Pros: Most of what I say is probably going to be a rehash of other reviews here. -For the power that it packs, it is quite slim and light. -All USB ports are 3.0, making external HDD more usable (assuming the external supports 3.0, of course). -Minimal bloatware and what is there is easily removeable. -Boot time from the SSD is fast, about 5-10 seconds. -Case is understated, classy, and feels sturdy. -Quiet and cool during nongaming use. -Turbo Boost automatically overclocks CPU, up to 3.2 ghz, when needed. -Handles most games with ease. You may need to lower the settings on some very demanding games though, The Witcher 2, for example. But then again, raw power isn't the point of this laptop. -Onboard speakers are better than average.

Cons: -Keyboard layout is odd. Windows button is on the left, the Right arrow key is part of the numpad territory, and other oddities. -The large screen is great for gaming, but makes it difficult to carry and will only fit into the largest bags. If you're used to an everyday laptop, this will still feel a bit heavy and bulky, although not nearly as much as other gaming laptops, an Alienware 17, for example. -Puts out a lot of heat during gaming. Probably inevitable given the form factor (slim case = small vents). Heavy gaming will make this laptop uncomfortably hot, and may require a stand or playing on a desk. The fans will work overtime, making a noticeable amount of noise. When the heat becomes too much, it will automatically throttle performance to compensate. In 2 weeks of almost daily use, this has only happened once so far. It was during a multi-hour gaming session (Assassin's Creed IV), the laptop was well ventilated and in a cool room. It's a smart safety feature, but ideally, it shouldn't be necessary. -Performance is throttled when running on battery power with no option to remove this throttling. I can sometimes hear it spool up when I plug in. -It seems that the wifi turns off when the case is closed, even when I specify in the power options that closing the case should do nothing. This means when I want to "set it and forget it" overnight for a large download, such as a large Steam game, I have to leave the case open, and turn off the screen instead, which seems to work.

Overall Review: -Turn the Palm Tracking setting to its absolute minimum to solve most of the trackpad problems. -Remember, no disc drive. Funny enough, it comes with a disc with drivers. No need for it though, all necessary drivers are already installed. -Keyboard backlights are fully adjustable. -The hybrid power option (will draw both AC power and battery power when power requirements exceed AC output) is interesting, though I can't see myself needing it. -Be sure to install programs to the /D drive (the HDD). By default, most programs will try to install to the /C drive (the SSD), which at 128 GB, will fill up quickly with large programs, such as games.