Clear Coat/Soft Touch on M17xR3 Peeling

Does anyone know of a spray or coating that could be removed at a later point that would protect the rubber?

 

Maybe Alienware should sell special bags with soft fluffy pillows to protect it?

 

just got off the phone with alienware, they are replacing it by friday, but i barely moved it at all.. not sure how it happend.

 

What Other defects do you have, would be nice to had a list of known issues so i can becareful.. i do not plan on returning it because i waited so long to get it and now that i have it... i dont want to let it go

 

On the phone right now
After reading the entire list, the frontline tech had the balls to tell me, "But sir, it sounds like you have not experienced any real issues at this time!"

corners black/rubberized finish rubbing off
bottom left edge of screen black matte paint mostly gone
bsod if anything ever plugged into usb 2.0 ports @startup
gpu drivers bsod
new audio drivers bsod
partial outline of touchpad perma-dented into LCD plexi-glass
etc etc etc

Now he says this isn't covered under warranty (I don't have the accidental damage coverage)

...does not cover:
software
non-dell branded branded products
dell branded consumable products
wear from normal use
issues from abuse/neglect/use of non-dell/alienware products

 

Oh wow.... well BSODs will hopefully be fixed with the driver updates. You can hope it doesn't take that long as before (maybe you can get some modded nvidia drivers meanwhile). It still sucks they (again) released half-arsed product. No idea what to suggest next, possibly ask for assistance on Dell forums - they have few guys there who usually seem pretty helpful. DellChrisM is I believe still on this forum too.

I guess that's how Dell computers function "normally". An issue in their world is something along these lines



(yes, that was my M11x)

 

This thread makes the R3 look really bad.. Maybe I should re-think my decision before its too late. I am ready to just say screw it and keep my 6 year old Dell for a couple more years.. I picked a horrible time to shop for a new laptop..blah

 

It's really not that bad. Some people are inevitably going to have issues with a mass produced product.

 

I'm just about to order a M17x-R3 w/ the Orion Messenger Bag.

I've never had this bag before so not sure on the interior and where the laptop sits as I will be carrying it around bi-daily. Will this be an issue arise with this bag or is it unlikely (if proper care is taken)?

 

I was in your shoes a few weeks ago. It was either an R2 or an R3. And I think I made the right choice with my R2. Yes, the CPU/RAM performance is slightly better with the R3, but the difference is not enough for me to justify losing build quality overall. Plus the RGB screen on the R2 is just amazing.

My R2 has been in and out of cases/bags a lot of times since I got it, and I have not a single scratch, dent, or scuff anywhere on my notebook. And I dont have to be extra careful sliding it in and out of my bag. The aluminum chassis is just beautiful, especially in red. After seeing what I just saw here, I personally would never buy that notebook. And I am very glad because I was going to shell out over $3k for a loaded R3.

 

I use the r3 with the original soft sleeve on it inside an Orion bag. I said before.. I have used it EVERY DAY for almost 2 months to and from work. I take it out and in FOUR (4) times a day from its sleeve and I take the backpack to and from Work EVERY DAY.

I have NO WEAR at all.


I like the analogy about the car but go take your car through the forest and then take it back to the dealer and say the paint is scratched.

 

Emm3,

That's pretty much the same as me.
This leads me to believe that the issue is a manufacturing defect and not at all common (at this stage at least). I take extremely good care of this laptop.

 

Well one would assume that using an Alienware branded M17x in an Alienware branded backpack/messenger bag would not produce such an issue (obviously if it's used properly and not thrown in there back and forth).

I'm still contemplating on whether to get one!!!!!

The specs are impressive for a laptop - However I don't want buyers remorse 2 weeks later if it starts peeling/scratching.

A little off topic - how hard would it be to respray the red accented parts? Are they easy to remove?

 

I see no evidence that the OP has mishandled his laptop in anyway.. I am under the assumption that this is occuring under normal use.. Such as being placed in and out of a carrier whether it be a backpack or a any other laptop bag. I have a 500 dollar laptop that has been in and out of many bags and shows none of these defects.. and these bags were not meant for laptops.

