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Not sure what to get..

Macbook has 1 hdd slot - Alienware has 2! - you could use a combo of SSD for primary (faster boot up and program launch) and secondary could be a large drive for storage..

Macbook doesn't have 3D - Alienware does have 3D and comes with glasses!

Macbook max RAM 8GB - Alienware max RAM 16GB!!

Macbook has no blu-ray support! - Alienware has blu-ray support
I will already have an internal blu-ray burner being used in a 5.25" external bay so this won't matter too much, but it does mean with the Alienware, more multi-tasking, blu-ray movies, 3D blu-rays

Macbook has a thunderbolt port - Alienware does not have thunderbolt, but has fireware and eSata and USB 3.0 - Macbook only has USB 2.0 ports

Macbook Pro is lighter and has better battery life - Alienware looks cooler, weighs more, worse batter life

Macbook Pro has no HDMI input/output - Alienware has one HDMI input for ps3/xbox 360 connectivity (3D gaming with PS3), also one HDMI output for HDTV connectivity

Not really sure how to compare the video cards of each.. Processors are the same choices..

So that said, purchasing the
--Macbook Pro 17"
~2.3Ghz Quad-core i7
~AMD Radeon HD 6490M
~8GB RAM
~750GB 5400 rpm hdd
~hi-res antiglare screen
= $2999

--Alienware m17x
~2.3Ghz Quad-core i7
~1.5GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M
~16GB RAM
~750GB 7200 rpm hdd
~3D screen with glasses
= $2929 (just went up $100) from yesterday!

With all the extra "stuff", Alienware is still less expensive..

This laptop will be used for software development, web design, video editing, 3D modeling, blu-ray burning, some gaming...

Which would you choose and WHY? Don't just say one or the other without any actual thought!
**Correction - The Macbook Pro has the Intel HD Graphics 3000 video card