Alienware Notebooks Get ''Killer'' With Bigfoot

By Kevin Parrish
published

Four new Alienware laptops now offer Bigfoot's "Killer" NIC as an option.

Monday Bigfoot Networks said that Dell has chosen its Killer Wireless-N 1103 network adapter as an option to all four of its latest Alienware gaming laptop PCs (opens in new tab), including the M18x, M17x, M14x and M11x. What this means for consumers is that, for an additional $80 tacked on to the final pricetag, they will have access to wireless speeds up to 450 Mbps via a 3-stream MIMO.

"As all entertainment trends toward digital delivery -- games, movies, music, video, even books -- PC enthusiasts need more network power than ever before," said Michael Howse, CEO of Bigfoot Networks. "Alienware knows you don't want to compromise your media experience just because you're mobile. That's why they've turned to Bigfoot Networks for a high-performance, intelligent wireless solution you can take wherever you go."

Bigfoot's Killer notebook NIC supports Advanced Stream Detect which automatically classifies and prioritizes online games, HD video and high-quality audio for fewer interruptions and a better online experience. It also supports Visual Bandwidth Control which enables users to see which applications are hogging bandwidth and tune allocations for each so they don't interfere with online games, video or multimedia applications, allowing users to do more online tasks simultaneously.

"With impressive online networking performance enhancements and Bigfoot's exclusive Advanced Stream Detect™ technology, these new Killer Wireless-based gaming laptops will ensure our customers have the ultimate online gaming and HD video streaming experience," said Frank Azor, Alienware Product Planning Director.

The 11-inch Alienware M11x starts at $699 whereas the 18-inch Alienware M18x starts at $1,99.99. For those looking for an Alienware-branded 3D gaming laptop, Dell points to the 17-inch M17x featuring a 1920 x 1080 Full HD display and Nvidia 3D Vision technology.

Kevin Parrish
14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • burnley14
    Waste. Of. Money.
    Reply
  • "Alienware M18x starts at $1,99.99."??? i want one. Perhaps even ten at that price.
    Reply
  • The 2x2 has received great reviews... I assume this will be even better
    Reply
  • alhanelem
    why would i spend that much on a gaming laptop when i can get a desktop twice as good for that price?
    Reply
  • Shin-san
    The Killer NIC-type cards are pretty expensive. There's QoS devices out there that can do the job for cheaper.

    However, I will admit that one part of Killer NICs that do intrigue me: the NICs themselves run Linux on them. It would be tempting to see what you I do with one of those cards.
    Reply
  • fstrthnu
    I think I'd rather spend the money on the internet connection itself instead of some weird network card. $80 is 2/3 of a double speed boost I could get for my internet.
    Reply
  • The reason for alienware is the ease of transport to lan party. you dont want to carry a Desktop plus keyboard plus monitor around.
    Reply
  • the 18-inch Alienware M18x starts at $1,99.99.. OK I'l buy 10..
    Reply
  • warmon6
    malcolm22The reason for alienware is the ease of transport to lan party. you dont want to carry a Desktop plus keyboard plus monitor around.
    Although once you get to the lan party, are you constantly moving around your laptop? For most people, not really. Since you're primary only moving the computer to and from the party, a desktop is not going to be that much of a burden to bring to a lan party.

    Truth is, the only real good point about gaming laptops in general is there good for really small spaces that a desktop would be taking to much room. Like a college dorm room for example.
    Reply
  • hoofhearted
    They are good to move around the house in. Change of scenery. Play Starcraft2 at the kitchen table. Get together at friends house for lan match. There is a lot to be said for portability. Plus drivers and hardware tend to be more standardized, so when it comes time to slick the machine, it isn't as much hassle to locate drivers. I have an m18x and love it.
    Reply