Bottom line.. this is a crappy design. If you buy the laptop, buy it knowing that the finish will eventually come off within "probably" the first 12 months.

 

That's interesting.

Was there anything like this happening to the Studio 15's? I think they are made from the same material (although i don't have a M17x to compare).



My mother has one of these and it doesn't show signs of wearing, however she doesn't move it around much...

 

Manufacturing defekt? How can you do the coatjob wrong?

 

Or... you're holding it wrong.

-unreal25

Sent from my scratch-less M17x-R2.

 

The laptop has only been out for like 3 months. How can Dell expect it to be normal wear and tear? There is just no way. Putting the notebook in and out of a sleeve/bag should NOT cause this kind of problem. If you have to worry about peeling paint/coating when sliding the notebook in and out of a case......there is a problem.

It could have been a bad batch of paint/coating material....Doesn't the M11x R2 use the same material? Anyone have any wear/peeling coating on their M11x R2 to compare?

I still think Dell should have stuck with the Anodized Aluminum or the same material from the M15x.

 

After speaking at length with - and emailing pictures to - a level 2, Dell has offered the preliminary options of full refund or system exchange.

<this is basically unconfirmed hearsay>Mr level 2 also confirmed (through dialogue with higher ups) that my wear has most likely been caused by the cloth bag thing that the laptop ships with. Furthermore, Dell is (supposedly) working toward increasing durability against this type of wear</hearsay>

Take the above with a grain of salt.


@tomcom2k:

Velocity backpacks have "the softest of them all" according to SLAPPADom

 

Well, at least they are acknowledging the issue. I would take the full refund and wait until they do make it durable.....or should I say, IF they do.

If you get an exchange, there is nothing stopping it from happening again.

Get the refund and wait for a potential revision/fix, or possibly the M18x (if it is released), or try to find a nice R2 notebook for a good price. I went with the R2 instead of the R3, and I am very much happy with my choice. I am sure you will be too. There are a couple for sale here (some are NIB) that have nice options/upgrades on them.

 

Any idea if we should use the cloth it comes with and put it in the messenger bag? Or no cloth + messenger bag? It seems like theyre trying to say its the cloths fault but that sounds like a deflection to me.

@emm3 what sleeve do you use in the messenger bag? The plastic see-through part or the normal one further forward?

 

That's up to you. When I get a replacement system, if it is an r3, I will not use the cloth sleeve. As an alternative, I have purchased a bag with soft, fuzzy lining.

 

You can go to the 99cent store, buy a few microfiber cloths, and sew 'em together to form a sleeve/baggie. Put that into your case/sleeve/backpack/watever, and you should be fine. You'd only spend like...3bucks tops lolz.

 

True, but I have no issues spending $100 on a bag that looks great.

 

And a bag that looks great as well as has GREAT PADDING.

 

Aren't the chassis still aluminum with the slip resistant coating or did they go with plastic or some other metal?

 

That was too funny.

 

Man I worked so hard to haggle the **** out of dell to get over 900$ off my R3 price. If I have this recurring issue, I will definitely opt for the refund.. but then I am afraid I may not be able to work my magic with them next time around >=)

P.S. My EDD is 4/20... haha

 

The peeling coating is a huge disappointment. I was really excited about the R3 being released and I had already started saving up to buy one. In February, I learned the R3 chassis was not anodized aluminum. I had concerns about that and decided I would slow down and be an observer for a while. The anodized aluminum chassis on the R1/R2 is a major selling point and a highly desirable feature. I was very sad to find out that feature did not carry through to the R3.

Anyone having this issue should point Alienware to this thread and let them know about the bad publicity they are starting to receive on the build quality. Maybe if enough R3 owners complain and start making warranty claims for this premature failure they will come up with a revised chassis that is materially equivalent to the R2. I would be willing to pay more money for it, and it would mean the difference between me buying an R3 or searching for another alternative in a high performance laptop.

