Let me first preface this review by saying that my previous laptop was a Compaq Presario 1800 with a P3 @ 600MHz with 400mb RAM & a 40GB 5400 HD...BTW the graphics card was an 8mb ATI card...with that said I can now give you my opinion after a month of use. I waited so that I could get an honest feel for the computer...
1) The 16.1" Screen
This is an incredible and beautiful screen (keep in mind I am coming from a Compaq with a 15.1"). I played with Alien Adrenaline (powerstrip) for a good 2 hours until I got everything to what I like. Washout issue to me is nonexistent. Ghosting-I don't see it, BUT I have always used laptops and have never owned a desktop so I may be biased. The screen makes me drool. I give it an A.
2) The Chassis/Case
The magnesium alloy was not a selling point to me. The looks were and in my opinion this is the sharpest looking laptop around. The build quality is amazing. The keyboard is wonderful and the overall feel of the laptop is high quality all around. I love my Saucer Silver. Heat is nonexistent on this thing. This badboy always seems to stay cool! Another A.
3) Performance
Well I maxed everything out and this thing is amazingly fast...everything I have thrown at it has run flawlessly at maxed out resolutions. I have on it currently MS Office 2003, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Call of Duty, Medal of Honor Allied Assault, Splinter Cell, GTA III, GTA Vice City, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Max Payne, Max Payne 2, LOTR: Return of the King, Freedom Fighters, NBA Live 2004, Battlefield 1942 Deluxe. Everything I list runs awesome! I have the 2x DVD-RW and I have burned CD's and DVD's with no problems. Another A!
4) Speakers/Sound
The sound/speakers are above average and sound better than 90% of laptops out there. Having said that...my compaq presario had JBL speakers that kicked ass and sounded richer than the AW so I have to give the speakers a B.
5) Complaints
This mother is loud...However, my girlfriends HP lappie is much louder so go figure. The loudness is really not bad at all...it is a constant hum. It is not silent though. The gpu fan kicks when gaming and game sound drowns it out. The wireless card is not that great. It is not totally horrible as some would claim but it is definately subpar. I had interference that caused my sound and mouse to be jumpy so I stay plugged in. Some say to turn down transmit power and it will solve this issue. I'll try it down the line. Everytime I restart the wheel setting resets for the mouse and it annoys the hell out of me. It has something to do with my external USB mouse...I am waiting for an answer from AW on this issue. I would like to turn off the eyes or control them but can only do that with a bios upgrade and with all the issues I won't dare upgrade the bios....I am very happy with 1.05. The only game that gave me trouble was NBA Live because it looked awful (color wise) so I had to create a profile for it with powerstrip and problem was solved! My advice is to use powerstrip for everything because the ATI control panel is a little quirky in that sometimes screen settings are reset after exiting some games.
With only these minor complaints, I am very happy and pleased with my beautiful Area-51m. I would buy another one or another system from AW in a heartbeat. They have always been helpful and attentive. Is it a crime to be in love with a laptop? Don't tell my girlfriend. Please feel free to ask questions...BTW can't wait for the 256mb gpu's!
1) The 16.1" Screen
This is an incredible and beautiful screen (keep in mind I am coming from a Compaq with a 15.1"). I played with Alien Adrenaline (powerstrip) for a good 2 hours until I got everything to what I like. Washout issue to me is nonexistent. Ghosting-I don't see it, BUT I have always used laptops and have never owned a desktop so I may be biased. The screen makes me drool. I give it an A.
2) The Chassis/Case
The magnesium alloy was not a selling point to me. The looks were and in my opinion this is the sharpest looking laptop around. The build quality is amazing. The keyboard is wonderful and the overall feel of the laptop is high quality all around. I love my Saucer Silver. Heat is nonexistent on this thing. This badboy always seems to stay cool! Another A.
3) Performance
Well I maxed everything out and this thing is amazingly fast...everything I have thrown at it has run flawlessly at maxed out resolutions. I have on it currently MS Office 2003, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Call of Duty, Medal of Honor Allied Assault, Splinter Cell, GTA III, GTA Vice City, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Max Payne, Max Payne 2, LOTR: Return of the King, Freedom Fighters, NBA Live 2004, Battlefield 1942 Deluxe. Everything I list runs awesome! I have the 2x DVD-RW and I have burned CD's and DVD's with no problems. Another A!
4) Speakers/Sound
The sound/speakers are above average and sound better than 90% of laptops out there. Having said that...my compaq presario had JBL speakers that kicked ass and sounded richer than the AW so I have to give the speakers a B.
5) Complaints
This mother is loud...However, my girlfriends HP lappie is much louder so go figure. The loudness is really not bad at all...it is a constant hum. It is not silent though. The gpu fan kicks when gaming and game sound drowns it out. The wireless card is not that great. It is not totally horrible as some would claim but it is definately subpar. I had interference that caused my sound and mouse to be jumpy so I stay plugged in. Some say to turn down transmit power and it will solve this issue. I'll try it down the line. Everytime I restart the wheel setting resets for the mouse and it annoys the hell out of me. It has something to do with my external USB mouse...I am waiting for an answer from AW on this issue. I would like to turn off the eyes or control them but can only do that with a bios upgrade and with all the issues I won't dare upgrade the bios....I am very happy with 1.05. The only game that gave me trouble was NBA Live because it looked awful (color wise) so I had to create a profile for it with powerstrip and problem was solved! My advice is to use powerstrip for everything because the ATI control panel is a little quirky in that sometimes screen settings are reset after exiting some games.
With only these minor complaints, I am very happy and pleased with my beautiful Area-51m. I would buy another one or another system from AW in a heartbeat. They have always been helpful and attentive. Is it a crime to be in love with a laptop? Don't tell my girlfriend. Please feel free to ask questions...BTW can't wait for the 256mb gpu's!
