*OFFICIAL* M18x Owner's Lounge Thread

Yes, Rawhide, just saying I'm not making any changes other than color maybe.

 

Im with you on the "Quality Control" issue, Amo...You are not the only one who has recieved a "sub-standard" system on more than one occasion.....I just got M18x "number two" yesterday.....trackpad buttons cosmetically damaged this time.

The top four images are of the "new arrival" and the bottom four are of my 1st M18x...(which was perfect in the trackpad department)

You can see clearly that the left mous button is marked and the bottom left corner of the palmrest near the trackpad is "lumpy" for want of a better word......

Does no-one check these things....I mean, they are simple visual checks that can be carried out to avoid this kinda crap....because of this, Im now looking at another fix/replacement....basically, I will be damned if Im gonna let Dell and their "hired technicians" come and strip this brand new system right down to fix it.....way to go Dell.....

From the 2nd and latest M18x:







From my 1st M18x (purely as a comparison)

 

What a drag. Do not settle for anything less than a replacement. Just a thought, while you are waiting for your new x3 replacement, see just what OC numbers you can get.

 

Hahaha, yeah...at least I can have a play about with BOTH of them for a while....

I had thought that I was being "over fussy" but the more I think about it, every time I open the lid to be greeted with "that", it would do my head in completely.......

 

Wow, that's awful. That should be going straight back to dell, no hesitation.

Makes you wonder. They apparently soak test and inspect these machines before they have the os installed and it's boxed up. No evidence of that from what I see.

Hell, in my case they even screwed up the boxing up bit.

 

Heck, no evidence of ANY testing from what I can see or tell....I mean, these are mutli-thousand dollar/pound/yen/whatever systems....you would think that someone would give them a "once over" before they get boxed up. Issues like mine could be cleared up right away instead of passing them over to me for me to have to deal with when the system lands.

All in all, Ive had 7 systems in the last 12 months from Dell....all been new....either been M17x R2 or M18x R1....talk about "getting it wrong".....someone in production management needs to be FIRED big time....

How did they screw yours up mate?...your only down the road from me in Crewe!

 

7 Systems, ouch. I think I'd be pulling my hair out and near the point of giving up. I nearly am getting mine all sorted and It's only 2 machines in.

For my screw up, they managed to ship an American m18x (US keyboard/power supply) with every possible spec difference being different to the one I ordered as a replacement for my half dead m1730.
Ironically, the m18x itself is completely dead. When it's switched on it makes 7 loud beeps, CPU error/damaged/missing.
The system has no ram in the underside A-B slots either. Great job there lads.

Didn't originally notice your location. Damn small world we all live in.

 

Wow.Thats BAD!

And yeah, I am almost bald through all of this crap.....really dont know if I will go for another or just get my money back and tell Dell where to shove it.....

 

From what I'm hearing it sounds like Dell deliberately screws up replacement systems just to irk you.

If I had to go through what you guys have gone through I would be over the edge, I already have enough stress to deal with.

 

Well, my 2nd M18x was NOT a replacement....I ordered again without having my refund fully processed for their 1st "abortion" of a system.....

So, the fact that they completely "botch" new orders as well as replacements is good testament to how good Dell are.....

 

Did you visit the "View Poll Results: Are you pleased with your M18x?" on http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/580274-m18x-owners-you-pleased-your-purchase-15.html ?

It's important since there are some here that do not belive that many have problems with their new machines... Hope that there is no further damage under the palm rest... You deserve a totally quality checked machine for your money. Each penny of it.

 

I have seen it and read it but not voted. I might just cast a vote right now.......

 

Thanks! No voting = no democracy...

 

Done.

10char

 

I did and voted yes, even if it was only conceptual...

Mine had problems, but I have faith and will reorder soon.

 

I have faith too!

That's the reason I want to believe that Dell will start listening to the "alleged minority" of customers that vote their 'no' because they receive "issues" along with their machines...

 

What I HAVE noticed, since receiving R2's and M18's is the level of packaging has gone down the plug hole.....

All of the R2's I had came well packed....the lid/screen of each was protected with a sheet of clear plastic taped onto the screen with 2 bits of masking tape. This was then covered by a clear "pouch" that slipped over the whole lid assembly to protect the whole shebang.

