop.

I will however say as regards the 200 point system AW are implementing that it is a shambles. My "lightpipe" is non existant, which is to say its more akin to screen leakage, right now in the dark I can make out a faint light and no more than that. As a €37 add on I feel I'm owed about €8 or so, but tbh its so much hassle sending it back I'll just send an irate phone call to AW CS (who I found very helpful)

My system is probably mid range (T8300 + 8800) , the processor is ample for my needs and the gfx card is a beast. Suffice to say all the benchmarks and fps details are dotted all over the net and you hardly need them repeated. I'll give one example though. Under heavy gunfire in Day of Defeat Source, with everything maxed I still got a steady 60 fps, I presume the same goes for CSS. Simple breath taking. On the point of gaming, the silent student friend wordpad m15x is quickly replaced by the power hungry fan monster! Its surprising how quiet it is at low power usage, simply put it doesnt exist in a silent room. When gaming its as loud as any high end desktop. And absolutely roasting, keep in mind this need to be well ventilated so dont stick it up against a wall!

I've included a few pics below, it feels every bit as good as it looks.

After having the system a few hours, and having finally figured out how to use Vista I have a decent idea of the laptop. In reality time will tell how good the build quality is, so far I'm impressed apart from the key flex and lightpipe. I am certainly pleased that AW have taken note of the chassis issues and previous MASSIVE key flex.

From a gaming and power perspective this machine is in a league of its own. Even when Clevo brings in its 15.4 beast this will still eclipse it, not because its better cooled or better quality but rather the AW touch, the lights and design set it apart. For me AW has grown up, the new sleek minimalistic design is in fitting with laptops at the moment. The departure from gaudy designs like the XPS 1730 and any MSI monstrosity will stand AW in good sted, I think its actually a very "European" design. I had previously considered both the XPS 1530 and MBP, this laptop is better looking, more powerful, and frankly better value than either of those. It doesnt just feel like its a boutique laptop in a higher price bracket, it feels like its an entire class of its own. If we already have Ferrari and Lamorghini laptops, then surely this is the Bugatti Veyron.

Pros
Monster performance
Design is perfect
AlienFX Lighting

Cons
Key Flex
200 point test is clearly a marketing gimmic

 

where do you live? im in ireland too. perhaps i could have a look at it? i want to feel the buid quality for myself before making a decision.

 

try blackmailing them with a pint of guiness and you might get it delivered by hand by the end of today

 

I'm in Cork. As of today at 15:57 DHL officially have the "package".

 

ccfcman give us a first impression when you get that sucker. I hope they are continually improving on teh quality of that system..

You know I wish AW would give some real gamers a hands on new tech and let us help make stuff that can really work. Let us test the hell out of something for a month or so. Unbiased and from a real user's perspective.

 

really! im not in cork, but i travel there almost avery second weekend. Do you think we could arrange a meeting in town so i could take a look at it? sunday perhaps?

I would be very greatfull

 

Lemme get it first and I'll get back to ya!

 

ok cool, thanks. you would also help others out as i can take measurement for invisible shield too.

 

sent you a PM

 

Review and pics added.

 

AMAZING. Hope I will be surprised like you... when (and if) DHL delivers it to me.

 

Nice to see you got your machine - looks like you're happy with it.

And no creaks when opening the screen? That's amazing!!
When I open mine it sounds crispy ^^.

You can listen to it here: http://sfif.net/1.wma

 

Great review, you've got an amazing system! You can download the light pipe patch from Alienware's support site to get it working. Does the screen wobble anymore when you move the laptop (I'm not sure if Alienware fixed that problem or not yet...)?

 

great review ccfcman
im glad to hear theve sorted out the creaking screen. mine sounds like its taken from a horror movie sound effect. (i wonder if they will sort that out now its back in for repair.
i agree about the light pipe,any thinner and it would be invisible.
when you say its roasting after gaming ive never suffered with that. it gets warm but its bearable on my lap and the cassing doesnt get that warm. must admit the fans are on continuous though.

now youve done your review............go enjoy the beast.

crystak,what are you like. ive seen and heard it all now. lol
actually mine sounds a lot worse than that.

 

You think they fixed the issue or he was just lucky ...

 

ok,yeh,just lucky.
milcs, if yours creaks or squeaks could you test some wd40 on it for us

9.5 hours to go.

 

I think there's both luck and AW know how involved here, screen creak can be hit and miss if you have tight plastics and that, mine feels solid though.

milcs DHL were awesome for me:



Delivered in under 24 hours A letter takes ~3 days here.

 

Nice review, nice pics!
Maybe its just my bad experience but I can't comprehend how you can compare the design of this brick of plastics to the flawless design of a macbook pro

 

BURN DHL... You know what's more funny?
So my report says that at 4.50am it arrived at Vauxhall and it stayed like that ALL FREAKING DAY.
Now I checked and it says that at 5.00h it left the depot and at 5.00h a delivery was attempted but as there was no one they left a card.
So... If I was upset, now I'm completely MAD. Like it wasn't enough for them to screw up, now they are making fun of their clients?
Just wait for 8am, when the offices open. Handull of bastards and unrespectful people.

 

I have to say that looking at it like this, it looks much better than the MBP. Obviously there's more to see than the eyes show... but like this... there's not much doubt for me.

