The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Where are the M17x's being assembled for US Market? Is it in Tennessee or China?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by FUALL, Aug 8, 2011.

  1. FUALL

    FUALL Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Where are the M17x's being assembled for US Market? Is it in Tennessee or China?
     
  2. Brabostaan

    Brabostaan Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    238
    Messages:
    1,452
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    All in China as far as I know.
     
  3. FUALL

    FUALL Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    so what is tennessee for?
     
  4. Brabostaan

    Brabostaan Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    238
    Messages:
    1,452
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I have no idea. :confused:
     
  5. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Local repair depot in the USA.

    Although I thought all shipping and repairs were done in Texas.
     
  6. Alienwhere

    Alienwhere Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    82
    Messages:
    296
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    The parts are all made in China/Taiwan/etc.

    Then they are shipped to Texas where they are assembled per specs and to order.

    Then they are sent to Tennessee for distribution (That's where FedEx's distribution center is)

    AW may send some out directly from Texas, maybe the NBD ones or something.
     
  7. ewitte12

    ewitte12 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    367
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Lol sent to Tennessee from Texas to ship to Texas :)

    EDIT: wait mine shipped from Georgia
     
  8. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    590
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    they're assembled in china sir
     
  9. esteve

    esteve Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Confirmed, they are assembled in the same place the parts are made...

    China!
     
  10. FUALL

    FUALL Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    is there anything made in the USA? Dell should move operations back home.
     
  11. Brabostaan

    Brabostaan Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    238
    Messages:
    1,452
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Then we would pay more for our systems.

    Let China do it for 30 bucks a week.
     
  12. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Throwing a wrench into EVERYONE'S theories:

    My unit was just picked up at Hawthorne, CA...

    Why was it shipped from California? This is the first I have heard of anything shipping from Dell, from California.
     
  13. ACHlLLES

    ACHlLLES Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    303
    Messages:
    2,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    With what kind of bottom line cost?

    All companies care about is the cost which is pretty much killing us at this point.
     
  14. Alienwhere

    Alienwhere Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    82
    Messages:
    296
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    The notebooks themselves see final assembly per buyer specs in Texas.

    The parts are 'assembled' where they are manufactured.


    Let me be clear. When AW gets these things, they have a 'barebone' chassis, which may or may not already have the motherboard in it. The 'assembly' they do is attaching the screen, installing the CPU/GPUs chosen, hard drives, memory, etc. Then they have the OS installed, are tested for operation, and are packed up and sent out.

    These things do not come from China ready to go. This is how they avoid import taxes, they are just parts until they are put together.

    Somehow it's more profitable for Dell to have theirs assembled in Malaysia and sent over, but Alienware sells a whole lot less than Dell. My guess is Dell sends the Alienware parts over on the flights with the Dell notebooks from Malaysia, and the import tax savings makes it worthwhile for them to assemble in Texas while keeping prices relatively sane.
     
  15. FUALL

    FUALL Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Texas? Mine is coming from Tennessee
     
  16. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    590
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No.
    The giant "Made in China" on the bottom of my laptop begs to differ.
    As do the multiple articles about the Dell manufacturing process.
     
  17. Zerophoenix

    Zerophoenix Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    My sister used to work at the Dell plant in Tennessee and I am pretty certain they never made any Alienware systems there. However, I also think that it has become more of a distribution center since then.
     
  18. Cia24

    Cia24 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    They are assembled in IL also
     
  19. Malignant

    Malignant Notebook Ninja

    Reputations:
    108
    Messages:
    1,069
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Are you guys sure they aren't assembled in space? They are after all alienware systems.
     
  20. maxtek

    maxtek Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    138
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    For those still new to US Alienwares, a BIG CHUNK of the parts are MADE IN CHINA and pre-assembled. They are then imported and completed in TN and shipped out around the country.
     
  21. vads24

    vads24 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    352
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I am a Malaysian. They stopped manufacturing Dell and Alienwares in Malaysia. They have shifted operations to China as of early last year. India has its own manufacturing plant as well. However top notch models like Alienware products and business models are made to order through Dell Malaysia. Dell usually build their plant in free economic zones which has its own customs check point. Its usually in close proximity to other component manufacturer. Eg. Bayan Lepas in Malaysia and Sipcot Industrial location in South India.

    Apart this the only places Dell Plants available in this part of the world is in China.

    I am not exactly sure what kind of operations remain in Malaysia, but I know their the nerve centre for their call centre in Asia in now in Malaysia. The quality of manufacture was much better when it was in Malaysia. However since shifting to China much of quality degradation has occured. This is evident in pretty much all segments of products manufactured in China.
     
  22. FUALL

    FUALL Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    I doubt Malaysia is the nerve centre for call centers in asia due to the english language barrier. As far as I know, the philippines and india are the main ones.
     
  23. Alienwhere

    Alienwhere Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    82
    Messages:
    296
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Okay well, I guess even the Malaysian market was too expensive for Dell compared to China.

    The call center for tech support in Asian countries could still be in Malaysia. I doubt it would be in India, since they don't speak many East Asian languages there.


    As for the "Made in China" thing, yes the stuff is MADE in China, Taiwan, etc. and must be label as such. But they are ASSEMBLED in Texas. Big difference between country of manufacture and where assembled. U.S. laws even allow the thing to have a big "ASSEMBLED IN USA" label on it if they wanted, even though the small "Made in China" print is on it.