Alienware Sentia m3200 Review (1.0)
Initial Impression
Although this was not the first time I had ordered a pc from Alienware, it is the first time that I ordered one for myself. I was extremely excited when the FedEx guy dropped off the rather large distinctly black box. The packing materials consisted of high quality foam spacers surrounding the inner cardboard box which contained the Sentia. All of the items ordered were present, except for the URL link for one of the rebates. A quick call to Customer Support remedied this situation. The documentation was quite extensive and doesn’t “baby” the user (i.e. “How to Open the DVD-ROM Drive”).
Fit/Finish
The Sentia’s feel is, for the most part, solid and well-built. There is no “wiggle” in the screen as you open and close it. Additionally, it stays where you put it. The keyboard is quiet and is not minimized to the point of being uncomfortable, although it does slightly squish down with moderate pressure. The power and mouse buttons are solid and all produce a tactile click when pressed. The overall fit of the notebook is of a much higher caliber than the Dell 700m. The power adapter is compact and makes an audible click indicating that there is likely a circuit breaker inside. The section of cable connecting to the notebook has an EMI CORE permanently affixed and a Velcro strap for conveniently storing the cables. There is a small spark inside the Sentia’s plug housing when a powered adapter plug is inserted. This may be the reason for a small insert enclosed with the system documentation about ensuring the adapter plug is not powered and does not touch any metal on the chassis when inserted.
On the underside of the Sentia, you can see that the notebook intakes air from the underside of the case and also has an open grille for passive cooling of the RAM. In the previous AC adapter plug picture, you can see where the fan exhausts to the back. The right side of the notebook has the ExpressCard slot along with a mic jack, headphone jack, firewire port, USB port, S-video output, modem port, and 10/100 LAN port. The left side contains an analog video out port, optical drive, hidden USB port (covered), 4-in-1 card reader, and an exposed USB port.
Personally, I think most people choose Alienware because of the look. Love it or hate it, it is most definitely unique. At the time of my order, all of Alienware’s Intel based laptops came in the Xeno Grey color. Semi-glossy and almost metallic, the color is attractive but not so eye-catching as to stand out. The mouse buttons, power button, “P” button, and the Alienware logos are all in a complimentary Saucer Silver. The “ALIENWARE” logo on the lid glows blue, along with the AlienEyes and the recessed area behind the AlienHead logo. The power buttons, along with the other indicators, also glow in a similar blue. The only issue I have with the aesthetics of the laptop is that, upon resuming from standby, the lid logos do not re-light.
Structurally, the only problem with my particular model is that the underside of the case beneath the optical drive bows downward for some reason. This problem causes the hidden USB port cover to sometimes block the optical drive door from opening. I have reported this to customer support and was a little disappointed that support will require me to send the Sentia to the depot so that the techs can determine whether the case problem was due to Alienware, a shipping issue, or the use of some sort of “tool” after delivery (I assume the tech was suggesting I created the problem myself). Being in the legal field, I understand the need of a company to assess liability objectively, but come on…it’s a piece of plastic which is easily replaced.
Performance
As an initial caveat, I didn’t buy this notebook for gaming. I simply prefer gaming on a desktop. I have used the Sentia for almost two weeks for word processing, spreadsheet creating, web browsing, and personal finance tasks. It accomplishes all of these flawlessly. Out of curiosity, I did install the 3D social MMO “There,” and it operated without issue. I have thought about loading World of Warcraft, but really see no need since I have my desktop pc. Standby and Hibernate functions work normally with no noticeable errors upon resume (except for the unlit lid logos). As one would expect from Alienware, there is no bloat in the OS install. The desktop and Start menu is completely devoid of “Free AOL” and “Try MSN” icons. Being anal retentive about having a clean desktop, I appreciate this. Booting MCE2005 is fast, even with the Intel wireless configuration tool, ZoneAlarm, Symantec Corporate AntiVirus, and the SmartLink modem software running on startup.
The Pentium-M 750 processor speed seems to range from 780MHz to 1.89GHz and the fan runs nearly all the time while the notebook is plugged in. However, if you use the “P” button, the Sentia goes into “Silent Mode” and the fan runs significantly less. Silent Mode is comparable to running the notebook unplugged, as both throttle the processor down equally. Although I was worried that the 5400rpm hard drive would produce some lag time in booting and loading programs, it has not been appreciable. The 1GB of DDR2 RAM is plenty for the tasks I undertake, so virtual memory on the hard drive is not often a necessity. I also find that the 12.1” screen is an exceptionally good size. I moved to the Sentia from a 15” WUXGA+ 1600x1200 Dell Latitude C800, so I was worried 1280x800 wouldn’t be enough room for me to work. I’ve had no problems adapting and actually much prefer this screen to my Dell’s. The viewing angle is wider, colors are more vibrant, and the size of the text is much more comfortable.
