Just figured i would try to give a review of my own... 
my config:
12.1" WXGA 1280x800 LCD Display
Intel® Pentium® M 735 1.7GHz 2MB L2 Cache 400MHz FSB
Space Black Alienware Sub-notebook Chassis
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Network Connection
512MB DDR PC-2700 at 333MHz - 1x512MB SO-DIMM
Hitachi 60GB 7200 RPM ATA100 with 8MB Cache
6X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 - USB - Space Black
sO Where do i start...
The ordering process was a breeze. the hardest part was waiting, but it's well worth it. when it arrived 3 weeks after the order, i couldnt wait to open it. Honesstly im impressed with the quality of the packaging... There is no way if the thing was thrown off the roof of a house i think anything would break, it was surrounded by 3 boxes with foam on every corner....starting it up was a breeze. took maybe 5 mins...
Screen: Very clear and crisp, there are reflections in it at times, but i'd take the clarity any day of the week over other screens i've seen
Keypad: The keys are very easy to type on, never owning a notebook before it took me a good 5 mins to adjust. the keys are dark charcoal gray and semitransparent. Very good feel and not very lloud. they feel precise and sturdy.
Performance: so far i've been doing web browsing, throwing some programs on, and downloading some vid's. The performance is GREAT! I have the 1.7 and it resemles my p4 3.0 desktop on these tasks. ALSO, the system boots up very quick and shuts down just the same...
Weight and size: This thing is perfect! Light as can be and its not that small honestly i was scared it was going to be too small with the size of the screen, but sitting here now typing, i can say it's the perfect size and weight for me, since im in colllege and do a bit of traveling.
Touchpad vs. mouse: Obviously, the mouse is easier to use, but once again i'm impressed with the touchpad. its not hard to use after you play with the settings a llittle to match your preference.. I got the microsoft 3.0 mouse with my lapop.. nothing to it,plugged it in and it recognzed it fine..
Battery life: i'm at about 68% left after an hour or so of use.. maye an hour and a half, either way, thats about another 2-3 hours left while playing songs and browsing and such... not bad at all if you ask me.. The batter take 4 hours or so to charge also, kinda quick
nosie: While playing a movie it gets a little noisy, but nothing to worry about, you cant hear it over the speakers anyway... under normal operation it's very quite, although the hard drive clicks every now and then, but it doesnt bother me ... its not all that looud either...
speakers: Excellent! These are some really good mobile speakers, haven't heard anything like it. dont get me wrong, its not like the home theater i hook it up to, but for a lap top... i couldnt be happier
Advice to prospective buyers?
First off, research.. think about it, research again... again.. and then some more thinking.... I though about this for several weeks as i wanted to get the perfect system for my needs.. If you like alienware for their "image" that's cool, but make sure your buying it for more then the little alienhead on the top with glowing eyes... I bought mine because i compared it hand in hand to the dell 700m, another nice machine.. but the alienware was a better price and the layout was better, one of the main reasons being the case.. cheap plastic is not what i expect to find on a 1700 dollar laptop... the little things like the card reader, location of the ports and such made me decide to go with the alienware. Also, i chose it because the hardware is better, i wanted a 7200rpm hd no matter what, alienware offers this... so i guess what i'm getting at is. if you like it because of the design thats good, but if you dont need the "appearance" then look around and see what best fit's you, just so happens for me the alienware was cheaper and more compatible with my needs..
I don't have any pics up, but it's basicallly like you see in the other reviews... Rubberized black all around. very cool feeling...
hope this helps inform you all a little if you are looking into a similar system.
my config:
12.1" WXGA 1280x800 LCD Display
Intel® Pentium® M 735 1.7GHz 2MB L2 Cache 400MHz FSB
Space Black Alienware Sub-notebook Chassis
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Network Connection
512MB DDR PC-2700 at 333MHz - 1x512MB SO-DIMM
Hitachi 60GB 7200 RPM ATA100 with 8MB Cache
6X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 - USB - Space Black
sO Where do i start...
The ordering process was a breeze. the hardest part was waiting, but it's well worth it. when it arrived 3 weeks after the order, i couldnt wait to open it. Honesstly im impressed with the quality of the packaging... There is no way if the thing was thrown off the roof of a house i think anything would break, it was surrounded by 3 boxes with foam on every corner....starting it up was a breeze. took maybe 5 mins...
Screen: Very clear and crisp, there are reflections in it at times, but i'd take the clarity any day of the week over other screens i've seen
Keypad: The keys are very easy to type on, never owning a notebook before it took me a good 5 mins to adjust. the keys are dark charcoal gray and semitransparent. Very good feel and not very lloud. they feel precise and sturdy.
Performance: so far i've been doing web browsing, throwing some programs on, and downloading some vid's. The performance is GREAT! I have the 1.7 and it resemles my p4 3.0 desktop on these tasks. ALSO, the system boots up very quick and shuts down just the same...
Weight and size: This thing is perfect! Light as can be and its not that small honestly i was scared it was going to be too small with the size of the screen, but sitting here now typing, i can say it's the perfect size and weight for me, since im in colllege and do a bit of traveling.
Touchpad vs. mouse: Obviously, the mouse is easier to use, but once again i'm impressed with the touchpad. its not hard to use after you play with the settings a llittle to match your preference.. I got the microsoft 3.0 mouse with my lapop.. nothing to it,plugged it in and it recognzed it fine..
Battery life: i'm at about 68% left after an hour or so of use.. maye an hour and a half, either way, thats about another 2-3 hours left while playing songs and browsing and such... not bad at all if you ask me.. The batter take 4 hours or so to charge also, kinda quick
nosie: While playing a movie it gets a little noisy, but nothing to worry about, you cant hear it over the speakers anyway... under normal operation it's very quite, although the hard drive clicks every now and then, but it doesnt bother me ... its not all that looud either...
speakers: Excellent! These are some really good mobile speakers, haven't heard anything like it. dont get me wrong, its not like the home theater i hook it up to, but for a lap top... i couldnt be happier
Advice to prospective buyers?
First off, research.. think about it, research again... again.. and then some more thinking.... I though about this for several weeks as i wanted to get the perfect system for my needs.. If you like alienware for their "image" that's cool, but make sure your buying it for more then the little alienhead on the top with glowing eyes... I bought mine because i compared it hand in hand to the dell 700m, another nice machine.. but the alienware was a better price and the layout was better, one of the main reasons being the case.. cheap plastic is not what i expect to find on a 1700 dollar laptop... the little things like the card reader, location of the ports and such made me decide to go with the alienware. Also, i chose it because the hardware is better, i wanted a 7200rpm hd no matter what, alienware offers this... so i guess what i'm getting at is. if you like it because of the design thats good, but if you dont need the "appearance" then look around and see what best fit's you, just so happens for me the alienware was cheaper and more compatible with my needs..
I don't have any pics up, but it's basicallly like you see in the other reviews... Rubberized black all around. very cool feeling...
hope this helps inform you all a little if you are looking into a similar system.
Congrats Man
but the whole situation just has me confused about why windows would just not want to work and i have to reinstall everything... 
