Laptop Thoughts: Big Gaming Has a Name; It's Called the Alienware M17x

"Featuring an Intel quad-core Sandy Bridge CPU, AMD switchable graphics, and a Samsung SSD, this monster offers more than double the performance of anything that came before. On top of that, the M17x has a built-in WirelessHD transmitter, so if it's 17-inch 1080p display isn't big enough, you can beam Blu-ray movies, games, and anything else you want wirelessly across the room to a big-screen TV."

When it comes to PC Gaming brands, Ailenware is often tossed around. The company has been around for over a decade and even after being bought by Dell, it seems to retain its "boutique" status for premium gaming hardware. Their flagship laptop, the M17x is designed to attract attention and not just with specs, which do boast some of the latest tech. Of course, with a price tag hovering around $3,300, at a time when basic laptops can be had for $500 or less, there better be a lot of bells and whistles. From its unique styling to the custom LED backlighting on various parts of the laptop, you pick Alienware because you want to stand out. The challenge has been made and it will be interesting to see what the other boutique gaming companies offer to compete.