Mobility
Although this is an ultraportable notebook of a very comfortable carrying size, it is still somewhat heavy. However, I do not see that as a negative aspect as it may be due to the sturdiness in construction. The Dell 700m is notably lighter, but felt much squishier when I picked one up at a local kiosk. The Intel 2200 b/g wireless MiniPCI card works flawlessly. The Sentia can connect to networks at a much further distance than the Latitude C800 could using a Linksys WPC54G PCMCIA card. It even outperforms my girlfriend’s Linksys WUSB54G external USB antenna. The only wireless issue is that the wireless hardware is disabled upon boot without any way (I have found) to enable it by default. Also, for some reason, I must press Fn+F2 twice in order to initially enable the wireless hardware after booting. I haven’t contacted support as to inquire whether this is by design or flaw, nor do I know whether that little quality is limited to my Sentia.
Overall
I purchased this notebook mainly because my five year old Dell Latitude C800 was becoming quite unreliable. Although I have a capable desktop pc, I needed a trustworthy notebook to use during the North Carolina Bar Exam in February. I also wanted newer hardware that would be lighter, more compact, and work with greater efficiency. So far I am very happy with the m3200.
I do wish the fan didn’t run almost continuously, but there’s always that “P” button to quiet it down. The way the battery light indicates charging by alternating from blue to green was distracting in the beginning, but I have become used to it. At least the latest Sentia BIOS eliminates the blinking power button light I had have read about. Customer support has been very straightforward so far and the Alienware forums have actually been extremely useful for finding out where to go with a problem.
I hope this review helps anyone thinking about purchasing a Sentia m3200. I would be happy to entertain any questions or concerns. Also please let me know of any needed corrections to the above. I apologize for the quality of the pics, but some were taken using a rather low-quality mobile phone camera. I also bear no responsibility for the palm-tree bedcover as seen in several of the shots!
The following is a list of the hardware in my Sentia m3200 as of the writing of this review.
Alienware Sentia-m3200
Delivered 1/7/06
12.1” Wide-XGA LCD w/ ClearView
1.86GHz, 533MHz FSB, 2MB Cache Intel Pentium M 750
1GB DDR2 Dual Channel PC4200 (2 x 512MB SODIMM)
40GB 5400RPM Samsung HDD
Intel Pro/2200 Mini-PCI b/g Wireless
Windows Media Center Edition 2005
Initial Impression
Although this was not the first time I had ordered a pc from Alienware, it is the first time that I ordered one for myself. I was extremely excited when the FedEx guy dropped off the rather large distinctly black box. The packing materials consisted of high quality foam spacers surrounding the inner cardboard box which contained the Sentia. All of the items ordered were present, except for the URL link for one of the rebates. A quick call to Customer Support remedied this situation. The documentation was quite extensive and doesn’t “baby” the user (i.e. “How to Open the DVD-ROM Drive”).
Fit/Finish
The Sentia’s feel is, for the most part, solid and well-built. There is no “wiggle” in the screen as you open and close it. Additionally, it stays where you put it. The keyboard is quiet and is not minimized to the point of being uncomfortable, although it does slightly squish down with moderate pressure. The power and mouse buttons are solid and all produce a tactile click when pressed. The overall fit of the notebook is of a much higher caliber than the Dell 700m. The power adapter is compact and makes an audible click indicating that there is likely a circuit breaker inside. The section of cable connecting to the notebook has an EMI CORE permanently affixed and a Velcro strap for conveniently storing the cables. There is a small spark inside the Sentia’s plug housing when a powered adapter plug is inserted. This may be the reason for a small insert enclosed with the system documentation about ensuring the adapter plug is not powered and does not touch any metal on the chassis when inserted.
On the underside of the Sentia, you can see that the notebook intakes air from the underside of the case and also has an open grille for passive cooling of the RAM. In the previous AC adapter plug picture, you can see where the fan exhausts to the back. The right side of the notebook has the ExpressCard slot along with a mic jack, headphone jack, firewire port, USB port, S-video output, modem port, and 10/100 LAN port. The left side contains an analog video out port, optical drive, hidden USB port (covered), 4-in-1 card reader, and an exposed USB port.
Personally, I think most people choose Alienware because of the look. Love it or hate it, it is most definitely unique. At the time of my order, all of Alienware’s Intel based laptops came in the Xeno Grey color. Semi-glossy and almost metallic, the color is attractive but not so eye-catching as to stand out. The mouse buttons, power button, “P” button, and the Alienware logos are all in a complimentary Saucer Silver. The “ALIENWARE” logo on the lid glows blue, along with the AlienEyes and the recessed area behind the AlienHead logo. The power buttons, along with the other indicators, also glow in a similar blue. The only issue I have with the aesthetics of the laptop is that, upon resuming from standby, the lid logos do not re-light.
