m11x vs other laptops

I noticed on Dell's website that you can get XPS's with higher specs for the same price as a configured alienware. I've also heard Asus laptops will have better specs for the same price. I've wanted an m11x for a while now, so what I'm wondering is: what makes the m11x better? Is it merely the size and looks? Does it have better battery, less weight, is there anything better about it than getting an XPS or Asus?

Thanks.

 

Could you please show us specific models? It will be easier to compare.

If anything though: Build Quality.
Aside from the hinge issue(which is covered under warranty), the M11x is built like a tank. It's a very solid laptop that is dependable. I've had my M11x for about 5 months now, and I've yet to run into any major issues.

 

Ive contemplated this before. I even ordered an M11X with an i5/4GB for ~797 (after ship and tax) at one point before cancelling it in favor of the laptop I own now, ASUS U35JC which I bought also for about ~798 (free ship no tax)

Spec-wise they are different machines with the alienware having a weaker processor but a much stronger GPU. However, I am not a big gamer and reading up some reviews I decided the U35JC's NV310M was enough for my needs (and I was right). Also I take my laptop to class all the time, so the portability and long battery life (10hr /w wifi) really appealed to me needs. Also the fact that the M11X is cursed with a defective hinge issue as documented by many many users on NBR, sealed the deal for me.

But in deciding whether you should get the M11X, ask yourself what matters more to you. The XPS will be bigger and heavier with a larger screen making the M11X far more portable. But as you pointed out, the XPS will have better specs for the price so you need to ask yourself if power is more important than portability. Also note that even a full powered i3 will be faster than an overclocked low-voltage i7 on the M11X. ASUS has some few new models but I think the ones with specs to compete with the M11X's NV335M are up there in the 1k+ range. The M11X can be gotten for less /w coupons.

 

For example, this 14" XPS: Dell XPS 14 Laptop Details | Dell

The recommended one has an i5 at 2.66 GHz, 6GB RAM, 500GB HDD, and a GT420 for $1000.

Compare that to an m11x with an i5 at 1.066 (or 1.86GHz OC'd I guess?), 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, and a GT335 for $1024 (this is just the standard "Intel Core i Powered" but with a bigger hard drive).

All the specs of the XPS are better. What worries me the most is the i5 on the m11x. It's way slower. The graphics doesn't really matter that much, I think, because i have a desktop with a 9800 GT right now and it works fine. The XPS is only slightly heavier. I care about thickness and weight, but not really length and width (up to 15" probably).

I mainly care about portability (especially weight), speed, battery life, and dependability (this is the most important thing to me as my sister has an HP that just died and I've had 4 HPs and they've all died; I will never buy an HP again). I wouldn't worry about something like the XPS being a pound heavier though.

If XPS, ASUS, etc. aren't as dependable and have much shorter battery life than the m11x, that would definitely make me get the m11x. Is this the case?

 

The biggest advantage of the m11x is the fact that it is very powerful for its size. There's pretty much nothing like it out there right now with this much power and portability at the same time (only the Sony Vaio Z comes to mind) However, if you're purely concerned about price, CPU, and GPU, then the m11x is pretty pathetic in comparison to larger notebooks in the market.

XPS and Asus build quality is pretty good actually, but if you're only looking for portability, then as of now the m11x is one of your only choices unless you want to settle for a netbook.

 

This is just the sort of thread the follow forum is looking for.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/what-notebook-should-i-buy/

The M11x is better cause you can use a web browser to track developments of new offerings at CES 2011, like say the new AMD Fusion 11.6" notebooks.

And cause it has a button on the base, that when pressed, five led lights, light up. ..and then go off... look.. pressing button again... and again..

 

Exactly. The way I think of it is that part of what you're paying for is the portability. Purely from a graphics standpoint, I don't think you will find anything with as much graphics power until you get up to 14", which may be okay for some, but not others. Since there is no direct competition, any of the other models you mentioned have good and bad trade offs. Asus definitely offers much better value strictly looking at power, but all of their gaming laptops are huge by comparison. You are also correct in noting that the XPS and Asus models get much lower battery life since they have no GPU switching.

Yeah. Only a matter of time before this one gets moved like so many before it.

 

In response to DrGoodvibes:
1. I am waiting to see what's announced on Thursday.
2. Eww AMD!
3. Those lights are pretty awesome.
4. I really don't need the best of the best stuff. As long as I can run/open programs quickly, and games play smoothly at high graphics settings at the resolution of the laptop or an external monitor I buy (my 9800 can, although I do have an i5 at 2.66 GHz, which the m11x can't reach). I think my only concern is with the CPU. Does the CPU hurt the m11x a lot?

 

No. The GT420M is considerably worse than the GT335M.

Btw, you've misunderstood slightly the CPU speeds. The i5 is 1.066ghz when not turbo boosted - it hits 1.73ghz when TB kicks in. That's normal operation, not OC'd. OC'd it can go as high as 2.6Ghz in single-threaded tasks (2.16ghz multi-threaded).

Overall the XPS will perform better in most benchmarks (except games), but as with everything, you have to pay a price for the extra performance, in this case it's size/portability.

 

Darn nVidia's model numbering! It's so difficult to understand which is better. So turbo boosting is something it automatically does, like when you run a game? So I want someone's opinion on this: how much of a difference would I see between the m11x's cpu and the XPS's in everyday use and gaming?

 

You could have look at a few of the Wiki pages on CPUs and GPUs.

Also Intel has a few good overviews.

DX11 cards skew the CPU balance in modern DX11 designed applications.

xxxUM xxxM and xxxQM are all different some with and with out turbo boost.

So tell me about cars engines which one it better.

 

I bought the M11R2 mainly for the backlit keyboard (being able to have colors other than white is a bonus, but I just wanted the backlit keyboard).
I don't know if the other laptops you are considering have that feature....very few laptops do and when they do, they are much more expensive than the M11R2.
It's great to be able to use the laptop in a darkened living room when others are watching TV or to use it in bed at night without turning the lights on to see the darn keyboard - I love it.
Have not had hinge problems or any other problems - knock wood!

 

Tell me more!! I want to get updates on what debuts at CES 2011.

 

Better than XPS: Smaller, very powerful GPU. New Dell XPS'es are ugly as sin.

Better than Asus: Smaller, very powerful GPU. You're not stuck with an Asus (bland design - looks like it was designed by a bunch of nerdy Taiwanese engineers, like every other laptop out there).

Size, and looks are a big part of it. The main factor of the Alienware M11x is that it is the most powerful gaming laptop under 14", so it makes an extremely portable gaming laptop.

Anyone who is considering buying an Alienware M11x should have "I'm looking for a very portable..." as one of the first few words out of their mouth. If they do not value portability as one of their top priorities, then they would probably find other laptops that suit their needs better.

 

@Op - If you get the 14'' xps...
Dont get the optimess graphics. Pay for the I7 and the nvidia 425. The newer 4xx series cards perform well in Dx10 settings but produce lower performance numbers with Dx9 games. All the rest is up to you (hard drive, screen, etc...)

BW, StevenX

 

@bily42 - I'm totally with you on the keyboard. I will never buy another laptop without a backlit keyboard.

 

QFT. Even my mom wants one now because of it.

 

You need to post comparison threads here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/what-notebook-should-i-buy/