This review is updated and posted at: http://www.slacker.net/
Area-51m:Sentia Cyborg Green
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Intel® Pentium® Processor M with 1 MB Cache - 1.6GHz 400MHz FSB
Motherboard: Intel® 855GM+ICH4M Chipset DDR
Wireless network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 network connection
1x512MB DDR PC-2100 - SO-DIMM
Hard Drive: 40GB 5400 RPM ATA100
14.1"SXGA+ - Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 technology
Sound-Blaster Pro Compatible 3D Audio
4x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software MPEG2 Decoder
Integrated 10/100Mb Ethernet NIC
56K Modem with V.90 Technology
The above laptop replaces the folowing:
AMD® Athlon XP-M 1600+ 1.4 GHz Processor
256MB PC2100 DDR Memory 2 SODIMMs [1 open]
256K L2 Cache
14.1-inch TFT XGA Display
40GB 4200RPM Hard Drive
DVD / CD-RW Combo Drive
Smart High-Capacity 4.0AHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Battery
2.5 hours Battery Life [uptime will vary on applications/settings used]
16MB ATI® RADEON IGP Video Maximum Resolution: 1024x768 Maximum External Resolution: 1600x1200
The decision to buy the Sentia was an impulse buy, mesmerized by the CYBORG GREEN and the glowing alien eyes on the back of the LCD. I have already decided on what "features" I wanted as a replacement for my Compaq presario laptop.
The sales process through the web was easy as point and click with the 3 models to choose from in the Sentia line. System as tested is the Area-51m:Sentia Enthusiast. With all the options and add-ons available, the only modification I requested is 1x512 instead of the default 2x256. This leaves me space to upgrade to 1 gig of memory down the line.
And of course, the CYBORG GREEN! Couldn't imagine it any other color for myself.
The Alienware package arrived December 26, 2003 11 A.M.
The packaging would have protected this if it dropped from the delivery truck. It is double boxed with the inner box floating in cushion padding wedged in the corners of the bigger outer box. The inner box itself holds the laptop in place with its own padding to keep things in place. The LCD was neatly wrapped and paper board between the screen and the keyboard ensuring protection during transit from vibration. As I open the box, that so familiar NEW COMPUTER SMELL escapes the box. The smell gets the attention of the kids and they immediately crawl all over it to help unpack. The green under the mesh of packaging was like Clark Kent finding that shard of kryptonite in the barn. I was holding my breath as I removed my kryptonite from the smaller inner box. I set it down like how you see it in the pictures, and took deep breaths. One word esacpes between breaths - WOW!
Case construction is solid with no flex on the case and LCD. The hinges are solid and holds the screen in place with no wobble back and forth. The keyboard is very responsive and tight. No dipping in the middle or weak giving-in feel. I expected the CD cover painted the same green as the case. The touchpad is light grey and may have been a better fit if the paint I requested was SILVER. But it does not blend in with the Cyborg Green, and I doubt the blue will look any better with it. I suggest that Alienware change this to the same black touchpad used in the Gamer version Area-51. Black will match with the keyboard regardless of what color case is selected.
Speakers - Needs improvement
The speakers are placed under the LCD screen which does not leave much space for a proper enclosure to respond to bass effectively. Test with MP3 heavy on bass and found that the thump sound on the sentia was barely audible but the speakers did not rattle. My Compaq Presario had speakers with the enclosure to handle the bass and volume which can be heard clearly from 100 feet away. Headphone jacks are located in front of the case which I find useful considering that I will probably use headphones when using the sound heavily in music, movies, and games.
14.1"SXGA+
Screen is crisp and clear. No dead pixels in this test computer. Alienware also has a good "no pixel policy" for the duration of the warranty. I suggest getting the most warrany just for the LCD.
Centrino - Procesor Intel® Pentium® Processor M with 1 MB Cache - 1.6GHz 400MHz FSB
I have to give the credit to Intel for turbocharging this processor with 1 MB Cache. As I open applications, files, and games for the first time. I have this impression that the crunching power of the over-all system is optimized for it specifically. It seems to predict what my next move will be.