 

I think the chasis is magnesium while the lid feels like cheap plastic coated with rubber.

 

So we have exactly one, maybe two incidents of this with evidence? I have had my R3 for going on 3 weeks with zero of these signs of wear, and I imagine others are having the same experience as me or this site would be flooded with pictures/complaints.

This does not seem to warrant the mass hysteria it is producing. The OP likely has a valid claim to Dell (depending on how he handled his laptop). The rest of this, especially from folks who don't even own an R3, is pure speculation at its' finest.

 

This really is just the same issue as the M9750 had, some machines had the coating poorly applied and it came off more easily, once the case was replaced those same machines didnt experience the issue again.

 

Cheap and maintstream is where it's at currently.

However I'd much rather pay $1000 less or have the option of a more study build.

Hell in 6 months you'll be able to order a chassis / lid for the M17X R3 for around $600 if you want to renew the physical externals of the machine.

Saying the the Peeling concerns me, however lets hope its a "not so often" defect rather than a "feature"

 

Question: Is the rubber exterior a spray-on thing, or is it something you can actually peel off, kinda like skin or a sticker?

 

You can buy a similar product ina aersol can but it wont be the same. IF this is like the automotive product companies used to use for console trim it is applied wet and allowed to cure in heat for durability.

 

Thats what I was asking before, it would be great to have some sort of protective resin based spray that could be removed with a particular solvent that didn't touch the original finish underneeth.

That or one of those "second skin" like protectors like those you can get for the iphone to put over the lid, this option sounds pretty poor though.

 

Well I don't know if it would really be $1000 difference, but I am certainly getting more and more repelled with where Dell is going with both Alienware and XPS brands. I had enough of cheap consumer laptops. Plus, I find the new XPS and Latitude designs really horrible.

But yes, the peeling doesn't seem to be too common - for now - at least not as the m11x-hinge "feature". I guess only time will tell.

 

Yup I joined the Alienware camp because I'm sick and tired of cheap consumer laptops as well, but I'm still a gamer. That really narrows my choices and its disheartening to hear about all these problems before I've even received my machine (bought it based on reviews praising its superior build).

Anyhow, I'm thinking that there are probably lots of happy Alienware customers who don't post on the forums; it seems much more likely one would post if something goes wrong.

Maybe we should have a "My AW is perfect" thread going on so we can hear some positive stories from actual owners. I mean, logic dictates that if the product really is as terrible as the forums make it out to be, Alienware would be unprofitable.

 

Please stay 'on-topic'. This thread is for R3 owners to discuss the soft touch coating on the R3. Posts not directly related to the soft touch coating need to be made in the Owners Lounge thread, FAQ thread, etc.


Thanks.

 

I was worried about not being aluminum anymore. I havnt even got my r3 yet im kinda pissed that this is what im looking forward to... I spent way to much on this to be worried.... good thing i have accidental warranty, ill throw it out my window if this happens to me.

P.S.. I have a Iphone case that has this rubber coating. Ive had it for less than a week im pretty gentle with my phone its doing the same thing on the corners.

 

There are 3 reasons why this phenomenon will be more widespread in the days to come.

A) The angular dimensios of the laptop promotes increased pressure points of friction.

B) The rubberized coating is on a metallic allow surface, unlike in the Studio Laptops which was of quality plastics. The polymer is more stable on a plastic surface rather than on a metallic surface.

C) The quality of the finish is definitely downscaled. If you take the R3 apart you will notice there is a tremendous downgrade in quality that brings all the latest components together.

This shift started when the decided to drop phoenix bios which has many more years of excellence under their belt. The company that provides the bios now is a Taiwan company.

All of you will see wear and tear on the rubberized palmrest in 6 months. I think Dell thought a rubberized palmrest would protect the screen. I dont know. But it was a stupid move nonetheless.

