Dell is replacing my Alienware 14, need some advice!

So after a long and drawn out repair process by Dell and a complaint to the BBB, they are finally agreeing to replace my 4-time repaired (still broken) Alienware 14. They no longer have new 14's left so I'm stuck with a 17. I'm pretty upset with the entire process of 4 repairs (2 on-site attempts, 2 return "Dell repair center" attempts) and still being left with a broken computer 2 months later. They won't offer me an extended warranty (ending in 3 weeks), but my CSR said maybe I could get 90 days on a new system (woohoo?). I loved my M11X, but this thing has been riddled with problems. I really don't want a big 17" computer, I loved having a high-powered killer little machine and I feel like I'm being offered a low-end brick in replacement. I understand the specs are the same (maybe a tad improved) but I'm also losing portability. My 14 was something like $1750 (before the promo code) a while back, this one comes to $1650. I'm not sure what else to do here aside from taking it and selling it. Advice?

Here is what my 14 had:
i7 4700MQ
8GB Ram
765M
1080P IPS Display
750GB HD (5400rpm)

They are offering a 17:
i7 4710MQ
8GB Ram
860M
1080p TN display (they initially offered a 16x9 display)
1TB HD (5400rpm)

 

I would push and have them give you a 880M even if you have to pay $100-200...

 

880M is an $800 upgrade... Even an M290X is a $300 upgrade. Seems like a long shot

 

I'm 99.999999999999999999999999999999999% sure Dell does not take money from customers when doing system replacements. Good luck though. Sucks the 14 is gone.

 

Well I guess you're surely wrong! The CSR said I could pay to upgrade.

 

Well that is very interesting, it's the first time I've ever heard of them doing this. Was this person just a regular CSR or part of the Replacement Agent line?

Are they letting you pay the upgrade price with a system configured or is it the price to pay for the full part (separately)?

 

+1. At very least I'd ask Dell for an M290X. The 880M of course would be ideal, but as stated above, I don't think that's going to happen. At least without you throwing in a good bit of cash down.

 

What exactly is wrong with the 14 if I may ask?

 

That AW 17 is a nice upgrade. Take it, don't open it, sell it, and buy a laptop with a 970M/980M later.

 

Deffo take the 17 - even if you decide to use it, it is more upgradeable than the 14 as it has a 'proper' MXM gpu. Asking for superior upgrades is hit and miss - I've seen some people 'allowed' to contribute to a better component, then I have seen others flatly refused the option to do the same - myself included, in the past.

Why not ask about a top end specc'd AW 13 if portability is important? - you'd have a 2560 IPS display, 256gb M2 SSD, 16gb, and 860m.

 

Looked yesterday and saw they had a promotion which made the m290x model the same value as what they initially sent me. I had waited to call my CSR back, thankfully. Called, asked my CSR for that promotion and he OK'd it. So now I'll have an Alienware 17 in a few weeks:

i7 4710MQ
8GB Ram
R9 m290x
1080p TN display (they initially offered a 16x9 display)
1TB HD (5400rpm)

I feel like I can live with this, even though I'll probably sell it.

 

That's not a bad replacement.

 

Definitely not! Though I feel I'd rather sell and wait for a new-er gen graphics card or buy a different brand machine all together. The process was pretty painful. I'll post a write-up once the entire ordeal is over. All I can say is, the BBB seemed to get things moving in the right direction.