Now, both the M18's ive had were atrociously packed. Absolutely no screen protection whatsoever.

When I opend the last one, it was absolutely covered in debris and dust...presumably from manufacturing and the interior cardboard packing that it shipped in.

NOT how I would have expected to receive a top flight £4k laptop.....

So, I kinda go by the theory that if due care and attention isnt paid simplywhilst "packing" it, what else goes by the wayside during building it?

I know that its possible for Dell to build a good or even great system, its just I would like to see more consistency....especially after several abysmal efforts....

 

I just wonder if they are rushing out a new design which is in high demand. Hopefully when I reorder, manufacturing will will have stabilized.

 

That also shows that there is no Total Quality Control, etc. You buy a simple teapot and it's better packaged... A £4k or $5k (or 0,02 penny / cent...) deserves a much better and responsible treatment...

 

I do hope so too!

 

That poll proves nothing. And has nothing to do with democracy.

 

I disagree. The thread and the poll DO mean something. It means that there are users that are not happy with their systems. Nothing to do with democracy, its just a snapshot of how people feel "generally" about their purchases.

If the poll results are a good example of a cross section of M18x customers, then it leaves alot to be desired in the overall "satisfaction" category. Major organisations should be looking at a much higher rate of success and IF the poll is anywhere near accurate, there is room for improvement..... think that is all the OP meant by the thread when started.

 

If the m18x had been out for 6 months or a year bat the time of the poll, sure. But over 30% said they were undecided, and the majority saidbthey were pleased. Plus, it only had like 63 respondents. Not a large cross-section...

 

Agreed. Its not a massive indicator due to the number of "abstainee's" and low number of pollers BUT if you look at the percentage that DID vote either yes or no.....crikey....there is less than 50% of HOWEVER many people voted that are happy with their purchases.

If you call less than 50% a majority, then theres something not right with that......I would have said that the "yes" results should be up in the 80% region to be a good indicator of satisfaction....

 

You've never seen an election in the US then ;-)

In all seriousness, there were 3 options in that poll: yes, no, and dont know yet. A majority of those who responded said yes, then the undecideds, then the no responses. Plus, the systems been out for what? A month? I would expect a few issues with the early adopters. It sucks, but that's how most tech is.

That said, I read up on your situation and that royally blows. Seriously, Dell should be doing something extra nice for you...

 

add me to the list off messed up M18x's. I have barely put on 3 hours total of actual use and today I got 3 BSOD's. The only thing I have done is update directX, install Crysis Warhead, installed Dirt 3, install a few benchmarks, tested installs & did a few updates. Event Viewer isn't showing an specific error just expectedly shutdown and memory dumps......lame. AW tech couldn't resolve.

 

Hahaha - cant say I have seen that many US Elections apart from Arnie running for Guvernator

And, well....Dell wont do squat for me...this I know already having had a few "experiences" with this kinda thing already. Dell do stuff like that for you IF you are in the US but for us in the UK, no chance.....they already know that ive had more systems than you can count on one hand yet Ive still to have someone turn around and say "hey man, thats not right....here, have XXX for your troubles......."

To be honest, I just want a good system at this point. I'd be happy with one that was spot on just like I ordered! - thats how it should be, right?

 

The poll isn't need to show that some people aren't happy with their systems.

The poll is in no way a good cross section of anything but the users on this forum (and this is the important part) that decided to vote. It's natural to log on and complain or look for answers about something that isn't working. But if your system is working fine there is zero reason to do do. Add those two factors together and the cross section is useless. To get any real feel one needs much more data than a simple forum poll. Forum polls are fun but they can never be used as an argument for or against anything, they are inherently useless. NBR is no where close to representative of any part of the whole that purchased the M18x.

 

I really dont know why your so "uptight" about a simple poll/thread thats asking people if they are happy or not.....

If you dont like polls, dont vote. If you dont like hearing people say they are not happy, dont read those kind of threads.

Just because you may not have an issue, thats no reason to knock what other people who ARENT happy are saying or doing to try and get their problems heard.

This goes for EVERYTHING in life and not just polls/forums/threads here on NBR.....if everyone kept quiet about things that they arent/werent pleased with, no one would ever know they werent happy now, would they?