CENTRINO - Better battery life.
I did the following Install, download, update and testing for the duration of 3 hrs 22 mins before getting the low battery alert. Testing included playing the games and use of the apps enough to be able to get the settings the way I want it.
XP Windows update except for service packs
Norton anti Virus Corp Edition – Install, update
MS Office XP - complete install, update
Adobe Photoshop install, test
Quake III - install, Play (1024/768, detail high, lighting on, 32 bit)
Unreal – install, PLay (1024/768)
Half-Life - install, Play
HL patch - download, install
Counter - Strike, download, install (1.5), Play
Game-spy - download, install, server update
WSFTP - download, install, setup, test
Eudora - dwnload, install, setup, test
SecureCRT - download, install, setup, test
I did all that in 3 hours and 22 minutes.
Centrino - Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 technology
I have read many posts describing the Intel extreme as a weak video card for gaming. Which I will agree that it is not at the top of the league. But the design of the video card is to make up as part of the CENTRINO system which is focused on low power consumption. But the games listed above ran without skipping and handled it like a champ. I would consider the games I tested moderate in terms of video demands and would like to get the chance to test further on heavier games.
Searching the net I found many articles describing the Intel Extreme Graphics 2 as a less than capable video option. Some would go as far as saying that games like Quake and Counter-strike will not work. i admit that after reading some of these articles degrading the Intel, I experienced buyers remorse and was tempted to change my order for the the "GAMER Area-51". But changing my order for the area-51 Gamer would have defeated the whole reason I was replacing my Compaq - I need good battery life without sacrificing processor power.
Centrino - Built in wireless. (Intel 2100 802.11b)
I did not want anything sticking out and breaking. The antenna of the Sentia is routed to the top of the LCD allowing for better placement, stronger wireless signal, and less interference and obstruction from the case construction which houses the card. Upon tests, the wireless signal compares to other wireless PC cards I have tested. Speed is consistent with what I expect of 802.11b.
The Intel 2100 comes bundled with a wireless utility which has the option to change transmission power and enable logging - features which I did not expect considering that the short time that this model card has been available. The same utility is also used to manage the built in wired ethernet adapter. The utility itself is not a necessary component to operate the card. It can be closed if the built in Windows XP utility is preferred. Intel took the extra effort to put this utility together and is evident in how well developed it is in features.
Intel designed the 2100 with low power consumption in mind to work in concert with low power Pentium m processor. I use Netstumbler to detect unauthorized wireless Access Points in our network and was glad to find that Intel designed this card with standards in mind. NETSTUMBLER works! Before receiving this laptop, I found nothing on the NET that tested the Intel 2100 with Netstumbler. I searched Netstumblers site and forums and even posted specific questions without getting the confirmation I needed. I even went to a local computer store (Best Buy) to install Netstumbler in one of their display Centrino units, but got caught in the middle of the act. Apparently they have this policy against that sort of thing.
Centrino - Less heat.
Maybe the Sentia is not a fair comparison to my previous compaq which operated with an AMD Athlon XP-M. When it comes to heat, Athlon's are known for running hotter that Intel. The Compaq was never used on the LAP as a laptop "label" would suggest. My Sentia sits on my lap without searing heat of hot CPU using my leg as a heat spreader.
Conclusion:
My Area-51m:Sentia in Cyborg Green was a good choice. It would have been a mistake to change my order for anything else. I no longer have buyers remorse knowing that this laptop has met and exceeded my expectations. Centrino is a well thought out setup which meets the mobile needs of many, myself included.
Pros:
Beautiful case and rigid construction - Choose the CYBORG GREEN!
the Alien Head logo with glowing eyes
Fast Processor
Good battery life
Wireless built-in
Netstumbler works! ( http://www.netstumbler.com )
Cons:
Touchpad is light grey and does not match the case color unless Silver is ordered.
CD should be painted the same color as the case.
Speakers are not loud enough
Intel 2100 wireless is not supported by Linux (Still in buggy beta as of this writing)
* I'm tired, the battery is still going, I will edit this again later. For now, I will post this with all the glory of grammar errors, typo's, and punctuation errors.
