Alienware M11x

Here's our weekly roundup of the new products CNET reviewers liked best.

Alienware M11x

Editors' rating: 4 out of 5

The good: This year's version of the Alienware M11x has markedly improved graphics performance and battery life, and the laptop's solid build, USB 3.0 ports, and impressive 5.1 surround-sound Klipsch speakers are also pluses.

The bad: The M11x still has a chunky chassis; also, the lack of an optical drive isn't a dealbreaker, but can be frustrating when installing games.

The bottom line: Don't be fooled by its unchanged looks: the 2011 Alienware M11x makes big leaps forward in performance, graphics, and battery life, while keeping a reasonable price. Anyone looking for a portable gaming-ready laptop will have a hard time resisting the urge to pick one of these up.

Read CNET's full review
Prices start at $1,049