Structurally, the only problem with my particular model is that the underside of the case beneath the optical drive bows downward for some reason. This problem causes the hidden USB port cover to sometimes block the optical drive door from opening. I have reported this to customer support and was a little disappointed that support will require me to send the Sentia to the depot so that the techs can determine whether the case problem was due to Alienware, a shipping issue, or the use of some sort of “tool” after delivery (I assume the tech was suggesting I created the problem myself). Being in the legal field, I understand the need of a company to assess liability objectively, but come on…it’s a piece of plastic which is easily replaced.
Performance
As an initial caveat, I didn’t buy this notebook for gaming. I simply prefer gaming on a desktop. I have used the Sentia for almost two weeks for word processing, spreadsheet creating, web browsing, and personal finance tasks. It accomplishes all of these flawlessly. Out of curiosity, I did install the 3D social MMO “There,” and it operated without issue. I have thought about loading World of Warcraft, but really see no need since I have my desktop pc. Standby and Hibernate functions work normally with no noticeable errors upon resume (except for the unlit lid logos). As one would expect from Alienware, there is no bloat in the OS install. The desktop and Start menu is completely devoid of “Free AOL” and “Try MSN” icons. Being anal retentive about having a clean desktop, I appreciate this. Booting MCE2005 is fast, even with the Intel wireless configuration tool, ZoneAlarm, Symantec Corporate AntiVirus, and the SmartLink modem software running on startup.
The Pentium-M 750 processor speed seems to range from 780MHz to 1.89GHz and the fan runs nearly all the time while the notebook is plugged in. However, if you use the “P” button, the Sentia goes into “Silent Mode” and the fan runs significantly less. Silent Mode is comparable to running the notebook unplugged, as both throttle the processor down equally. Although I was worried that the 5400rpm hard drive would produce some lag time in booting and loading programs, it has not been appreciable. The 1GB of DDR2 RAM is plenty for the tasks I undertake, so virtual memory on the hard drive is not often a necessity. I also find that the 12.1” screen is an exceptionally good size. I moved to the Sentia from a 15” WUXGA+ 1600x1200 Dell Latitude C800, so I was worried 1280x800 wouldn’t be enough room for me to work. I’ve had no problems adapting and actually much prefer this screen to my Dell’s. The viewing angle is wider, colors are more vibrant, and the size of the text is much more comfortable.
Mobility
Although this is an ultraportable notebook of a very comfortable carrying size, it is still somewhat heavy. However, I do not see that as a negative aspect as it may be due to the sturdiness in construction. The Dell 700m is notably lighter, but felt much squishier when I picked one up at a local kiosk. The Intel 2200 b/g wireless MiniPCI card works flawlessly. The Sentia can connect to networks at a much further distance than the Latitude C800 could using a Linksys WPC54G PCMCIA card. It even outperforms my girlfriend’s Linksys WUSB54G external USB antenna. The only wireless issue is that the wireless hardware is disabled upon boot without any way (I have found) to enable it by default. Also, for some reason, I must press Fn+F2 twice in order to initially enable the wireless hardware after booting. I haven’t contacted support as to inquire whether this is by design or flaw, nor do I know whether that little quality is limited to my Sentia.
Overall
I purchased this notebook mainly because my five year old Dell Latitude C800 was becoming quite unreliable. Although I have a capable desktop pc, I needed a trustworthy notebook to use during the North Carolina Bar Exam in February. I also wanted newer hardware that would be lighter, more compact, and work with greater efficiency. So far I am very happy with the m3200.
I do wish the fan didn’t run almost continuously, but there’s always that “P” button to quiet it down. The way the battery light indicates charging by alternating from blue to green was distracting in the beginning, but I have become used to it. At least the latest Sentia BIOS eliminates the blinking power button light I had have read about. Customer support has been very straightforward so far and the Alienware forums have actually been extremely useful for finding out where to go with a problem.
I hope this review helps anyone thinking about purchasing a Sentia m3200. I would be happy to entertain any questions or concerns. Also please let me know of any needed corrections to the above. I apologize for the quality of the pics, but some were taken using a rather low-quality mobile phone camera. I also bear no responsibility for the palm-tree bedcover as seen in several of the shots!
The following is a list of the hardware in my Sentia m3200 as of the writing of this review.Alienware Sentia-m3200
Delivered 1/7/06
12.1” Wide-XGA LCD w/ ClearView
1.86GHz, 533MHz FSB, 2MB Cache Intel Pentium M 750
1GB DDR2 Dual Channel PC4200 (2 x 512MB SODIMM)
40GB 5400RPM Samsung HDD
Intel Pro/2200 Mini-PCI b/g Wireless
Windows Media Center Edition 2005
