Time to Order After 4 years?

I say "NO," cause I don't think you'll order the 8800GTX, so you won't be happy with it... but I voted for "buy the $2699 version."

the macbook pro has nothing on this laptop...i know i work on a macbook pro and it cant hang with this new laptop...

if you can afford the 2600 dollar one; I say go for it. Sure it isn't the best "deal." But commish, it isn't the DEAL that is alluring you to this laptop. It is the alienware name, the look, the ordering options (custom nameplate, custom settings already to your liking upon arrival, etc). It is a well-built and quality machine.

Commish do you have the cash or credit to "splurge?" If so, do it. I did. You know, there is a price to obsessing and constantly checking and waiting and waiting for deals. It is important to be informed but there is a PRICE to that research. If you make 20+ dollars an hour and have spent months or years waiting and researching...well that adds up to a lot of money! Go for it brother.

I think so. I went overboard myself. But I really wanted to get something that I wanted. I wanted to splurge and indulge myself. Life, to me at least, isn't always about having everything calculated to a T. I have looked at the sagers and other models and can honestly say the alienware "does it for me." My current laptop (still decent) is an xps 1710 with 1.83ghz and a 7900gtx. I got it right when they debuted. Unfortunately I didn't get the processor i wanted. The 1.83 core duo actually is too slow for CS:S. The framerate stays similar all the way up to 1900 by 1200. But on cs office or other maps, I would drop to the low 30s in outdoors scenes at times. This was due to the weak processor. I ordered the barebones to get the "bang for the buck." It worked...but I regretted it.

Just go for it. Plus there is a price to be had for having the alienware NOW vs LATER. How much is subjective but I would think its worth a couple hundred bucks at least.

I made a mistake with this order that I didn't realize until recently; the price of ram. So I opted for the 4 gig not knowing how cheap ram got. I upgraded with ram i got from new egg on my xps; i mean its the easiest upgrade. But I decided to just let the order continue as it isn't "worth it" to delay my order. I will take the 200 dollar hit and mitigate some of it by knowing that I will have my system sooner than later. The weaker part of my "justification" is that when my order comes in, I don't have to do anything but turn that baby on and play. With that "mistake" out of the way I went with the following:

[1] Area-51® m15x

Display: 15.4" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p) with Clearview Technology
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Blue
Video/Graphics Card: 512MB Nvidia® GeForce™ Go 8800M GTX
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 X7900 2.8GHz – Extreme Edition (4MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2048MB
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium
System Drive: 200GB 7200RPM (16MB Cache)
Optical Drives : 8X Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW Burner
Wireless: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Keyboard Options: AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Games: Crysis
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mesh Cap
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mousepad
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mobile Binder
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Personalized Nameplate
Alienware Extras: Owner Identification Card
Alienware Extras: Area-51® m15x Protective Cloth Sleeve
Alienware Extras: Area-51® m15x Keyboard Diagram Overlay
Alienware Extras: Area-51® m15x Smooth Mylar Touchpad
Avatar: Alien Cyborg
Window Style: Blue Window Style
Mouse Pointers: Standard Mouse Pointers
Wallpaper: Alienhead 3D (Widescreen)
Power Plan: Balanced
Automatic Updates: Automatic Updates On
Sidebar Gadgets: CPU Meter
Time Zones: (GMT - 5.00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

I went with the 2.8ghz because of its overclockability. 3.2ghz stable (im hoping based on what other systems have done) would be great down the road. Stock it will not be bottlenecked by today's games. Crysis currently shows a GPU bottleneck. But older games will benefit from the extra horsepower. I am hoping Crysis and other games will as well in the future.

The real sweet spot though for price to performance is hands down the 2700 dollar config. You will have in your lap; in 3 weeks, a 15.4 inch alienware with an 8800GTX personalized however you want. Wow..im starting to sound like an alienware spokesperson.

good point. I have been debating upgrading. Hmmm anyone else want to chime in? I have thought that you can upgrade the warranty even AFTER you receive the notebook. Is this true? I wouldn't mind saving a little coin before adding MORE to my already expensive lappy

commish have u ever gamed on a lappy? it sucks if you don't have an external screen and keyboard (obviously a mouse to)

you've been on a desktop for a while now so you may not like the switch much. just keep that in mind.

Also when will you take the notebook out? do know the monster desktop you could build for that coin?

I voted 2600 none the less.

i prefer gaming on a lappy and have both a desktop and laptop. Its great having a laser mouse on a couch laying back playing your game with the laptop on your lap. Its very comfortable and natural IMO.

Although my sig has me as a mac lover, right now I would not even think about them until they get their Leopard working correctly. Seems they have just as many issues as Vista had/still does. I would put off any Mac for a while because like everyone keeps telling SJ to get off the phone and fix this mess, he isnt listening.

I would also wait for the other shoes to drop in regards of the other machines coming down the pipe. You waited 4 years wait a few more weeks to see what will arrive.

I like the Dells everyone has one or so it seems, not everyone has an Alien. At least you know when you own one you are thinking outside the box.

I say get the loaded version. Then review it. I want to read about how awesome this thing is before i buy anything!

I'd also say get the 3 year warranty. That's only $100 a year. The useful life of this machine would be at least that. I've been on my inspiron for 4 years and i still game on it.

I'm with Shazza

The new MAC Laptop introduced yesterday looks awesome if portability is your main concern. However I have a feeling you're going to want the Lappy you choose to play games as well Commish. I'd strongly consider the AW.

I dunno I find myself gaming on my 17" AW quite frequently. You may want to go for the M17X and replace your desktop completely.

if you don't need the 8800gtx then why get it? battery life is gonna suck with that GPU so if you aren't going to game on it then I suggest looking for a different notebook.