Question:
Which is a better laptop: Alienware m17x or macbook pro?
anonymous
1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Which is a better laptop: Alienware m17x or macbook pro?
Twelve answers:
Mazin
2009-10-31 13:43:35 UTC
I would get a mac and add windows 7 so you can use the software that you already have. Macs last for years(have a 10 year old mac G3 that still works and is still super fast). Plus my new iMac is the best computer that I have every owned . Alienware are only good for playing hardcore games with intense graphics. Get the mac
anonymous
2016-04-11 03:48:59 UTC
I'm the owner of a MacBook Pro 13-inch. I have to tell you go to get the M17x. Because the MacBook is too limit to play games, video/movies. I used to windows operation. I realized the MB is not suit for everything online which 99% software/games made for Windows. Buy Alienware M17x or Windows operated PC you will not disappoint.
Mr. Pop/Rock/Country/R&B
2009-11-01 16:11:32 UTC
Alienware specs can be maxed out higher but it will be ridiculously priced. The same specs in a macbook pro is much cheaper. If a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, 500GB 7200rpn, 1066 MHz frontside bus, and 6M L2 Cache is enough than go for macbook pro + you can run windows on a mac, running mac on windows is illegal and if they find out you will have to pay... alot. Mac OS is way more responsive than Win 7, as I have one myself. Mac OS handles everything better, and has better memory control so you can do more with less unlike windows 7 or any windows besides DOS for the matter.
Chris P
2009-11-01 06:47:57 UTC
The Alienware M17x is easily the best choice. Full specs especially, it blows away not only the Macbook pro but every single other laptop I have ever come across. The ironic thing too is that even though Alienware computers are known for being so expensive, they are actually cheaper than all five of their top competitors (such as Sager) AND their computers are more powerful. Plus, and Alienware will last you for years, especially if you get full specs. They are well built computers, as I have one that's three years old and still works like new. Not to mention macs are full of problems and will spend more time stressing you out than anything else.
Sam728
2009-10-30 20:24:11 UTC
The mac will last longer and will be more stable, plus you can dual boot windows 7 (if you install it) alongside osx. Alienware laptops are overpriced, although macs are damn expensive to.



It depends what you want to do, macs aren't much good for games, but but If you want a gaming machine why not buy a desktop? way better performance for the same price.



I would go for the mac, personally.
?
2009-10-30 13:55:58 UTC
If you're interested in running games, get the Alienware for sure and purchase the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M1 video card upgrade. This m17x has other things going for it besides the graphics subsystem. HDMI out, eSATA/USB 2.0 dual port, 7200 RPM drive standard or SSD drive, optional Blu-Ray drive, glowing keyboard, etc. If you don't care about Windows vs. Mac, go with the Alienware.
philipscown
2009-10-30 12:23:14 UTC
What do you need it to do, and how techno savvy are you?



The Alienware will be let down by its operating system. Its hardware build quality is an unknown.



What will it be like for you to live and work with either computer - think beyond the immediate purchase.
anonymous
2009-10-30 04:02:12 UTC
Likely with all the specs to the max?! Yeah
?
2009-10-30 04:01:10 UTC
go for Alienware m17x i have 1 already :) atlest you can run what ever you want on it not like macbook
?
2009-10-31 19:48:42 UTC
Hmm well, you didn't tell us what you want to do with it, and that makes a difference.



As mentioned previously, the Alienware has a couple of hardware advantages that relate to gaming, such as the HDMI port and the option to get a better video chip. The Mac video chip isn't bad either, but honestly as a non-gamer, I would never be able to tell you whether that is good or bad. I can tell you that I've owned a number of Macs and PCs and consistently, the Macs are more stable and smooth on graphics of all kinds, especially everyday kinds, like browsing web pages, documents, and massive libraries of photos and videos.



Don't listen to anyone who says that there is a huge difference in hardware. Actually there may be- the Alienware hardware is huge! More than twice as thick as the Macbook Pro, as well as twice the weight. The AW doesn't advertise a battery life figure, but Apple credibly alleges 8 hours. Users say expect an hour max from the Alienware, aka the battery is just in case you can't tear yourself away from it for a bathroom or food break.



On the other hand, both use the same Core 2 Duo processors, although the AW is available at substantial extra cost with a Core 2 Quad. The AW uses higher end chips from the same manufacturer, Nvidia. You can jam them both up with huge hard drives and ram, although the AW actually leaves room for a second hard drive so you can literally fit twice the space in it. I don't see how a MBP with a USB hard drive is any less portable than a 12 pound, 1 hour battery behemoth, so I wouldn't call this a real advantage.



So what it comes down to is compromise. If you aren't a die-hard Windows enthusiast, you'd be a fool to plunk down all that money and not end up with a quality, user-friendly, reliable machine running Mac OS X. If Windows and Windows games are the be all and end all of your existence, then the AW may be a good choice, although you might at some point get laughed at by a peer who bought a Macbook Pro for the same price and can play the same games without having to root around constantly for an outlet and a table. Since you can use Boot Camp (for high performance games) and VMWare Fusion (for office and routine applications) to run Windows 7 just fine on the Mac, you can't say that there is some kind of application advantage to the PC, because the Mac can run 100% of all Windows applications, plus run 100% of all Mac applications and most Linux programs as well.



Another difference to consider is the ergonomics. Which is of course important on a machine you will spend a lot of time with. Both have backlit keyboards, one is red and the other is blue-white; you have to decide which you prefer. There is a difference in trackpads; the Macbook trackpad is huge and centered, but the AW trackpad is tiny and off to the left. If you ever intend to work or game without an external mouse, that may be an issue. However, the AW has a numeric keypad, which the AW does not. I like how my Mac's keyboard is centered relatively to the screen, but this is a personal preference.



So in conclusion, if gaming while staying in one place is the absolute priority, then the Alienware has some advantage from its somewhat improved video card specs, and somewhat improved processor if you go to the maximum of all specifications. This will result in a net price over $1200 more than the Macbook Pro, that is, enough to also build a formidable desktop computer to compliment your laptop.



So actually, I would have a very, very hard time recommending the Alienware to anyone. I recommend the Macbook Pro.
anonymous
2009-10-30 19:31:47 UTC
Compared to the m17x, the Mac is obsolete, lol. Macs are not gaming computers and can not run many Windows games and applications. You will be much happier with the Alienware PC. Windows 7 is already getting good reviews so it is a stable operating system. AND Windows 7 has DirectX 11!!! Save yourself the trouble and get a decent computer with good hardware.
Adf
2009-10-31 17:32:15 UTC
Alienlaptop is by far the faster performer.



Unless you want mobility than the mac wins.


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