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Depends on what you want.

The new entry level gaming laptop they have starts at $800 and is better than most laptops of equal price, as far as gaming is concerned and if it's better for gaming it'll be better at everything else.

If a person wants to just web surf and check email there is always the iPad or one of the Netbooks that sell for around $300. For portable/mobile SOHO than a $700 Acer/Toshiba/HP/Sony is good enough. For gaming I have yet to see anything that can touch an Alienware system (and I've checked out nearly every custom laptop maker in the world that at least advertises online). I just designed one today for $1000 that would blow any sub $1k laptop out the window.

So, for $800 would I choose an Acer or would I choose the Alienware? Depends? With 2G RAM vs 6 or 8 that an Acer comes with the Acer would be better at office tasks. For playing WoW on the go or DoW2 (which will run just fine with 2G RAM) I'll take the Alienware for an equal cost.

So again, if the op wants a gaming laptop (and $50 would upgrade the Alienware to 6G RAM) the Alienware would cost him 509 GBP with 6G RAM + shipping, though it's like a 2 week wait (they told me 23rd for shipping on the website). If he wants something tomorrow or the next day than what he chose is a good deal.

The op wanted to know if that's a good laptop. It is but to the op I'd check out the new MX11 from Alienware. Better specs, looks cooler and is cheaper as well.

Negative. It's not cheaper. The MX11 will cost him 300 GBP more. At least that is what the site he referenced for the Acer has it listed at.

Alienware direct has it listed at $800 to start. That is approximately 509GBP.

They list an upgraded one.

Alienware allows you to 'build' the computer the way you need it. or, if you have a smart techie friend, get them to build you one. I've got a friend who built his own computer, from old computer parts of course, and it is the fastest computer I've seen. This friend can be best described as insaniak's ranking, I guess.

I, personally, don't buy pre-assembled computers or even customized ones. You still end up paying at least an extra $100 or so for labor (probably more).

Falcon does make some incredibly beautiful towers. They do automotive quality painting and it shows, but at an automotive paint job price and their systems are no slouches internally either.

I do my own computer building. With places like Newegg and ZipZoomFly I can build a computer that cost me around $500 less than a prebuilt with the exact same specs.

That Acer mentioned is not a bad computer and people thinking Alienware are overpriced and that their are "better" for gaming. Not pre-assembled there isn't.

Alienware laptops are only good if you get them upgraded. The basic package is meh. I've also heard that people had problems with the overclocking (i.e it don't work). Things you want in a gaming laptop: good screen, decent RAM, decent dual core processor, and decent graphics card. You can find a decent mid-range laptop with the first 3 for around $500 (probably less), and get a decent graphics card for under $200.

Building is better, but in a pinch upgrading a cheap laptop also works.