 

Maybe the courier was out of time or didn't like your doorbell and just left a card right away... Its not nice but happened to me with other stuff sometimes, too

 

But... what card? I sat home ALL bloody day. Nothing came through that door. Not even a card... Maybe some dust, but that's all.
I had two women saying they would find out what was going on and phone me back... nothing. This is purely disrespectful. After all this, at least I know I'll love AW. We have to look at the bright side of things...

 

You only ordered it a week ago though, so I wouldnt get too worked up!

 

WHAT! start taking deep breaths,we dont want you hypoventilating.
first question: did they leave a card.
second question: did they go to the right house.
third question: why am i asking questions.

that sounds total bogas man. after staying in all day they give an excuse of there was no reply. thinking back there was someone else from the uk that had the same thing.
dont lose your rag too badly with them just in case they refuse to deliver. when they do and you get the box in your hands then you have permission to kick ten bells of ****e out of the driver.

8 hours 45 minutes to go.
good luck mate. if you need bailing out just shout.

 

so i guess thats a no to helping me out and letting me see it ccfcman. thanks for not even giving a reply.

 

Whoa, some randomer pm'ing me to physically meet up with me and my €2,000 laptop isnt high on my agenda. I'll have some peace and quiet with my baby thanks and consider it. I had never intended on having this anywhere other than my house or my girlfriends.

 

Helios, with all due respect, if there's something I will never do is to let someone I don't know from anywhere (appart from an internet forum) to come and put their hands on my brand new, flashy, amazing, shinny, laptop...
I mean, not even my girlfriend will be allowed to touch it.

 

whatever dude. im barely 18. its not like i was going to pound you into submision and steal the thing. (not like i could if i tried)

even so, then you could have said so. I suppose now you have.

 

give him a chance. he only received it today.

 

Helios knowing Milcs I am sure he is just kidding with ya. hence the

 

ccfcman what resolution did you get for your system? Was it the 1440 x 900 or is it the 1920 x 1200 resolution?

Because from the picture it looks like it isn't a glossy screen, please let me know thank you

 

WXGA+ (which is what he has in his sig) is the 1440 screen, so that's what he has

 

I've been so worried about build quality/reliability with this thing. I'm trying to decide between the m15x or the Macbook Pro. Most of the reviews I've found have said that the m15x feels "cheap", but I periodically find ones (like this review) that say it feels nice and solid. I don't know, I want a nice, solid laptop that'll last me for a while, but since I can afford the m15x it would be nice to have something with that much power. I do like to game after all

 

I know that, but take a look at the screenshot, that looks like a matte screen, just making sure, ccf where are you? please confirm and if u can can you take another screenshot of the screen, maybe an angled screenshot or a clsoer screenshot thank you very much give u rep for sure

 

Nuub... go for the 1440 screen. That's the best compromise for what you are looking in a laptop. I've had a 1600 screen and even that was a bit too much for me.

@Jwest... Wait for mine to come. I'm as impartial as impartial can be. If I'll be happy with mine, I'm sure everyone sane will have to be as well. I've had some experience with laptops, used several, owned a few... I'm sure I will be able to give a fair oppinion on it.

 

Thanks, hope you get it soon

 

WXGA+

[/IMG]

 

you can't compare them as the m15x is a pure gaming machine while the MBP is a nice-looking business-machine. I don't really like the MBP as it's way to expensive from my point of view (when you compare it to a Dell XPS 1530 e.g.) but I would say it's more beautiful than the m15x. (thinner, solid ...)

But have to consider that the m15x needs place for the 8800M GTX and therefore it's quite unfair to compare them. (or you have to also compare the gaming-performance and then the MBP would totally lose)


saint

 

I would recommend the M1530 from Dell if your just looking for decent gaming performance for games like WOW. I think it makes a great business PC for someone on the road. Now if you want a power house, that can handle that business meeting on the road. And frag all holy hell when your back at the hotel. Well the M15x is your friend there. Just remember it's like rolling the dice in Vegas, sometime you win sometimes you don't. So you may get a system that works and you may not.

 

thats encouraging

 

I was comparing build quality, not size, which is perfectly reasonable

 

ccfcman, have you noticed any creaking or anything that makes you go "that cant be good" when picking up the laptop from one side?

 

Hm so comparing build quality of a MBP and a m15x that would be like comparing a mercedes to a... lets say Daihatsu?

 

well both those laptops are kind of like a mercedes. if you scratched your mercedes you would go crazy. even though they might be pretty solid, if you scratched your daihatsu you would just shrug it off compared to the mercedes. Im pretty sure you wouldnt want either the MBP or the M15x scratched.

if i were to compare build quality, lets say the m15x is the mercedes and the MBP is the hummer. Hummer's are so strong >>. my friend said he had a friend that crashed into a hummer and the hummer was fine and his car was totaled

 

Congrats on the new m15x, have fun!

 

Minute, but that would happen with any laptop I think, maybe its my skin creaking its so minute?

 

Good review CCFCman, looking forward to checking that lappy out some stage soon! I'm be selling my kidneys & getting a quad core!

 

Nice Review. Congrats on fully wokring system. I hope you think of us when your fraggin away on that beast.