seriously thinking about the m15x...

i have not used a pc for gaming in years. but this looks amazing. i have the summer off and would not mind gaming in between my travels. i just have a couple or actually 5 questions

1) can i install xp? the first thing i do on laptops is install the previous OS. i could care less about dx 10 , as i heard that lags games with any laptop card.

2)would i be able to "trade up" with alienware when the black skullcap comes out? i have seen the comparison shots at the alienware annocement. the black looks so much cooler.

3) why does such a high end laptop have keyboard flex and creaky/ cheap sounding lid?

4) im actually getting this for college. i dont really plan to take notes on the laptop in every class but it would be nice to take into the class room every now and again. i just dont want everyone staring. is it too big and flashy to use like that?

5) can someone point me to a neoprone case that this laptop could fit in? i have a nice backpack. i and i like slip cases. but i know this one has some extra meat on its bones so i was just wondering. the case they give if is a cheap piece of cloth right? really pointless imo.

6) how much would it be to order the smart bay battery and 300 gb (i think) from the alienware store?

thanks in advance!!!!

 

1.) They actually offer it with XP professional last time I checked. However if you want to play games with directx10, it is best to get Vista and then "downgrade" if you don't like it. I haven't noticed any lag with vista though some games don't like it all that much. HOWEVER remember that xp only is made for up to 2 gigs of RAM so if you want the 4 gigs then to truly use it to its potential you need vista :/

2.) I'm not really sure about that actually... I think the silver ripley design is very nice and even a bit classy compared to the skullcap.

3.) I'm not sure. It could just be the type of plastic, how it's put together but I don't honestly think it's a huge problem. That is the last thing I think about when I open mine up in the morning (my thoughts are usually on what quest i am about to complete in The Witcher lol).

4.) That kinda depends lol. When I take mine to school with me.. anyone who knows what an alienware is tends to stare and whatnot. Part of having an alienware though is being proud that you -have- one. The ripley design, though, isn't as flashy as the skullcap and if it weren't for the alien head people probably wouldn't know (and the alienfx gives it away but you can turn it off). Other than that... I don't think it is too flashy but then again I used to carry around a macbookpro and that's also a pretty "flashy" computer.

6.) Unless they give some sort of discount... it'll be about $425 (because if you want 300 GB you have to go for the 320 GB drive)

 

If you want a good case for it, go for a backpack like i did. The m15x is a bit bulkier than normal 15.4 systems so you have to go a bit bigger. I got the Swiss Gear IBEX backpack. ITs big enough, comes with lifetime guarantee an i can fit loads of books into it allong with the laptop (the alienware pack is very bad at doing this together.
Its an expensive enough case (€100) but its good, made by the same people that make swiss army knives, meade of very nice material and has shock/ airflow technology to be as comfortable as possible.

Oh and buy the smartbay pieces seperately. you sill get them cheaper.

 

SB battery is like $60 when ordered separately

As for case 'upgrade', that's highly unlikely, I would say.

 

You can buy the m15x with XP or install it later on, drivers are available in the support area.
To be honest, I don't see any point in still using XP especially with the m15x you have so much power under the hood, there wont be any lags caused by the os for shure

Maybe, no one knows as its not released yet...

Ask alienware, maybe otherwise it would cost too much? Who knows... Btw the keyboard flex isn't really that bad, you will hardly notice it at all...

You have an alienware, what do you expect?

I use the tucano second skin for 15,4" with the m15x, it fits but its really tight. So maybe a 17" will be good too.

The smartbay did cost me 62€ incl. tax/shipping here in europe

 

1) Yes

2) Most likely not. Alienware has not done that with it's past notebooks

3) Because it is / The chassis is not solid metal.

4) It's an Alienware.

5) can someone point me to a neoprone case that this laptop could fit in? i have a nice backpack. i and i like slip cases. but i know this one has some extra meat on its bones so i was just wondering. the case they give if is a cheap piece of cloth right? really pointless imo.

6) After you buy a system from Alienware, you are able to ask for 10% discount on anything you purchase later on. You save more money this way. This offer applies to all current Alienware customers.

NO problem

 

Oh yeah? So, when my m15x inevitably needs replacing down the road, do I get a 10% discount on that new purchase?

 

I haven't done this for a whole new system, but I'm pretty sure it applies as well.

However, everything else I got with the 10% discount. Even for the CPU upgrade, LCD upgrade (all done by Alienware) on my previous m5550.

 

I would be surprised if they do accept 10% on new systems. If you're an AW customer, they'd probably want you to send the old one in to be credited instead of offering 10%.

 

I'll buy another m15x and see if I can apply it.