 

I think all that poll was meant to do is show how many NBR members are happy with their purchase.

I think it does a good job of that.

Anyone could be here for a number of reasons. Troubleshooting, Anticipating, Upgrading etc....being here doesn't necessarily mean we have a problem.

Lets all move on from this and agree to disagree.

Now back to my M18x's BSOD's.................

 

wait wait...I want to talk about polls some more!!

I think Sky has a fair point, although some folks are viewing the poll as representative of the total user experience with the m18x. Okay, now moving on...

When did the BSODs start? Can you restore to factory settings and see if they persist?

 

My opinion and not directed at anyone specific: if after going through more than 2 AW replacements you are still not satisfied with AW, then it may be time to return it for a refund and move on.

 

They started after 3 hours of total usuage. I even tried doing a system restore. I had AW check everything. New unit is now in production. Maybe they can let me keep my 6970's some how for my R2.

 

Its not about being satisfied, more so not being disappointed. Cant tell you how disappointed I was to open my lid to see cosmetic damage.....I would be satisfied if any of my systems were correct but they havent been...thats what the disappointing factor is....especially when I see so many people happy with their systems and they work great. Just wish I could get my hands on one like that

Afterall, im sure you would agree that people/buyers dont put themselves through returns/replacements just for fun? - we all pay good money at the end of the day......we all deserve the same working system without issue or damage, dont we?

 

How come unboxing videos never have messed up units?
You should have done an unboxing on youtube showing your damaged M18x...lol.

I'm going to do one when my replacement arrives. They better send me a good unit this time.

 

Actually, I think Smooth_J (who did this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/583324-ram-upgrade-m18x-pics.html) had done an unboxing vid and his lid was chipped. Goes without saying that I think he sorted a replacement for it.

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka88LDEfrCM

Regards to my own issues, I only want what everyone else wants....a 100% working system with zero defects. If Dell could get it right for me, Id be happy as a sand boy in a sand pit eating sand worms......I am even contemplating making a "Frankenlaptop" outta the two M18x's I have sat here as basically, I have had enough of returns and new orders etc etc.......but really......I should NOT even be having to think like that when dropping several grand on these babies, d'ya know what I mean? - I shouldnt have to rob parts from one to make the other good.....thats Dell's job to get it right in the first instance! - not me and my antistatic mat and screwdriver after purchase lolololol

The only reason I have gone through so many is because I am a patient guy, ive done patient for 12 months now.....id probably still do patient if things work out as they should cos at the ned of the day, I do love Alienware stuff...there really is no comparison....if and when they work!

 

I'm not uptight about the poll.

I'm simply correcting you about it being something that is anything more than what it is. You talked about it being a tool for companies to measure success and the like which is ridiculous. Not once did I say that folks with problems shouldn't voice them. Because they absolutely should. Dunno how you got that from my post about a poll being useless.

 

Dont think you like polls much.....

And I dont need correcting about anything, thank you , sir. Its a bit of, well "fun" is the wrong word but on a forum, polls can be seen as a guide as to how happy people are.....if companies want to pay heed to them, great. I suggest they should do if they care about their client base. Afterall, without us customers, they would all be out of jobs so they SHOULD care! - Dell officials DO visit these forums from time to time......it has been known.......

 

I also said they were fun in the same quote.

Sure ya do! Proof is in the posts. You're welcome.

 

Hehehe - lets just get along - heck, I didnt see an option for "Do you think Michael Dell should be strung up by the testicles" otherwise, I would have chosen that one LOL

Lets get back to gunner's bsod's......c'mon gunner....give us some info!

 

The problem is that Dell simply doesn't care. You would think that buying a $2,000+ system would entitle you to a 100% guaranteed, satisfactory computer.
Expensive laptops are such a minority that they can get away with it. If my computer came to me damaged, I would be irate. If my replacement was also not up to my standards then I would simply go with a different company. The problem is that there aren't any other companies other than Clevo that offer a power laptop. Certainly the new Sandy Bridge E x7200 refresh will destroy our current m18x's in November, but right now this is the only Dual GPU Sandy Bridge Mobile workstation out there. Dell is a business and will continue to make most of their money off people that buy their lower standard laptops for internet and facebook games. I happened to have received a beautiful machine that is 100% of my standards. I feel bad for those who received faulty computers but there isn't much you can do about it other than buying Clevo. And even Sager deploys lemons to their customers as well.

