Macbook or Alienware

D

DevilMan

Gawd
Joined
Jan 15, 2001
Messages
542
I am having a dilemma. I am looking for a new laptop computer and am not sure if I want to go with the Alienware M15x or a macbook pro. I have an iMac that I use for everyday computing, like email, word processing, music, keeping track of an organization that I run, etc. The mac does a great job of this but my wife is in school and uses it and I also do not like sitting behind a desk for long periods. I also have a Gateway FX that I use strictly for gaming and browsing in the living room. I want to combine the two. My gaming is mostly world of warcraft, starcraft and some steam games (dawn of war, left for dead, Torchlight). I am not sure how the macbook would handle the games and I am also not sure if I just want to replace my gaming laptop with another more powerful. I am not sure this made any sense or if maybe I am answering my own questions. Just kinda looking for extra input.
 
Why not get the Envy ?

It has the same aesthetics of a Mac(except i prefer the color of the Envy), and pretty much identical size (some guy in the Mobile area posted pics in the picture thread comparing the two)....and does windows ;)
 
The Envy is very nice. I have a 15.4" Macbook Pro (Not Unibody), and the styling is almost identical, but the Envy is tons faster. The Alienware is a just a beast of a laptop and weighs a ton too. I would say Macbook Pro over the others, if Gaming is not a huge priority. The Envy runs terribly hot under load. Lots of complaints on that notebook in the heat dept. I have had all of them, and I still love the Macbook Pro over them for a laptop.
 
If you've narrowed it down to those two systems it seems your real choice is between performance, particularly in games, and being able to (legally) run OS X. Figure out which you want more.

I would buy the Alienware myself.
 
The 15" MBP handles Starcraft 2 great. Only other games I've played on it are TF2 and Left 4 Dead 2, and those also run very well.

It honestly comes down to if you want lighter weight, slimmer profile, and better battery life, and the multitouch trackpad, or if you just want raw power.

I actually like the Alienware m11x because of the novelty of so much GPU power with an 11" display, but that isn't one of your options and I'm not sure you'd like the smaller keyboard. It would certainly be cheaper than either of the options you brought up. Otherwise I like the MBP because of the better keyboard, trackpad, and weight/size.
 
Well personally I think the Alienware is just far too heavy, but if you dont need to move it around much then... Well I still cant recommend it! Id say get any gaming Asus, to be honest. Ive had a bunch of them at different sizes (from 13-17.5) and they are all huge bang for the buck

If you are curious about WoW performance, check my video of WoW on the new 11" Air. Native res, settings on "good". Ran quite well. The MBP would be quicker.

Also, I agree that the M11x is a nifty little machine, but I assume the OP wants to stick with the ~15" platforms. Also, the M11 is too heavy for an 11 really. Once you are sacrificing that much real estate, IMO, you need to get weight savings in return. I feel 11" Air has pretty much redefined that entire segment (subnote) and its a segment Ive *beaten to death* over the years having owned (and traveled with) nearly ALL of the "next big thing" subnotes (including the M11)
 
This is pretty easy question if you ask me. If gaming in any way is a reason you are getting it, Alienware. Upgrade the video card if you can. If you are doing video editing, photoshop, dont like Win 7, and dont play games, Macbook.
 
Gaming on macs is more accessible now thanks to Steam. Browse the Steam Mac library, see if you can live with that (and keep in mind it's growing).
 
Depending on what you play. I play StarCraft 2, WoW, and L4D on my MacBook Pro just fine. You can also always install Windows on your MBP if you want to pop into that to game. Though really you can do quite a lot of it from OS X anymore.
 
I would like to try Macbook myself. However, I'm also playing online MMORPG games. Can this handle it?
 
If you are planning on carrying the thing around, get the macbook. If it is just going to stay at home, alienware.

The alienware will perform better in games and the cooling will be a million times better, but you'll sacrifice size and weight. The macbook is going to get extremely hot when you game, and it won't perform as well either. Personally, I'd get the alienware if you are going to be gaming on even a semi regular basis.
 
WOW needs the fastest two cores you can throw at it - UI latency in particular is strongly affected by clock speed. As a result, you can't expect great performance from a laptop. If you must go mobile, make sure you get the fastest CPU you can afford.
 
I second the notion of getting an alienware. For me, playing games will require an adequate CPU. Macbooks are awesome but they're not really made for gaming whereas you're actually considering a gaming laptop with the Alienware. It's almost 2 ends of the spectrum with this toss up.
 
If you do not mind the weight, the Alienware is easily the best in its class. It will also overclock the GPU better than the "comparable" asus or clevo competition. The M15x also has outstanding cooling on the gpu and cpu compared to most notebooks. I can easily recommend that notebook
 
macbook all the way... better OS, can now play games and you can dual boot. Don't forget that Apple especially macbooks and macbook pros hold their value compared to other computing devices
 
I prefer the styling and functionality of the macbook, but for high quality gaming the alienware is obviously the better choice. The macbook should handle most games fine but you just wont be able to max them out like with an upgraded alienware. That said, I second the idea of looking at the HP Envy line. Either the 14 or the 15. I currently have the 14 which has a 5650 which is supposedly nerfed a bit, but luckily I havent needed to game on it since i have a desktop. I've seen a few Envy 15's in the FS forum(HP Stopped making them), I believe it only came with the 5830 which should be a monster and would cost about half of what a MBP costs.
 
Dont get the mac, all steam games are slower on macs. Dont get an alienware either...

Look into an Asus lappy, they are nice.
 
Asus laptops are made cheap compared to the alienwares....there is a reason they cost less and it is not leds
 
Heebs said:
lol....

After owning both I would go Asus.
Click to expand...

And after owning both I would easily go with the Alienware. My M17x is built like a tank compared to the cheap as hell UL80Vt I have from work. Given that the M15x has the same design and quality of my M17x, I can say with certainty there is not a nicer laptop in the world for the 15" size if you want power.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top