Area-51m:Sentia Cyborg Green
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Intel® Pentium® Processor M with 1 MB Cache - 1.6GHz 400MHz FSB
Motherboard: Intel® 855GM+ICH4M Chipset DDR
Wireless network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 network connection
1x512MB DDR PC-2100 - SO-DIMM
Hard Drive: 40GB 5400 RPM ATA100
14.1"SXGA+ - Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 technology
Sound-Blaster Pro Compatible 3D Audio
4x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software MPEG2 Decoder
Integrated 10/100Mb Ethernet NIC
56K Modem with V.90 Technology
The above laptop replaces the folowing:
AMD® Athlon XP-M 1600+ 1.4 GHz Processor
256MB PC2100 DDR Memory 2 SODIMMs [1 open]
256K L2 Cache
14.1-inch TFT XGA Display
40GB 4200RPM Hard Drive
DVD / CD-RW Combo Drive
Smart High-Capacity 4.0AHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Battery
2.5 hours Battery Life [uptime will vary on applications/settings used]
16MB ATI® RADEON IGP Video Maximum Resolution: 1024x768 Maximum External Resolution: 1600x1200
The decision to buy the Sentia was an impulse buy, mesmerized by the CYBORG GREEN and the glowing alien eyes on the back of the LCD. I have already decided on what "features" I wanted as a replacement for my Compaq presario laptop.
The sales process through the web was easy as point and click with the 3 models to choose from in the Sentia line. System as tested is the Area-51m:Sentia Enthusiast. With all the options and add-ons available, the only modification I requested is 1x512 instead of the default 2x256. This leaves me space to upgrade to 1 gig of memory down the line.
And of course, the CYBORG GREEN! Couldn't imagine it any other color for myself.
The Alienware package arrived December 26, 2003 11 A.M.
The packaging would have protected this if it dropped from the delivery truck. It is double boxed with the inner box floating in cushion padding wedged in the corners of the bigger outer box. The inner box itself holds the laptop in place with its own padding to keep things in place. The LCD was neatly wrapped and paper board between the screen and the keyboard ensuring protection during transit from vibration. As I open the box, that so familiar NEW COMPUTER SMELL escapes the box. The smell gets the attention of the kids and they immediately crawl all over it to help unpack. The green under the mesh of packaging was like Clark Kent finding that shard of kryptonite in the barn. I was holding my breath as I removed my kryptonite from the smaller inner box. I set it down like how you see it in the pictures, and took deep breaths. One word esacpes between breaths - WOW!
Case construction is solid with no flex on the case and LCD. The hinges are solid and holds the screen in place with no wobble back and forth. The keyboard is very responsive and tight. No dipping in the middle or weak giving-in feel. I expected the CD cover painted the same green as the case. The touchpad is light grey and may have been a better fit if the paint I requested was SILVER. But it does not blend in with the Cyborg Green, and I doubt the blue will look any better with it. I suggest that Alienware change this to the same black touchpad used in the Gamer version Area-51. Black will match with the keyboard regardless of what color case is selected.
Speakers - Needs improvement
The speakers are placed under the LCD screen which does not leave much space for a proper enclosure to respond to bass effectively. Test with MP3 heavy on bass and found that the thump sound on the sentia was barely audible but the speakers did not rattle. My Compaq Presario had speakers with the enclosure to handle the bass and volume which can be heard clearly from 100 feet away. Headphone jacks are located in front of the case which I find useful considering that I will probably use headphones when using the sound heavily in music, movies, and games.
14.1"SXGA+
Screen is crisp and clear. No dead pixels in this test computer. Alienware also has a good "no pixel policy" for the duration of the warranty. I suggest getting the most warrany just for the LCD.
Centrino - Procesor Intel® Pentium® Processor M with 1 MB Cache - 1.6GHz 400MHz FSB
I have to give the credit to Intel for turbocharging this processor with 1 MB Cache. As I open applications, files, and games for the first time. I have this impression that the crunching power of the over-all system is optimized for it specifically. It seems to predict what my next move will be.
CENTRINO - Better battery life.