 

how do you know what the quality of a disassembled r3 is like?
The overall quality is high - not as high as r2 (or so I'm told) - but I can say with confidence that it feels more solid vs. xps L501x, and that's (partially) aluminum.

What's wrong with insydeh20? The bios works perfectly fine. What's wrong with Taiwanese companies?

Dell thought a rubberized palmrest would be exactly what alienware owners/users wanted

source: vp of alienware

 

kunekaden: +1 Awesome use of quote and source ^

 

Guys, your laptop is going to get some kind of wear if you are putting it in / out of bags constantly, oils from your hands on the keyboard and palm rests will also hinder the finish. Time to start accepting the fact that it will wear, it won't stay new looking unless you keep it on your desk and use an external mouse and keyboard, and it won't be the best forever. The more wear on it, the better I say, because it means you are getting more use out of it than the guy that leaves it on his desk 24/7 and doesn't take advantage of it's portability.

 

Yah, but this sounds like the coating is wearing out much sooner than the coat on my phone, which took like 1 year before it starting wearing out. And it went in and out of my pocket all day long, and obviously had no sleeve.

 

+1. well written, insightful response. there are pros and cons to these machines, but the perceived standard, status, and value for the $ have to be equitable for the customers. it will be interesting to see how widespread the issue is and what aw's response is.

true...my xps 1530 still runs strong, but has its fair share of dings and scars from years of use. that said, i'd be pretty disappointed if the finish started wearing away within the first few weeks of use after paying a premium for such a machine. these are laptops which are made to be moved/toted/carried and one would hope the finish would support such usage.

 

So expect the keyboard to fall apart, hinge to break, and this peeling issue in 2 months of ownership. Do not complain? Makes sense for a netbook that cost you only $200.

I would accept 6 months of normal use causing this. Or sure, two months, but only if you were picking up your laptop and opening/closing it like a maniac with fingers full of doritos or salsa from your nacho chips, then yes, you are right, it SHOULD peel in 2 months or less because of your ignorance to hygiene.


That or you should have purchased a Panasonic Toughbook to meet the rigors of your everyday life and give up on computer games because the toughbook does not have the graphics prowess to play those.......seriously...wear and tear is reasonable under more time, not 2 months.

Like I said, maybe if in a hostile environment, then yes, 2 months....I remember when someone posted about "who would mind Alienware switching to plastic instead of metal for the entire casing of their laptop?" here on notebookreview and the responses were a resounding "no way". Yet, the person that posted it claimed everyone was crazy wanting aluminum/magnesium casings and that plastic is just fine......just to find out Alienware used plastic anyway for the next gen machines and look at what's happening.

.....hopefully the rumored M18x doesn't get this same plastic treatment. Sorry to hear the R3s are going through this. Keep voicing your concerns to Alienware though. That's the best thing to do..I think.

 

One thing is that the keyboard and the palmrest will get some wear, but the coating finish on a 1 month computer? No way. I have used this laptop for 2 years (in and out of backbacks because of school and work) and it have never had any visible damage to the casing at all. Shure the keyboard buttons have become slightly different in colour in certain places, but that is to be expected.

I guess we will see a lot more of this coating problem if it really is an issue and that OP is not unlucky. Alienware have barely sent out any R3s due to the port problem with Sandy Bridge so we need quantities to see if it truly is a problem

 

I'm assuming that the Soft Touch finish is a lot like the rubberized coating on the outside of the Speck case I have for my school macbook.


Most of it is still on the case...but it definitely has it's bare spots on it where the shiny plastic shines through now.

 

The peeling was expected since it's the same process they use on my latitude Z and I barely take it anywhere. It's sitting on my office desk yet it still is peeling.

Don't forget that PC though do get scratches and the finish smurs off even on the R2 which had an amazing aluminum finish. My R1 is now scratches in quite a few places and the plastic palm rest is pretty dull now from all the usage.

I think to build a PC to withstand time frame of years and decades would cost a lot of money if that's even possible.