M11X - To buy now, or to wait?

Hey all,

I am having a horrible itch to purchase the M11X. Even worse, Best Buy has it available near me, and I have $100 in available gift cards.

I currently commute 4 hours a day rountrip on a train and I love portable gaming. Currently I own a DS, PSP and an Asus eee901. The M11X is like a dream come true for some one like me. The only down part of the M11X is the damn processor.

Now I see that it is rumored that the revisions on the M11X will contain ULV processor. Realistically, this laptop with a 2.4Ghz processor will be absolute perfection. I would love to play modern games and also PS2 emulated games, which the 2.4 Ghz processor would give me.

So the question is, what would you guys do if you were in my shoes? Would you wait for the Revision, or would you do it now?

Also, on another note, what can really be expected in a Rev? Do we really think we will see i7 in here, or is it more realistic to have a i5 or i3. Do you think the next revision could go above 2.4Ghz if over clocked?

I know it is all speculation and rumor, but it is killing me. I would have enough to carry me over till the Winter in terms of gaming on the 901 and the PSP with some of the games coming out. I hope I can tame the itch until the next rev.

 

With five very similar topics (including my own) on the first few pages of the board you would think this would be settled by now. Regardless I say buy now, imo it's one of the top five windows laptop out there. Don't over estimate the 335 graphics its not like a better cpu is going to match systems with full blown high end gaming specs. Besides, the better the CPU the more people will complain about wanting a better graphics card

 

Well, my thinking is that a better CPU will take care of those games that tend to be more CPU intensive. Also the PS2 Emulator is CPU intensive, so this upgrade will help in that department. I am not expecting the best graphics and so on, I would just like to be able to get 30fps on almost all games.

Also, I noticed that games like Splinter Cell Conviction are coming out with min requiremements of 1.8Ghz. So I want to be able to play these newer games at 30FPS as well.

 

Most new games require more CPU then what the m11x has (some even double!) but that does not matter, its magic? As for PS2, don't you think you should just wait on that a couple years till it becomes perfected?

 

ha I'm just happy the M11x can play Civ 4 very well!

In anycase, for a netbook, battery life is the most important concern for me.

 

Is the m11x classified as a netbook? I was looking at the display model at Best Buy this past weekend and the sales person was like: "You're not thinking about getting that right?...it's a $900 netbook".

Salesman fail.

 

well I consider it a netbook lol. It's small and got a long battery life (according to users here). Its heads above all other netbooks to be sure...

 

It is absolutely a netbook.

 

Thick enough to be 2 netbooks... I don't consider any laptop with a low-voltage (not an athlon) to be a netbook.

Netbooks have ATOMS.

 

By your definition?

I'm not trying to start an argument but Alienware markets this as a laptop. Ultraportable laptop, yes but netbook - no.

 

netbook means good for going on the internet and checking mails so no it is not a netbook.

 

Alienware's M11x netbook gets a base price: $799 -- Engadget

Alienware's M11x Gaming "Netbook" Will Cost $800 - Alienware m11x - Gizmodo

M11x is a gaming netbook from Alienware ? Video Games Reviews, Cheats | Geek.com

Alienware M11X - Netbook Reviews

I suppose all of them are wrong too?

 

Hate to burst your bubble but it's not a netbook. Why not try the engadget review link instead?

Alienware M11x review -- Engadget

"...making it one of the most powerful small laptops on the market"

 

It's an ultraportable notebook.. almost the same size as my GFs 13z. I've also got an Asus EEE 900, now that's a netbook!

 

Anything that has no optical drive, less than 12" is a netbook in my book

But anyway to get back on topic.....

To the OP, I myself would wait for the revision. But in the end you would have to make up your own mind.

 

Netbooks are defined as laptops with screens between 6-10 inches. This means that the M11x is officialy not a netbook.

 

Arguments based on semantics. Y'all are better than that.

 

All you can go by is what dell refers to it on it's site.

 

Lets not continue this debate here... its been hashed and re-hashed in many other threads. Back to the OP's questions.

 

I say buy it now.

Who knows what may or may not be in the next revision, or when that may be.

Kinda like waiting for Blu Ray on a Macbook Pro.

This thing rocks, right now.

Just my two cents worth...

 

its a netbook that can!

 

I don't know how well the M11x performs at PS2 emulation but it can run almost all modern games on mid-high settings. Unless you're looking for a laptop which is future proof for over a year i'd say go for it. It appears as if the CPU bottlenecks and prevents the GPU from fully utilizing up to 20% of its power, a big deal for some but i'd by happy to buy an M11x revision in 2 years time since it's so reasonably priced.

 

I don't know where you live but here in Belgium the m11x is not reasonably priced, unless you find paying 1400€ (full warranty) for a 11" laptop with no optical drive and a 1.3ghz cpu reasonable...
Though if the m11x would have a +2ghz core2duo i'd probably be the first customer in Belgium ^^ even if it would cost me 1400-1500€.

 

No, i don't find that reasonable.. i paid £700/806euro (and recieved a free Razer-esque mouse) for my current setup, the only upgrade i went for is the core 2 duo which is no slouch at 1.73ghz. I don't consider any upgrade worthwhile as it would only incrementally increase performance and for the price you'd have to pay i'd buy the M15x out of principle.

 

lol...what it's being marketed as is irrelevant to me. I absolutely intend to use it as nothing more than a netbook. I got an M17x for resource intense apps...

