vikingrinn

that's xcellent, congratulations milco!~ :cheers:

...elmo agrees : <object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHROHJlU_Ng?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHROHJlU_Ng?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>

...and there's definitely something to be said for that!~

ndeed, lol!~ love 'preachers daughter syndrome' katy, but besides sounding like a downtempo ripoff of t.a.t.u 'all the things she said' - just like russell brand, kanye west, and lady gag-a, this song totally song sux... :thumbsdown: idk why, but this song evokes notions of alienware (well, and makes me think of hopping out on the road for a few flyby runs and seeing how close to 200mph i can get!~ ): <object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfUg3gqsNGo?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfUg3gqsNGo?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>

your machine upgraded with dual gpu's & aluminum should be a beast!~ re: the "plastic" soft touch, just rechecked from (overpriced) colorware it's like... $500! anywho, from audi to benz to chevy to ferrari to hummer to lamborghini - it's done on a regular basis without issue (when done properly), so why not? our dlp's and lcd's are all finished off with plastic in one way or another too (pretty much all our gadgets are, down to our smartphones), regardless of brand - no problems whatsoever with any plastics here. (it's not like breasts, where we can at least choose between the natural and artificial, lol!~ ) in the end, whichever works in production to achieve desired form & function & cost - right?!?! you couldn't go wrong. in the end they'll be siblings w/same fundamental dna (at least for these revisions), manifested into smaller unit w/soft touch & single gpu or larger unit w/aluminum & dual gpu - both current standard bearers for their respective industry segments!~

+1 "cruck" rofl!~

you must be missing the plate above the memory? (re: flex) strange, haven't really heard of any flex after the sb recall when they put that plate into use....? and "plasticy" lol nope~ it's called 'soft touch', and unwitting geeks sometimes spend over $300 to have places like colorware apply it to their laptops, when alienware is giving it away with their new systems for free/no cost upgrade - sheesh, you just can't please some people, lol!~

lol, the gym comments are too ironic/funny since i just got done with an hour and a half there after a full day of classes!~ i guess maybe i was looking at the 16lbs comment all wrong, and could just get it and use it (M18x) as a substitute for some (small) weights!~ so i take it that the (ineffective/boring, regardless of whomever it was...) speaker was somewhat wrong in the M18x weight reference? i need to seriously introduce them to some business/marketing students. i skipped out early from a lecture all jazzed to catch that live announcement stream, and not only were they late, but whoah!~ the presentation is far from what i would have considered fitting for such an esteemed brand like alienware. they could've even teamed up with the crew of the engadget show or something of the like? afterall, the product line itself is xcellent and deserving of something a little better (at least on par quality wise with web presence) prepared, and of a much classier production overall...

?!?!16lbs?!?! sheesh!~ guess that pretty much makes the decision clear, off to next class...

the aw tech seemed pretty sure (when offering to send the sticks this way for a try) that even HM67 can support 32GB (4DIMMS) if aw wanted to, and just found some other reseller w/an HM67 product currently doing that: firestormx77 3:27 a.m. EST and classes tmrw, so l8r for now - guess we'll all know (hopefully) soon enough!~

16GB (4DIMMS) currently offered on the M17x R3, and friend in aw tech thinks no problem for more (32GB/4DIMMS) - was planning on finding out here soon if no igp on the 'avenger'. yet M18x is also showing same (4DIMMS) as well... anywho, if so - if that ends up being the case, igp and the baddest chipset available on the M18x!!!~ then there'll be no choice, oh great... must. resist. temptation. lol

thanks!~ will maybe get a chance in between classes to check it out... and yeppurz, wouldn't have ordered the HD 6970M without the support for external 3D (well, ok - still would've ordered the smokin' HD 6970M!~ ), however rare the need arises! if she reads this, be sure to separate and emphasize both (pretty AND smart) for extra points/mileage, lol!~ not sure, think brain's going to try using snagit? theres also http://www.speedbit.com/video/ (among many others) if you're wanting to give it a try - thanks, redundancy never hurts!

Alienware M17x Laptop Details | Dell no kidding!~ hopefully someone will grab it and post it up to youtube, will be (more importantly) busy with classes here.

(ironic that all of the M17x R3 systems are scheduled for delivery by fedex here tomorrow ) idk why (:crazy: maybe? lol!~ ), but the "M18x R1: SINGLE/DUAL GPU (IGP?)" is pretty much the final determining 'make it or break it' factor here atm, even though the added size/weight along with no need for dual gpu's should have made the decision relatively easy already. with all of the ports being identical (both have HDMI 1.4 even) other than the expresscard, holding out (against the realistic odds) for igp support...

