Alienware, which has been synonymous with extremely powerful gaming rigs and astronomically high tag price, just released a “budget model” in the form of the m17. It comes with Alienware’s patent matte black finish and illuminated keyboard. It measures 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.7 inches and weighs in at a hefty 9.5 pounds. Like its more expensive brother, the Area-51 m17x, it features customizable backlighting. It has a full-size keyboard that features a short throw, perfect for intense gaming sessions according to the reviewer. The 17-inch, 1920 x 1200 Clearview display is bright and images are crystal clear. The m17 offers a plethora of ports, including FireWire port, HDMI, digital optical, and an eSATA port. For security-conscious users, the m17 includes a suite of failsafe options such as biometric security. Beneath the hood of the m17 is an engine that can keep up with the most demanding games in the market. Benchmark scores showed that the m17 is the second-best performer in its class. Gaming performance is no slouch either, churning out above average fps scores on dx9. Battery life lasted a mere 1 hour and 48 minutes, so make sure you have the charger handy. If you are in the market for a mean machine but don’t want to break the bank, the Alienware M17 is a solid option.