While some may question the price range on their products, few can argue that Alienware is still at the top of the ladder when it comes to releasing complete and powerful enthusiast solutions for consumers who don’t mind spending a few extra bucks to get the absolute best quality out of their systems. Admittedly I’ve always been slightly on the more conservative side of the market, but a recent $1,800 rebuild of my personal gaming machine (incorporating a fancy “Xion II” case which glowed green, and a top of the line processor and video card) has taught me that sometimes, it’s more than worth it to indulge a little. Thinking of the same lines, I was fortunate enough to be set up with an appointment at one of Alienware’s booths at E3 this year to see what their latest projects are, and was rather surprised at some of the mobile solutions they are working to implement.

The first product I was shown was actually a limited-edition “Superman” model. There will apparently be releases of both desktop and laptop variants of this theme, but the main focus of the display was on the laptop version. Emblazoned with a recognizable iconic “S-Shield”, the setup is expected to launch later this month to help coincide with the release of the “Superman Returns” movie. Each Superman system ordered will apparently be individually numbered and will be unique in their own way, and will also feature exclusive custom desktop icons, backgrounds, and themes to help augment the superman feel. Craving fans will be able to test out the new setup at Dadeland Mall in Miami, Florida, but if you’re the kind of DC Comics fan craving this kind of setup, you’d better hurry and place your order – these things are expected to be in very limited quantity at launch.

Moving on to the more conventional laptop market, we then tackled the Aurora m9700. This configuration, astonishingly, offers a pair of high-end nVidia GeForce graphics cards running in SLI configuration, making this the world’s first 17” SLI-configured laptop. Throw in a top of the line 64-bit AMD processor and a 240GB hard drive in either Raid-0 or Raid-1 configuration (technically making for a pair of 120GB drives, I would suppose), and you’ve got the reason why I nearly broke down sobbing at how the precious $1,800 reconstructed god I had at home had just gotten kicked in the shins by a mere laptop. Surprisingly, the system is also expected to run for approximately $2,000US as well, depending on the exact configuration requested, and will even come with a complimentary TV tuner card for basic cable and S-Video support, as well as a webcam. The Aurora m9700 is due out mid way through next June.

A second system I was shown was also the new Aurora mALX. If you ever wanted all of your friends to know that you have way too much money on your hands, this is the way to do it. Equipped with similar SLI technology to the Aurora m9700 (dual 256MB GeForce Go 7900 GTX cards), a 64-bit AMD Turion processor, and a nineteen inch screen, the term “desktop replacement” can apply very heavily to this system. Buyers will also have access to some exclusive ALX extras, such as a Razer Diamondback mouse, Ozma 7 headphones, high-tier support, and a huge number of extra goodies – which I would certainly hope for, given the expected sale price starting at a whopping $4,500US. Still, I can comfortably report that the included case looks very sexy, and has at least a much better chance of attracting members of than other laptops – just make sure you keep the receipt hidden.

As a final sneak peek, I also got a look at a work-in-progress model, the “Area 51 5400”. It’s due out later this year, and I was only able to jot down some brief notes on it, but the design looks very, very different from that of a normal PC configuration in that it’s not quite laptop, not quite PC, but more of a hybrid mix. The entire computer is actually enclosed behind the flat-panel monitor, which is held up by a stand. The keyboard is able to cleanly snap into place inside of this stand, and a handle can then extend out the top for transportation purposes. Very nifty. I’m not sure on a price point for this model (I believe they’re aiming for a sub-$2,000 range), but I would expect it to have Alienware’s usual top of the line components and level of support, and was also able to learn that it will still be quite simple to upgrade in spite of the unusual design. Expect to hear more on the Area 51 5400 in the coming months.

With their special-edition Superman themed laptops as well as continuing top of the line systems (I mean, c’mon, owning the world’s first SLI-based laptop has got to offer itself some measure of novelty value), Alienware is still poised to keep it’s crown for the high-end PC enthusiast market, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how their latest offerings hold up in the wide-spread market. Until then, time to start collecting those pennies… - Dave VanDyke.