for anyone interested/deciding between them, differences (based on specs now listed at official sites) between M17x R3 & M18x R1: DISPLAY: M17x R3: 17.3" 1080p WLED | M18x R1: 18.4" 1080p WLED CPU: M17x R3: 2820QM* | M18x R1: 2920XM GPU: M17x R3: SINGLE GPU w/IGP | M18x R1: SINGLE/DUAL GPU (IGP?) MEMORY: M17x R3: 16GB* 1333MHz (4DIMMS) | M18x R1: 32GB 1333MHz/16GB 1600Mhz (4DIMMS) CASE: M17x R3: SOFT TOUCH (BLACK/RED) | M18x R1: ANODIZED ALUMINUM (BLACK/RED) HEIGHT (FRONT): M17x R3: 1.75" | M18x R1: 2.09" HEIGHT (REAR): M17x R3: 1.77" | M18x R1: 2.13” DEPTH: M17x R3: 11.96" | M18x R1: 12.68” WIDTH: M17x R3: 16.14" | M18x R1: 17.17” WEIGHT (STARTING): M17x R3: 9.39lbs | M18x R1: 11.93lbs SPEAKERS: M17x R3: 2 (KLIPSCH) | M18x R1: 2.1 (KLIPSCH) BATTERY: M17x R3: 9-CELL LITHIUM ION (90-WHr) | M18x R1: 12-CELL LITHIUM ION (97-WHr) POWER SUPPLY: M17x R3: 240W ADAPTER | M18x R1: 330W AC ADAPTER ALL OPTICAL DRIVES, PORTS (WITH EXCEPTION OF EXPRESSCARD ON M18x R1), KEYBOARDS (WITH EXCEPTION OF FIVE EXTRA MACRO KEYS ON M18x R1), TOUCHPADS, WIRELESS CARDS, CAMERAS, SOUND, AND CUSTOMIZED NAMEPLATES ARE IDENTICAL OFFERINGS AT THIS TIME... *denotes maximum offering by alienware, but not maximum component. hope this helps!~

+1 this. it's close enough to may that Z68 should be the board, but with that earlier bios from dell support labelled both M17x R3/M18x in description (which is HM67 ), and still no mention anywhere of battery life or igp, there's no telling which of the board options they've run with. sux if they went P67 and there's no igp on this first revision, but if they surprise everyone and include Z68 that'd most definitely push the 'kid in me' over the top (lol, impulsively overlooking any negative aspects like size/weight factors which would certainly go against my needed usage ) in favor of the larger 'avenger'...

the design is in keeping with the other newer models M11x R1/R2 (also forthcoming M11x R3, M14x R1, & M18x R1), it only uses the backlighting of the wled for illumination, hence only white for the lid logo (alien head)...

the reason for suggesting a film is that (unfortunately for good old fashioned led customization) lighting for the logo (alien head) comes from the wled itself...

whether it's the M17x R3 or M18x R1 (also M11x R1/2/3 & M14x R1...), this is a mod that needs tackling (perhaps even with a single color/high quality film between wled & logo?) if at all possible!~ given the location, avoiding any damage seems trickiest...

have any issues with the soft touch peeling when removing/changing out the wrap, or has it stayed somewhat durable?

and don't forget the NX90... :facepalm: aside from HDMI 1.4 being little more than gimmick, both have pros and cons and are ndeed somewhat different machines - although don't they fundamentally share the same bios? guess we'll have to wait for definitive answer on this until after the first units hit reviewers hands (aka you, brian!~ ) then!~

ok, it seems that "SoundBlaster X-Fi Audio (Optional)" is ndeed just software, and they're slacking on the site info again with the "WavesMAXX Audio (Standard)" not being listed... we know the 2920XM is supported, so over time it should become available in the M17x R3 if the 2820QM runs out of (highly unlikely) steam... case should be fine, so only thing left different between the two (besides dual gpu's) then is added size/weight which would just hinder its intended usage, so... if the thing (M17x R3) would simply get here already (delayed/revised delivery), wouldn't even be considering anything else lol they're not even the same segment, really... usage, usage, UsAgE!~ :sigh: too many other things need to get focused/organized before finals - it's going to be fun loading up those ssd's in everyone's machines when they do FiNaLlY get here...

lol, this. if the M17x R3 had options for the XM, X-Fi, and aluminum (for added durability, or perhaps even custom paint later if so choose - maybe inaps approach will suffice for this), don't think there'd even be a question... with size/weight difference factored in, and the possibility of no igp on the avenger, don't know if it really is a real question atm anywho, lol seriously just cherry picking between the two atm, and having a 'kid in me' moment like one of those old tv , lol!~ probably the same things others have tossed around in their heads while in delivery (ship delay) limbo, before the final 'final answer' as to ultimately which way to go for the next couple years... or semesters at least!

well in addition to the igp, let's hope the HD 6970M is one of the single gpu options at launch so the decision is that much easier...

have (obviously) been entertaining it, but considered "sacrilege" by some or not, lol - if the system has no access to igp then there'll be no choice other than the M17x R3 for best performance w/portability... also, leaked configs thus far only showing the GTX 460M as single gpu option for the M18x?!?! (insert original '80s MTV ads here: i want my amd!~ )