Alienware AW13R2-10011SLV 13 Inch WQXGA+ Touchscreen Laptop (6th Generation Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M

So far so good.With the number of less than stellar reviews on the product here, I was concerned about making an order, but I did, and it so far seems well worth it. I have an Alienware 17, and this Alienware 13 lives up to the gorgeous design and impressive build quality that is standard across Alienware products. One reviewer here mentioned trackpad issues, at first I noticed some trackpad trouble as well - but quickly realized the problem wasn't the laptop, it was Windows 10. There are some settings you will want to change if you find the trackpad getting stuck or not responding.The laptop is totally quiet, it doesn't make any sound whatsoever under normal use. When playing a game, for instance CS:GO, it does make a faint (and I mean very faint) buzzing sound which I suppose are the fans running - but that's about it. I would *not* use this laptop for any seriously hardcore gaming. I got the QHD+ Touchscreen monitor, it's very glossy and reflective, not very good for gaming compared to my Alienware 17's matte and much brighter monitor. It also feels generally less suited to gaming, the Core i7 is mostly an i7 in name only, and the graphics card isn't terribly impressive.The speakers do not compare whatsoever to those on the Alienware 17. Whereas the latter has some that will make a song sound like a live concert, the 13's are awful when the volume is maxed out - but the plus side is they can get very loud, so you wouldn't be setting the volume at 100 anyway. Around 75% volume and lower, they're decent.I have no trouble connecting extra monitors with HDMI either. I plugged my TV to it and it was recognized immediately and started broadcasting the display instantly without me having to change any settings.All things considered, there is no better laptop in this price range and size that can do as much as this one can.Update: I've been using it for over a month now, playing all sorts of games, using Photoshop, on power and battery, no problems at all. This has been a pleasant experience. The laptop is very lovely to use when resting in bed and doing some casual work.-----------I've been using this for months now in very tough conditions, 80°F+ closet with laptop on for 12+ hours at a time playing games, videos, internet, all sorts of stuff, and it holds up without a single issue. Sometimes, I even leave it in sleep mode for around two weeks and come back to it, and it goes right back to the action instantly no problem.I'm pretty confident if you get a good unit, and know how to handle Windows 10, you will have no problem.

Update: 14 Nov 2016Sometimes dreams DON'T come true... This is one of them.Since the laptop arrived I have had chronic problems, most related to kernel errors and updates from the manufacturer (Dell) that break things. As I write this, my laptop is completely dead. This past weekend I tried restoring the system to its original factory settings, wiping out gigabytes of software in the process, as a final attempt to set things right. It worked for a while. Then I tried applying updates from Dell.The laptop is now unable to even boot. Not in safe mode. Not via command prompt. Nothing.I hereby acknowledge defeat. I'm sending it back.:'(-----For years I have drooled over Alienware computers, dreaming of having a system that blew through applications like they were nothing, of having a system where games would be responsive and have incredible graphics... sigh.FWIW I do like this system. The issues I have with it probably have more to do with getting used to Windows 10 than anything else, although the intensely high-res screen poses issues I never would have expected.Good points:* The system IS wicked fast! I have never had a computer that booted and shut down so quickly.* The graphics ARE amazing! One of my recent acquisitions is the game Obduction, the latest creation from the guys who made Myst and Riven. So beautiful! Yum!* Game play has been great for every game I've played. The response time is wonderful. Although I did have to change my virus-protection software. (I never realized Zone Alarm was such a system resource hog until I had a system with resources TO hog!)* Playing with the Alienware customizable color schemes was unexpected, but very cool!* When running on battery, the flashing power button is a welcome warning before the system shuts down!Not so good points:* Windows 10 sux! I've been using Windows for more years than I like to admit to, and Microsoft has outdone themselves when it comes to hiding settings and features.* I want to kill Cortana. Seriously! The wench needs to leave me the heck alone!* The native screen resolution is 3000x1800, which is great, but makes reading text a bit of a challenge for those of us with "tired" eyes.* Trying to figure out what settings to fiddle with to compensate for the extreme high-res screen has given me several dozen additional grey hairs. And even when I did finally figure it out, the fix is not universal. The overlay within Steam is still really, really tiny.* Some things render VERY crisply - I mean sharp. Other things, like web browsers, render fuzzily. I can web surf and use non-gaming applications, but half of the apps and icons look blurry, like a Hollywood glamour shot. Very annoying.* The surface of the laptop around the keyboard looks and feels kind of like rubber, and it picks up the oils from your hands like crazy!* And did I mention that Windows 10 sux?* And don't get me started on Apple! Could they POSSIBLY make it MORE difficult to transfer the sync settings for my iDevices to a new system??? Arrrrggghhhh!!!So, the upshot to this fairly jumbled mess is that I do like the system. If all you plan to do with it is play games, it's great. I feel like I have only scratched the surface and I'm looking forward to getting into more digital trouble. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a system with a little more versatility, I don't know that this is the best way to go. I'll let you know after I start loading Adobe software onto it.

I did not encounter the track pad problem some people talked about. The screen is gorgeous and the speed of this device is great. The fans hardly even turn on under low loads and when they do, although they can get quite loud, the thermal management of this small device is impressive. The Klipsch speakers are great for a laptop although I liked the JBL speakers in my Samsung Ultrabook better. I especially like Dell's "desktop mode" for the battery which keeps the battery conditioned even when you leave the device plugged in for weeks at a time. The only advice I could give is to avoid updating any of the preloaded driver software unless absolutely necessary. I had an issue with getting Soundblaster X-Fi MB3 (software sound enhancer, not apart of the audio card) to work. The software is preloaded and according to Alienware, it should work out of the box! Get this device if you are running any of the new games or heavy CPU programs and you'll laugh at how easily it runs them!**EDIT** After 15 days, back and forth with Alienware support, I regrettably will say I experienced an issue with the internal sound. Alienware could not properly diagnose it, the speakers would crackle under low levels. If the laptop had not been so expensive, I probably would still recommend it, but for the price, the problem is unacceptable.**EDIT 2** Amazon has outstanding customer service and sent me another one. This one had the trackpad problem others have spoken about. I will be returning and not purchasing another Alienware. The problem is with Alienware and their quality control (Dell) and not Amazon.