 

Omg thats so cheap! 806€ is definitly worth buying now IMO. I assume you bought it in England? Perhaps I could buy one there in a local retail store? Since your country is in the EU I won't have to pay import taxes when bringing/shipping the m11x to Belgium.
I realise it would be difficult to have warranty but i'll take my chances, 2 m11x would cost 1600€ where you bought it, while one costs 1400€ here.

 

That's true, one problem being that outlets do charge extra. Take for instance John Lewis - They're offering the M11x at £899/1035e without the c2d but with an added 2GB ram (4GB). I bought my laptop from DELL UK and i was given a free processor upgrade. Looking at both websites i have found that John Lewis charge an extra £70/80e than DELL UK for the exact system specs.

 

Hm from €806 to €1035 makes the price a lot less interesting to travel all the way to the UK. I just checked the alienware site again (they updated it recently). The price with 1 year basic warranty, the 1.3 ghz core2duo, 4 gigs of ram and 500mb 7200rpm HDD is now 1029€, i'm tempted lol

 

That's a better price than what you'd get here. If you're a gamer i'd go for the M11x over the Asus on your sig, it would give a considerably better performance in-game, but it is unfortunately slower at everything else. Also take into account the robust build quality and unique stylings, since getting this M11x i'm finished with generic looking laptops.

 

In my opinion, go for it. I just ordered mine this week and I am happily anticipating it! My family has a few computers to use around the house, so I mainly got this for portability, or those times my dad is using the good desktop for Command and Conquer- *cough* I mean uh, work or tax related purposes. We use Dell systems all over my office at work, and they were kind enough to give me a $100 Alienware coupon too, so I'm sold. IMHO, the m11x is like a Toyota Supra: small, fast, efficient, fun, and it gets you from point A to B.

 

FF10 runs at almost full speed after tweaking the emulator settings. FF12 has issues but is still playable. I am very happy with the power and quality the m11x offers for its price.

 

As I've read somewhere before, there's no point in waiting for an upgrade to a Pc/Notebook since most are forever undergoing upgrades etc over their lifespan.

Once the processor is eventually made better there will be some other weakness that needs upgrading at some point, and then your back in the same boat.

I am to receive mine tomorrow ^_^

 

If you want it, just get it already! If a new version really comes out, it will be within 12 months and your system will still sell for a very good price, especially since you will get a discount now. Sell it and the new one once it comes out.

 

Dont forget you get a 2 year guarantee from john lewis aswell as the 4gb ram and 500gb hd. Once that is factored into the price its not such a bad deal.
And they do next day delivery
ive also read that some people have been able to get price matches and discounts aswell.

 

I just checked the dell site again and noticed that if I take the weaker su4100 cpu instead of the su7300 and 2 gb instead of 4 gb of ram the price will be 829€. I read many people say in the different threads that the difference in cpu power between those 2 cpu's is not worth the price, and since I myself noticed no difference from my 2 to 3 gigs upgrade in my acer, I think paying 80€ extra to have 4 gigs of ram is useless aswell.

Do you think i'll regret making this decision by opting for the lowest config? 829€ seems like a real nice price and a future cpu upgrade provided by dell would hurt me way less compared to when I would pay 1400€ for a fully rigged and fully warrantied m11x.

 

Ravenlocke,

Have you tried the GoW games or the MGS Games on the PS2 emulator on the M11X? I want to see if those run at all.

Also,

Where do you guys sell your laptops? I have a eee901 that I want to sell. Don't want to sell on EBay because I have never sold on EBay and noone bids on items from sellers with 0 feedback.

 

Student - get the 4 gb ram, it's worth it. Mine was basic with SU4100 and 4gb ram. I then installed my own SSD. My machine is prolly one of the most optmimized M11x SU4100s out there right now. I have broke 6940's in 3dmark06 and will hopefully break 7k tonight some time. In truth we get just as much performance (frames per second) as the su7300. Get the m11x, YOU WILL ENJOY IT! Now... back to your regularly scheduled program.
BW,
StevenX

 

Hoi Antwepse student! Alles goed?
You won't regret getting the lower specs as the difference with the better specs can be neglected-. The one thing I would go for, though, is the 4 G of RAM. " G is not quite enough for many applications and therefore it's well worth the 80 euros.
Good luck with the decision (and the studies, of course!)

Vriendelijke groet,

Harry

 

Could you specify what applications? Ram memory above 2 gigs has no impact on gaming performance and I only intend to use programs like word, internet explorer, and a lot of downloading. I really don't understand why I need more ram, or does the importance of aditional ram memory expand exponentially when working with a weaker cpu?

 

Student - above 2 gigs helps ALL performance. Gaming, OS, Productivity, Graphics, etc... IT IS WORTH 50 quid! Trust me... It's worth it. I can tell a difference between my wife's m11x and mine. Good Luck, StevenX

 

Honesty, I dont regret my M11X ...
Not just because DELL, gave me some extra things (600$) for free, this things rocks, it s fast, sexy and i m using big software with 500 GIG of HD and 8 GIG of ram.....
Playing on it is a pleasure...the only regret is the glossy screen and 100MB ethernet. I m traveling with it and in the train or the plane, it s the perfect companion lasting more than 6 hours in std mode.
Next year, maybe another model, but that s ok, i know i will still be happy of this baby for years !!!

For the records : my gf loves it, the day we met i had it with me.
And I know it is always having positive impact on people, most of them never saw anything like this before !