Wireless HD and WiDi and Optimus in R3"d"

After spending a bit of time talking with some Alienware Reps, I got some information that I wouldnt mind sharing and possibly getting confirmed from the fine people on this forum.

I asked about the widi on the 3d, it was confirmed by several reps that widi works just fine and with the push 2 tv adapter will allow the user to broadcast video, web, pictures etc. They said over and over that there is no problem with the widi aspect of the 3d machine versus the non 3d. This contradicts their online manual.

I was also told that it wont stream 3d to your tv wirelessly, only through the hdmi 1.4 output via a cable, even with a compatiable 3d tv.

I asked about the wireless hd streaming and was told the following;
Rep 1 from India -They are currently still trying to get it to work.

Rep 2 from India -They havent added it yet, but it will be an option.

Rep 3 from US - WiDi works, but not wireless hd streaming atm but they couldnt tell me if and when it would be available.

Asked about optimus tech, and was told, optimus works on the 3d R3, and you can switch between the nvidia card and the IGP.

My biggest issue came down to the differences between the machines being you either get a 3d machine and lose optimus and widi and wireless hd streaming or you get non 3d and get optimus or the equivalent with ATI chip and get widi and wireless streaming down the road.

However after speaking to a few reps the only thing they are unsure of is the wireless hd streaming.

Does anyone know anymore info on the wireless hd streaming. Only thing I have seen so far is the vizio brick which is now rumored to be about 100 to 200 bucks. I could not find any information about if the current machines will do wireless hd streaming with just the external add on for various tvs or if there will need to be a hardware or software upgrade.

Does anyone who has a 3d r3 have the widi software on their machine like it says it should in the manual? Has anyone tried it yet?

 

The 3D machine will not work with Optimus or the Intel wireless display option, the reason being is it can't use the Intel IGP because of the 120hz screen. Now the actual SiBeam WiDi that they touted at CES and quite a few other places may be a different story but the card that you have to have to use that function/feature hasn't been released in it yet so no one knows. At this point you have to choose the 3D+120hz, or Optimus+Intel WiDi(also requires Intel wifi card) you can't have both

 

So if WiDi is a make it or break it for me, I should send back the R3 3d and get one without a 3d screen? I love NVidia, but I couldnt configure a nvidia chip without the 3d screen as well. Is that something that needs to be done only over the phone.

And it also contradicts what the sales people told me, which makes me feel really uncomfortable handing money to people who are either uninformed or are lying to get a sale.

I feel lied to, and I dont like that feeling. I was extremely excited about the R3 and the big feature that I wanted was to be able to put what is on my screen, be it a video, photos, or web pages up on the big screen for my family, was sold to me when the machine cant do it.

I have worked sales and I never understood the lying or glossing over the truth that some sales people do in order to get that commision. Eventually the customer is going to know and you just lose the faith of the people who are dealing with you. I would like it if the Alienware sale people I talk to be better informed about their product then myself. Thats not much to ask is it?

 

This is what another chat session yeilded just now;

Agent "No, the 2780qm still comes with the Integrated graphics chip, that means it can still support Optimus and you can still run "Widi 2.0""

Me "yes but to run the 120hz screen, you need the nvidia card and the intergrated graphics card on the board cannot run the 120hz, so it is disabled in the 3d package?

"yes, that's correct. only the dedicated video card will be used if you are running 3D mode on the laptop."

"so with the 3d package I would be able to switch to the intergrated video card still, and the screen then switches to a 60hz screen? or is unable to support that kind of switching?"

"if you would be running 3D it would only run on the dedicated video card, other than that, you can run it either on the dedicated or integrated video card"

and with regards to widi, it would only run on the integrated chip"
"so both 3d nvida kit and the Radeon card have the ability to switch to the intergrated chip just fine and both are capable of using widi 2.0 with the right wifi card and the right reciever?"

"so I am not losing widi and graphic chip switching by choosing one or the other"

"yes. But please be reminded that the Nvidia 3d Kit will not be compatible with a radeon card if you would like to run 3d"

"Oh yes, I understand that. I was just reading up the choices between the two versions and I am trying to decide between them, and people were telling me if I got the 3d package, you have to give up optimus, your intergrated graphic chip, and widi, but tha" t you get a 120hz screen.

"I understand that and it causes a bit of confusion on that part. But what it exactly means is that you would not be able to take advantage of the Optimus feature only if you are running at 3D mode."

And Dane you have no way to switch your intergrated from the discrete? And no WiDi option on your machine? Are they just ill informed or is this something we are missing? Just dont understand why so many of their reps say optimus and widi will work fine as long as you have the right i7 chip, the push 2 tv box, and an intel compatible wifi card.

 

I don't know if the sibeam wireless hd is installed from factory now or not(and just not enabled), but they are touting it as a feature right now on the alienware page, so if they announce it later as being built in (ie not an addon) I better get a free upgrade.

 

Someone that has an R3 and has the time, I would be interested in seeing if it is a chip on the motherboard already. They are claiming it built in so it's possible.

 

The Envy 17 3d sandy bridge version had been verified to support switchable graphics. I think Dell and Nvidia need to implement a solution and stop pointing fingers at each other.