I like the backpack, but $99 for it seems high. Although, it does seem really nice. I didn't order soon enough for the Back to School package, if I had I'd have taken the backpack.

I'm going to order one of Targus' black gunmetal cases down the road.

I really like the layout of the speakers and ports. That's about the basic layout I see on laptops now, but when I post my own review with pics next to my old laptop, you'll see what I mean

I'm excited to receive mine tomorrow. I called FedEx today to ask when I might expect it and they told me because I chose the cheaper of the shipping options they didn't have an idea of what time it would be delivered. I'm crossing my fingers the guy is a little lazy and shows up after 11 when I'm home

Wic or any other 3450 owners, when your looking at the laptop screen on the right side just under the speaker on the base part, there looks to be some white square things there, what are they display lights, push buttons to activate certain things (hotkeys or something?), wifi on off or ???

Also have seen many diagrams of what is where but is there a wifi on off switch or is it just ON when laptop is on? (don't laugh this will be the first laptop I will own that even has wifi), my junker is a gateway 9500 that I use a pcmcia card in and the previous laptop was a compaq armada 233 with a whopping 32 mg of ram and I pulled the pcmcia card from it for the gateway (anyone need a good doorstop?). hehe



Bill

From left to right, you will see the following:

1) Number Lock Activated LED (to activatepress Fn & NumLk)
2) Caps Lock Activated LED
3) Scroll Lock Activated LED (to activate press Fn & ScrLk)

4) Activate the user specified application button (e.g., Microsoft Word or Excel)
5) Activate the Default E-Mail Program button
6) Activate the Default Internet Browser button

7) Power Button

Here are some other keyboard shortcuts:

Fn + F1 TouchPad Toggle
Fn + F3 Mute Toggle
Fn + F4 Sleep Toggle
Fn + F5 Decrease Audio Volume
Fn + F6 Increase Audio Volume
Fn + F7 Display Toggle
Fn + F8 Decrease LCD Brightness
Fn + F9 Increase LCD Brightness
Fn + F10 PC Camera Power Toggle
Fn + F11 Wireless Power Toggle

Hence, you can turn off/on your wireless networking connectivity if you want to save power when you're not using the internet.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Thx, I can't wait for fedex to show up this week, hopefully by Wed/Thur/Fri but who really knows till it shows on truck for delivery status the morning of....

Bill

Aye, if they only made this in a 14-15" w/ dedicated grfx card.....doh!!!!!

Guerrilla,

I too want that backpack, I am gonna order one Friday from this place

http://electronicsshowplace.com/prod...ducts_id=39291

$70.74 total with shipping, just gotta wait to get paid Friday before ordering.

Bill

Nifty, I may go for that backpack just for how much storage space it offers. A nice briefcase style case would be a better style for work, but storage is critical. I carry so much hardware with me for every occasion just in case I need to do some hardware work.

Tomorrow mine is being delivered! I called FedEx and asked why my tracking number wasn't being updated and the rep told me it would update tomorrow morning when it reached the distribution center and was sent out on the delivery truck. Unfortunately I was told because of the shipping option I chose it gets delivered whenever the driver passes me on his route, so I couldn't request the driver deliver it after 11 when I would be home I have the day off tomorrow, so maybe I'll call in sick near the end of class and rush home

If you come home and he has left a door hanger, call fedex, tell them you want that package today (especially if you just missed him) I have had them meet me at their next stop locally as well as had them come back, oneday I had a newegg order coming and knew delivery was gonna be that day but my house is big so if im in the back room i dont hear the front door knock sometimes, (tv on fan on in summer etc) I walked out and saw the door hanger and called them said look im home have been home etc, he came back in like 15 mins with the box, another time I literally went to the clubhouse of our property to return a book and came home doortag, I was gone all of about 6 mins and knew I just missed him, called and they had me meet him at the strip mall up 2 blocks away, showed my ID and signed for it there on the spot.

At these that is what I would do, If I had class and went 9-11 and came home to a doortag id be callin and tryin for re-delivery, worst case usually after like 4-5 you can go to the hub and pick it up later that same day too as an option.

Bill

I heard that alienware is very overpriced, is that true?

I dont think they were overpriced. You get exactly the specs you want.

Those three buttons are hotkeys, the far left you set to a program of your choice, the middle opens your default e-mail, and the far right opens your default internet borswer.

For backpacks, I bought the previous model, and unfortunately this suffers from its major downfall: You must undo/zip/Velcro 3 different things to access the laptop.....and that really sucks!!!

In the end I found Dakine and Ogio offer much better, well thought out, functionally designed laptop backpacks: for less money. Yeah the AW logos are nice but that novelty wears off quick enuf, and u also find it a glarring beacon for thieves too.

The AW ones are sturdy/well built for sure, but check the 2 designers I already mentioned, they have superior backpacks for less. In the end, the Dakine I have now has better protection for the laptop itself, a more functional/convienient design of the laptop compartment placement and thefunctionality of the rest of the backpack improves because of this, and 1 zipper side access is SO much better than: unbuckle,unzip,unVelco, put laptop in, Velco,zip,buckle (just became a major pita!) time to take it out, repeat....

To get easy access with this backpack, you need to unclip a 3 clips, undo the zipper and then the velcrow. You can get the laptop out without undoing the clips but its a bit harder to do.

The white squares are like "media" buttons. Theres 3 of them there. Screen shot:


The Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock objects in that picture are the LED's to show if they are on or off. Each of the white buttons opens up the default set program thats set on your system.

Currently, my Media Player is WMP, my Email Program is Thunderbird, my Internet Program is FireFox. All the buttons work great

Wic,
Thanks for the info, and pic!

Can't wait to get mine...

Finally got my FFXI CD's back from my friend yesterday so I installed it to see how it would play. (For those of you that dont know FFXI stands for Final Fantasy 11, and it's a MMORPG.)

Im very impressed with how well it runs too. No lag, good FPS, and over all nice graphics with semi-default settings.

Heres some screen shots:

POL Booter (Login for payments and such.)


FFXI Pic #1



FFXI Pic #2


Another few notes to look at, FFXI isnt made to run in Window Mode. But someone took the time to make a DirectX hook to make it do so, which is what I use. The FPS in FFXI is locked at a max of 29.9 to keep the game Sync with PS2 and Xbox360 users.

So anything 10+ is usually good in FFXI. The game runs smooth and didnt glitch at all like it does on my desktop, although I havent reinstalled Windows in a while which I need to do soon.

Im pretty impressed with what this graphics chip can do so far. I havent tested much with anything else, but with my life style and taste in programs, it runs what I need it to, so I'm happy

Further note on changing laptop grafix:

For the longest time NO grafix card could be changed dedicated or not, then about 3 years ago companies like AW and others started offering cards that could bechanged somewhat easilly although they did not support it well. I was under the impression that the industry as a whole moved in this direction to some extent.

Maybe I was wrong.....Just skimmed a [H] article/preview of asus's new build ur own laptop whitebook, and even it appears to have an ati x1600 that cannot be changed!!!!

So be wary of anyone who says laptop grfx are at all upgradeable.