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The 11.6 inch screen (1366×768 pixels) is highly reflective, as can be seen in the image above. The hinge strength is good, with no movement apparent under normal use.
System Dimensions
Height: 32.7mm (1.29 inches)
Depth: 233.3mm (9.19 inches)
Width: 285.7mm (11.25 inches)
Starting at Weight: 2.0 kg (4.4lbs)
Alienware use the ‘Star Trek' futuristic font for their keyboards, and it gives the machine a totally unique appearance.
The keyboard, while not full size is well spaced for typing and we liked the overall layout structure. There are a row of keys along the top which offer various functionality, such as screen brightness and volume and media control. The FN key needs to be pressed simultaneously for these to work.
Keyboard flex will be experienced if the keyboard is pressed very hard, however it is not really noticeable under general use and certainly we can't see an end user applying the same force as we did in the video above.
The Synaptics trackpad is supplied with a textured surface which helps to ensure accurate movement.
The software allows for quite detailed configurations, and an area of the touchpad can also be configured for scroll bar operation. The two buttons at the bottom of the area offer a high level of feedback and while we never use a trackpad when possible, this is one of the better units we have used, much like the M17 R3 we reviewed in February.
Internally, the machine is well structured. The Samsung SDI PT6V8 battery demands a huge percentage of the real estate. It is a 63Wh model and is rated at 14.8V. The hard drive resides to the right, next to the wireless hardware. To the left is the Hynix DDR3 memory. Several small speakers are positioned to the outer left and top to help create a spacious sound field.
Preinstalled Alienware software offers a lot of control over the keyboard, logos, and side panel lights. You can ‘mix and match' the colours, pulse them or turn them off totally if you wish. We love a backlit keyboard especially on a laptop, it comes in handy when ambient light is poor.
The keyboard lighting in action.
wow, that is simply stunning !
I had planned to come in here and slate the machine, but im sold. Well my bank balance isn’t but I am. a core i7 cpu in a 11.6 inch machine, who would ever have thought it possible !
While I know some people have issues with alienware as a company, I gotta say this is really very impressive.
Damn thats really impressive, but its way out of my price league. must be the ultimate super portable machine. certainly nicer than my 200 quid netbook anyway :p
The paint work is nice, glad to see they sent out a sample in red, not black. thats dull as dishwater.
Their software looks good going on the screenshots, especially for the power saving options.
Lovely, not my cup of tea, im a mac man, but good to see one pc maker using backlit keyboards on a laptop, its a very uncommon thing, and I always use mine.
Am ordering one for my business work later 😉
I like the internal battery, I think its a lot more elegant than a big lump hanging out the back of the chassis.
I have read horror stories about these laptops falling apart. the older ones anyway, loads of threads on forums. Anyone here a current Alienware customer ? good or bad purchase decision?
It was all going great until the last page and I saw the price. clearly not even in the same market as a netbook ! Cant see too many of these selling.
Looks very nice indeed. Core i5 model would probably be more cost effective with less memory.
I know alienware get slated a lot, but I have the first revision of this and its still working great. its a bit chipped around the edges, due to me dropping it a few times, but I can’t complain. I love it. I would also love this, but the wife would have my head.
Thats an impressive build, but their pricing always gets me. they are always 200 quid over the odds. at least.
Good paintwork, like the keyboard a lot, my friend as a macbook air and it has a pink keyboard. cool the way the software can change it on this one.
Excellent, look forward to playing with my friends,. he owns about 10 alienware computers. he has more money than sense 🙂
Its expensive, but its a custom style machine, many manufacturers just use the same clevo chassis and put a sticker on them. its boring.
I am not sure I would buy one of these, but I like their styling and the effort they put into the builds. I would never spend more than 500 on a laptop, but when I see them at lan meetings and stuff, the alienware laptops always stand out. respect where it is due.
How much does this machine weight ?
around 2kg.
Its certainly very attractive and powerful, but it is a hell of a lot of money for a superportable like this.
Good review thank you, very detailed. Quick question, are Dell going to be selling batteries for this also?
I wouldnt think they would be selling batteries Steven cause its not easily changeable. I doubt people are going to remove the rear panel on a bus to replace the battery. way too many risks on the move for that.
m an electronics engg student n i need a notebook which can run a few simulation programs as well as can manage a few games too…….can any1 tell me if this one can hold its own??
It certainly can, read the review 🙂
i recently ordered the r3 m11x, and simply got the best options on it possible save for a ssd. I was wondering why your tester comes with a cpu that isn’t available on the dell website. It only goes to an i7 2617m, not the i7 2630um that came on yours.
Very good question. ill ask and try and find out.
“It only goes to an i7 2617m, not the i7 2630um that came on yours.”
I have the same M11x R3. Same processor. Intel changed their naming convention.