mx15 hinge problem still present? Smb owning one without cracks?

Hi,

i am currently looking for a nice "portable" (=15") gaming notebook with matte screen. The two final candidates are the mx15 and the sager np8660 (enlighten me if you see other models to check out in that area). While the sager wins by 300 bucks price advantage with an equal fitting it definitely looses in style and i tend towads the style instead of the bucks . While most issues from the early versions seem to be fixed (gpu/cpu heating/downclocking) there is still that one big bummer with the hinges breaking. Did any of the more recent buyers actually check the hinges on the newer models and see if there has been some sort of improvement? I found one statement where a customer rep said that this is fixed. Though i have yet to find someone actually verifying this. This one thing is really keeping me away from buying since well for the price i definitely do not want to see this piece breaking after 1 year or even sooner.

Furthermore the case seems to be pretty lousy with cracks here and there beeing a common problem. Are there any long term mx15 owners whose cases are actually still intact in here?

Oh and one last thing: Does somebody know if the free shipping promo/ or something similar in value is still available?

Thanks in advance for any replies

menne

 

there are loads of m15x owners without hinge issues.. you just don't read about us because we don't post "OMG my hinge h4sn't sn4ped yet!!1! uber-haxz0r!!1!!1" threads

addtionally, an AW represenatative here on the forum (Roswell_Kevin, a member of AW's senior TS group "Roswell") stated that there has been an update/revision of the m15x chassis, aiming to improve the weak hinges.

 

Put it this way, the chassis, is absolutly great at hiding day to day scratches. But it's a because you can see the smudge marks, so you've gotta wipe it every so often.
I have no cracks yet, and I've had mine since september.
Skullcap ftw

 

I'd go for the Sager, because the m15x casing you will hate after a week or so... it's pretty flimsy feeling and flexible... that's my opinion after having a rotten m15x.

 

....hard choice id go with the m15x because it is better now AT least saposed to be

 

While I have not actually removed anything to check the hinges I can tell you that they have not felt nearly as flimsy as people made it seem prior to me getting my m15x. Now, I don't know whether there has been an "improvement" or not in terms of hinges but they definitely do not feel like they will give out and I have to open and close this laptop quite often as I have to transfer between 4-5 classrooms a day. Don't let the hinges be a huge factor in your decision because the problem is clearly given more attention than it deserves.

Btw, you will NOT hate the case after a week. It looks awesome, has a coating that is something you would see on a car and won't chip, and it is not nearly as flimsy as some of the exaggerating posters like to often say. Go with the m15x, you will not be disappointed.

 

Ask yourself, are you willing to wait if something goes wrong? If you have a backup system and the answer is yes. I say why not? Its an amazing machine with SB and killer look!

 

kind of a loaded question no?
this could happen to anything at anytime....

 

i think he's referring to the exceedingly LONG wait time in most cases when sent in to AW for repair. I've hinted at this in many posts. Especially if you're a student and you do NOT have a backup machine (and lets face it... going to the Computer labs are usually NOT good for a backup purpose due to crowding and other issues), then i would look elsewhere that has a TRUE onsite warranty. I believe the poster above was trying to make the same point.

 

while some cases have taken time, others have not.

as people here have ponited out before, rarely do you see positive responses to issues as a limited number of people do not want to take time to tell the good side of things...but heaven forbid you get wronged....it then becomes national headlines.
(off soap box)

but if this is what he meant then i can understand it. still...rather generic...

 

I have had mine since July, no problems whatsoever till now

 

yea but you cheated and put a skin on yours ....cha whats wrong with yours?

 

Haha that's considered cheating?

I hated the squeaky hinges and wanted to make it look different, hence why I had it wrapped. The squeaky hinges did come back though, only with opening the laptop. Still fine when closing the lid.

 

lol its no cheating ... just thinking more then the other people try WD 40 lol i liked your idea ..i just got the m17 for power and this thing is like a tankkkkkk

 

Yeah I believe the m17 is a good buy too Mr. Moo I wanted to retain some portability, and the long battery life ( when needed ) that's why I went for the m15x

 

I have noticed a crack on my hinge - m15x skullcap - bought in september. The irony...

 

I have noticed a crack on my hinge - m15x skullcap - bought in september. The irony...

 

It's really time to stop downplaying the hinge cracking as if there isn't a design flaw.

 

Well thanks for all the replies. Basically the same split picture as in my head. some say go for it some don't . I will probably go for the mx15 since the 8660 seems to have a pretty poor battery life at least it cant compete with a smartbay batteried mx15 running wih this binarygfx thingy. Since i will be moving quite some times sothat's another big+ and the price difference is actually only 200 for my configuration so win mx15 .