Dell Alienware M17x Gaming Laptop
Michelle Thatcher,
Senior Associate Editor
April 5, 2009
I recently received this in an e-mail from a CNET reader: "I check CNET for all types of information but I can't find specifics on laptops with backlit keyboards...Any suggestions on where I can go to research laptops that have this feature?"
It's an excellent question. Keyboard backlighting has long been available on the MacBook Pro and on such flashy gaming systems as the Dell XPS M1730. But as people grow accustomed to using their laptops in the living room, bedroom, and other low-light environments, backlit keyboards are beginning to show up on more mainstream laptops (and even some business systems, such as the Dell Latitude E6400). In fact, when Best Buy surveyed customers to develop its Blue Label initiative, keyboard backlighting was near the top of the feature wish list.
If it's also at the top of your feature wish list, take a gander at the laptops below, all of which incorporate backlit keyboards. They're listed by review date, with the most recent reviews on the left.
| Product name | ||||
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| Price | $699.99 | $1,399.00 | Check Prices | $1,229.00 to $1,299.00 |
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| Average user rating | ||||
| Review date | November 12, 2008 | November 06, 2008 | November 03, 2008 | October 16, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | The 14.1-inch Toshiba Satellite E105 is a solid all-around laptop that delivers on Best Buy's Blue Label promises: longer battery life, lightweight design, and lengthy warranty. | Alienware is trying to have it both ways with the new M17, combining a relatively low starting price with some very pricey upgrades, including quad-core CPUs and ATI CrossFireX video cards. Our configuration wasn't very exciting, but turned in capable gaming scores. | With an HD-friendly 16-inch screen and beautiful design, the affordably priced Gateway MC7801u makes an excellent portable media center, provided your HD content is not on a Blu-ray disc. | Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces. |
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| Features | ||||
| Networking | Network adapter - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR - IEEE 802.11a - IEEE 802.11g - IEEE 802.11n - Ethernet | - Bluetooth 2.0 - Ethernet - IEEE 802.11b - IEEE 802.11g - IEEE 802.11n | Network adapter - Ethernet - IEEE 802.11a - IEEE 802.11g - IEEE 802.11n (draft) | Network adapter - Ethernet - Gigabit Ethernet - IEEE 802.11n (draft) - Bluetooth 2.1 EDR - IEEE 802.11a - IEEE 802.11b - IEEE 802.11g |
| Graphics Controller | Intel GMA 4500MHD - 128 MB | NVidia GeForce Go 7950 GTX | Intel GMA 4500MHD | NVIDIA GeForce 9400M |
| Notebook Camera | Integrated | Info unavailable | Integrated - 1.3 Megapixel | Integrated |
| Optical Storage | DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM - Integrated with Labelflash Technology | Info unavailable | DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM with Labelflash Technology | DVD?R (?R DL) - Integrated |
| RAM | 4 GB (installed) / 8 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 800 MHz - PC2-6400 ( 2 x 2 GB ) | DDR II SDRAM | 4 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 ( 2 x 2 GB ) | 2 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz - PC3-8500 ( 2 x 1 GB ) |
| Cache Memory | 3 MB - L2 cache | Info unavailable | 2 MB - L2 cache | 3 MB - L2 cache |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 / 2.26 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 / 2 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz ( Dual-Core ) |
| Hard Drive | 320 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm | - 5400 | 320 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm | 250 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm |
| Display | 14.1 in TFT active matrix 1280 X 800 ( WXGA ) - TruBrite | Info unavailable | 16 in TFT active matrix 1366 x 768 ( WXGA ) - Ultrabright | 13.3 in TFT active matrix 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) |
| Battery | Lithium ion | Info unavailable | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 13.4 in x 9.7 in x 1.2 in | Info unavailable | 15.3 in x 10.4 in x 1.7 in | 12.8 in x 8.9 in x 0.9 in |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs | Info unavailable | 7.1 lbs | 4.4 lbs |
| OS Provided | Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition | Info unavailable | Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition | Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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