I did the following Install, download, update and testing for the duration of 3 hrs 22 mins before getting the low battery alert. Testing included playing the games and use of the apps enough to be able to get the settings the way I want it.
XP Windows update except for service packs
Norton anti Virus Corp Edition – Install, update
MS Office XP - complete install, update
Adobe Photoshop install, test
Quake III - install, Play (1024/768, detail high, lighting on, 32 bit)
Unreal – install, PLay (1024/768)
Half-Life - install, Play
HL patch - download, install
Counter - Strike, download, install (1.5), Play
Game-spy - download, install, server update
WSFTP - download, install, setup, test
Eudora - dwnload, install, setup, test
SecureCRT - download, install, setup, test
I did all that in 3 hours and 22 minutes.
Centrino - Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 technology
I have read many posts describing the Intel extreme as a weak video card for gaming. Which I will agree that it is not at the top of the league. But the design of the video card is to make up as part of the CENTRINO system which is focused on low power consumption. But the games listed above ran without skipping and handled it like a champ. I would consider the games I tested moderate in terms of video demands and would like to get the chance to test further on heavier games.
Searching the net I found many articles describing the Intel Extreme Graphics 2 as a less than capable video option. Some would go as far as saying that games like Quake and Counter-strike will not work. i admit that after reading some of these articles degrading the Intel, I experienced buyers remorse and was tempted to change my order for the the "GAMER Area-51". But changing my order for the area-51 Gamer would have defeated the whole reason I was replacing my Compaq - I need good battery life without sacrificing processor power.
Centrino - Built in wireless. (Intel 2100 802.11b)
I did not want anything sticking out and breaking. The antenna of the Sentia is routed to the top of the LCD allowing for better placement, stronger wireless signal, and less interference and obstruction from the case construction which houses the card. Upon tests, the wireless signal compares to other wireless PC cards I have tested. Speed is consistent with what I expect of 802.11b.
The Intel 2100 comes bundled with a wireless utility which has the option to change transmission power and enable logging - features which I did not expect considering that the short time that this model card has been available. The same utility is also used to manage the built in wired ethernet adapter. The utility itself is not a necessary component to operate the card. It can be closed if the built in Windows XP utility is preferred. Intel took the extra effort to put this utility together and is evident in how well developed it is in features.
Intel designed the 2100 with low power consumption in mind to work in concert with low power Pentium m processor. I use Netstumbler to detect unauthorized wireless Access Points in our network and was glad to find that Intel designed this card with standards in mind. NETSTUMBLER works! Before receiving this laptop, I found nothing on the NET that tested the Intel 2100 with Netstumbler. I searched Netstumblers site and forums and even posted specific questions without getting the confirmation I needed. I even went to a local computer store (Best Buy) to install Netstumbler in one of their display Centrino units, but got caught in the middle of the act. Apparently they have this policy against that sort of thing.
Centrino - Less heat.
Maybe the Sentia is not a fair comparison to my previous compaq which operated with an AMD Athlon XP-M. When it comes to heat, Athlon's are known for running hotter that Intel. The Compaq was never used on the LAP as a laptop "label" would suggest. My Sentia sits on my lap without searing heat of hot CPU using my leg as a heat spreader.
Conclusion:
My Area-51m:Sentia in Cyborg Green was a good choice. It would have been a mistake to change my order for anything else. I no longer have buyers remorse knowing that this laptop has met and exceeded my expectations. Centrino is a well thought out setup which meets the mobile needs of many, myself included.
Pros:
Beautiful case and rigid construction - Choose the CYBORG GREEN!
the Alien Head logo with glowing eyes
Fast Processor
Good battery life
Wireless built-in
Netstumbler works! ( http://www.netstumbler.com )
Cons:
Touchpad is light grey and does not match the case color unless Silver is ordered.
CD should be painted the same color as the case.
Speakers are not loud enough
Intel 2100 wireless is not supported by Linux (Still in buggy beta as of this writing)
* I'm tired, the battery is still going, I will edit this again later. For now, I will post this with all the glory of grammar errors, typo's, and punctuation errors.
