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Can’t say I saw this one coming.

Gizmodo is reporting that Alienware is showing off a new computer, the M11x. Details are limited, but the article tells us that the computer runs an 11-inch and display and will sell for under $1000.

Of course, gaming was mentioned– apparently it can handle 50 frames per second in Crysis, 30 frames per second for Call of Duty (on high) and pumps out a 3DMark (Vantage?) score in the “6-7k range”. Battery life is said to be 6.5 hours for standard usage or two hours of “intense gaming”.

Engadget is reporting that the M11x has Nvidia GT335M switchable graphics. This is what allows for the power to play Crysis, but then the ability to switch over to an extended battery mode.

The M11x uses the Stealth design language, the same one found on the M15x and M17x. It maintains the keyboard backlighting and other design features from the full-sized systems. It looks rather large for an 11.6-inch system–check out the size of the bezel and the depth of the palmrests. This is a strange beast.

Clips from Dell's Press release:

* The Alienware M11x, the most powerful 11-inch gaming laptop in the universe — as easy to carry as it is powerful, making high-performance gaming accessible to all.
* The Alienware M11x demonstrates the graphics power of a 15-inch laptop in an 11-inch form factor
* Play all of your games and media, whether at home or away, at HD 720p resolution
* With the Alienware M11x, gamers can enjoy the feel of the gaming without compromise anywhere they go



The M11x’s product page is woefully lacking in details, but we do get some more pictures. From these we can see that the lid is slightly different than that of M17x/M15x, and it uses a design that is looks a bit like a simplified version of Alienware’s older Skullcap. The front grills and angular design of Alienware’s muscle-car-meets-stealth-bomber style have been maintained.

Looking at the ports we see VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, ethernet, Firewire, what looks like a card reader, three USB slots, two headphone jacks, and a microphone jack. One of those USB ports might double as an eSATA port, but it’s hard to tell.

So netbook-sized (well, it’ll be larger than any other netbook) and under $1000. Sounds like it could get some traction.

Bah, I much prefer my ASUS G50vt. I know this one by Alienware blows my ASUS out of the water, but I get what I need it to do, plus a little more.