Alienware laptops great! Good balance with quality, performance, portability and fun )
If you have money to buy it...DO IT!
But be ready to use 64bit OS: Win7 x64 or FreeBSD(amd64), If you using 32bit OS you will not allow use more than 2,5-3GB of your computer RAM and performance falling down.
I like M11x, sample config:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 - Ultra low power CPU (now in R2 version of laptop you can choose core i5 or i7)
RAM: 4GB DDR3 Dual channel (2 banks with 2GB ) or 8GB DDR3 Dual channel (2 banks with 4GB )
VIDEO: Nvidia Hybrid technology, Intel 4500HD(64Mb memory) + Geforce GT 355M (1Gb memory)
HDD: 320-500GB
Ports: 3 USB ports (2+1 power shared to charge different portable things like pocket pc, phone), HDMI, Display port, 1394 Firewire, 2 phones, 1 microphone, VGA D-15 output
LAN: Atheros 100Mbit (hm...better to be 1Gbit but anough)
WLAN: Intel 5100
Web Cam: 1.3MPx + microphone
+ keyboard, logo and others highligt features with custom colors settings...fun )
3-8 hours integrated Li-ION battery (time depends of system and applications load)
~2Kg weight
11.6' HD display
Cool machine!