 

I watched the unboxing video. I could barely see his chip. Your pics look much worse!! It's a good thing these laptops are marketed towards people who can perform a " Frankin Repair". I can't remember how many times I had to do that. If I didn't have the know how I'd have moved on ages ago.

Uh oh......here we go again...................................

I agree with this. I have been told this by Alienware personel.

That bad boy is boxed up and ready for the replacement w/return shipping label. Depending on if the replacement has defects I will have to unpack it and perform a " Frankin Repair" lol.

Well said!!

 

I'm starting to be affraid of a " black hand" torpedoing the manufacturing of Dellienware machines... So many faults in such high end "state-of-the-art or "flagship" machine make me suspicious...

Hope I'm totally wrong.

( someone knows where this machines are manufacured?)

 

Parts are all manufactured in China if I'm not mistaken. I believe they're assembled in the same country the order is placed in though. When it ships it says the origin, and I know with the backpack and mouse they were both shipped from within my country to me

 

I think my first one was assembled in China.

 

They all are!

 

So, then, why so many "faulties" on this machines? it's not 'rare' or 'pecular' that a state-of-the art, flagship machine has so many issues? Let's do not forget that in this days Dell's machine are compiting with Chinas own brands... What a coincidence that so many issues are making so many trubbles to the costumers... Yes, maybe I'm too 'suspicious' and maybe there is no ground for this path of thoughts but... let's state it plainly: the apparently lack of a real (evidenciable, reliable) quality control and a real (evidenciable, reliable quality assurance of each product in its box before it's get to the hands of the costumers (and their need to go for a technical service or whatoever meassures to get the machine they order... sustain a certain lack of confidence in product and in a brand...

Again, the "polls" are not by no mean a substantial research, but they supply what in science is called a "sample". In science we do several (2,3,4...) such 'samples', among a diversity of "populations", before we decide to invest and start a fully adequate and compliable research (or investigation). If we found that in several such limited 'samples' (as we can see in different web sites), there is a consistency of testimonies in a defined tendency (like 10, 12, 15, 20, etc. % of failures in a given product comparing to 90, 88, 85, 80, etc. % of satisfied costumers) we do start to research the causes of such a tendencies and investigate them to avoid the unwanted consequent lost of net revenue from that (10, 12, 15, 20, etc. %) of a product.

I really hope that Dell, a company from which I (and some of the institutions where I have a word in their decisions making), have been a customer for so many years, will weak up and start asking the relevant questions regarding the quality of the production processes (designing, assembly, boxing, etc.) of their machines... Any one of them, but specially those so called state-of-the-art flagships...

Yes, there is the option of a good warranty, maybe the best in this worldwide market (and I can testify of it, even it requires lot of hours of phone calls to technitian that sometimes do not even know the machines and so other annoyances), but its have its heavy costs, for the costumers, for the enterprise and for the market, besides the 'psychological' sub-effects (among others).

I do believe in Dell as a brand but hope for more and better listening to the customers and what is happening with the product they receive for their money.

 

Just stop. Internet message board polls aren't a good sample size or cross section for any type of real research. Please stop treating them like they are and I'll stop refuting your ridiculous claims. Real data is collected in a much more reliable way.

 

You (again?) Brutus...?
Polls are samples not cross section for any type of research... just "samples"... Your personal 'sensitivity' against the opinion of other is the real annoying... Data is collected in many ways... even a mother asking their children what kind of soda they preffer is getting sample data... not, by any means, "cross sention research".

If you have personal problems with me or my posts or my opinion please PM me or write to the moderators. I don't have to stop giving my opinion beacause of your opinion. Yours, is legitimate as mine. As Voltaire says: I may have a different opinion of yours but I will defend your right to stand by your opinion. (the right quote is: “ I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

As another participant has already answer you: Let's agree that we (can) disagree... You in your rights, me in mines.

 

Sigh. People cannot even offer their opnion about polls/posts without getting "corrected" by all knowing posters.