We heard about Alienware M11x Gaming Netbook a while ago. The device is certainly unique as there aren’t too many netbooks that can be used as a gaming laptop by gamers. They simply don’t have enough power to handle games with lots of 3D graphics. Alienware M11x is designed to change all that. Dell has just added the device to its front-page, which means you can start your own machine right away.

Dell doesn’t provide as many customization options with this netbook as it does with its other models. You do get a chance to choose between SU4100 or the dual-core SU7300 CPU for your netbook. You can also add up to 8 GB of RAM to this device. There are plenty of other small details that you can customize in this device.

Let’s face it. Alienware M11x is more of a CULV than a netbook. It comes with ULV CPUs and certainly packs more punch than any netbook on the market. The price ($799+) is also in the range of a CULV than a netbook. That doesn’t take away anything from the device. But it does show that manufacturers are now using the term “netbook” to generate more buzz for their device. M11x does look like a decent portable device for gamers.

The fact that top ULV laptops come with dual core CPUs is a big plus. Many first time netbook owners complain about their devices not being capable of displaying high definition videos. Some complain about their mini-notebooks processing power. With ULVs, you do get more powerful CPUs on your laptop without sacrificing too much battery life. But the current ULV market is not that much superior to the netbook market. And netbooks are still more portable than CULVs. Let’s not forget that netbooks are a bit cheaper than ULV laptops as well.

This is not to say that CULVs won’t be better in the future. But at the present, netbooks are slightly more attractive to those who live a mobile life. As the prices come down and more powerful ULV CPUs are introduced to the market, you can expect these laptops to gain more traction. But don’t expect that to happen in 2009.

The netbook market is growing fast. There is no questioning that. But many major companies are starting to shift their focus a bit on CULV laptops. Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage laptops are not only more energy efficient than their regular laptop counterparts, but they are powerful enough to address the needs of business individuals. A lot of people have complained about netbooks not being powerful enough for those complex business tasks. Top CULV laptops are just the opposite. Now before we jump on the bandwagon, it’s interesting to note that Acer, Asus, and HP are all working on their new CULV laptop models to be released in late 2009 or early 2010.

Macbook Air is already taking advantage of a low voltage system, so CULV laptops will essentially enable companies such as HP, Acer, and Asus to develop their own Macbook Air type laptops. High prices may have kept these laptops to hit the market sooner, but we seem to be at a point where the prices will be low enough for these laptops to gain traction. And thankfully, these laptops will come with a different set of features than netbooks. Here is what Intel’s Chief Executive had to say about this issue:

And we’re expecting (there will be) a more clear distinguishing set of characteristics between Netbooks and notebooks

As someone who’s been around the industry for years, it’s not hard to see why CULV laptops play a big role in the laptop market for the next few years. Netbooks are growing and more people are going mobile, but there is still need for CULV laptops, and there is no reason CULV laptops and netbooks can’t co-exist. What CULV laptops do is force netbook makers to keep their prices in check. We have seen too many netbooks that cost close to $600. That price point would not be acceptable if CULVs that are arguably more powerful than their netbook counterparts go for the same price. CULV laptops and netbooks can both co-exist but only if the lines don’t become too blurry.

Recommended CULV Laptops:

1. Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810T-8480 Laptop
2. MSI X340-021US Slim 13.4-Inch Laptop
3. Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810TZ-4880 13.3-Inch Laptop

Maybe it’s just the nature of the beast. Maybe companies are jealous of each other, but netbooks are getting bad names in an industry that is struggling overall to grow. The notebook market has been stale for months and no real end is in sight. But netbooks are selling big time and still get a bad name from bloggers, a few analysts, and even some tech companies. There is no question that netbooks are not as powerful as regular laptops. They are not designed to be super powerful. If you want to put Maya or 3D studio on a netbook, it’s going to crash on you. But that doesn’t take away from the overall merits, especially when it comes to top netbooks. For a college student and business individual, a netbook has a lot to offer.

CULV laptops are going to be a big challenge for netbooks, but these two gadgets can coexist. Netbooks are designed specifically for folks who are looking for an ultra portable laptop that is super cheap as well. These laptops are energy efficient as well. CULV laptops are going to be more expensive but more powerful. So the audience for these devices are a bit different, even though they are not mutually exclusive.

Netbooks were never designed to be super powerful, but they are recession friendly, and maybe that’s why the market is growing fast. With the recession expected to continue for the foreseeable future, the netbook market will only grow. The good news is that consumers are going to have a lot of options when it comes to portable laptops. That means the pressure will be both on laptop and netbook makers to make devices that people want to actually buy. Netbooks may get a bad name for their performance these days, but as the market matures, there will be better, more powerful, and more energy efficient netbooks. Who knows what the future holds but netbooks are here to stay, for now anyways.