What users want in the M18x R2

But did you pay the extra $200 for the North American phone support? I'm assuming you are just using the regular customer service, which could connect you to any outside customer service source. On the other hand, I would expect North American phone support to strictly be North American customer service only.

 

I extended my warrenty from the standard warranty to complete care for $160 a few months ago. Never paid for phone support that I know of. I've always just called 1-800-alienware and they hook me up with what i need.

 

I've always found that writing an email to the customer support is a much, much more reliable approach. At least in the EMEA region. The important part is to word the email so there is no question about what should happen.

Provide evidence of the failure (by photograph - don't use video), and make sure to use imgur (or similar) links, instead of email attachments.

Make sure you make it clear that you've run the diagnostics. Write what you believe is wrong, and write what you expect them to do.

And this is important: provide dates and times you're available for onsite service, if you need that, and make sure everything else (address, phone number etc) is provided in the first email.

In my own, and my friends experience, this almost always results in the response: "a technician will contact you within 1-2 business days"

 

Please add no DPC Latency and no 3D Prototype Overlay.

 

I agree, Tony. I have never experienced problems getting quality assistance as a US Customer by calling 1-800-ALIENWARE. The US and Costa Rica support teams are totally awesome.

I cannot say the same for India-based Dell Support. Even the "XPS Support" team from India was near worthless when it came to resolving issues. One of the things I want in an M18x R2 is for the same level of Alienware Support to be continued or improved upon and not see it outsourced to some third-world country in Europe or the Mediterranean. I want to talk to someone in North America or Central America, that speaks perfect English, is not difficult to understand, and lives in a time zone that matches one of the US time zones.

I agree and I would prefer that they delay production on the M18x R2 until they have thoroughly tested it and ruled out issues like these. Even if that means delaying production for 3 to 6 months, it's better than shipping out something with problems. The new CPU and GPU technology that is coming out is only marginally better than what we already have in a maxed out M18x, so there should be little urgency to rush something to market that ends up being mediocre.

 

I think I will add "no DPC latency" (probably too late)

But can you explain me what is the 3D Prototype Overlay ?


A news tell that Intel will delay the production of Ivy-Bridge to June or late at the same time of Windows 8 launch.

In french :
http://www.silicon.fr/retard-programme-pour-la-production-de-masse-de-processeurs-intel-ivy-bridge-71898.html

 

Here you go, It's one of the sticky threads:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...t-only-nvidia-confidential-error-message.html

 

Thank you Katalin_2003

I add this to the OP :
SOFTWARE & Issue to be resolved
5) No DPC latency
6) No 3D Prototype Overlay

 

NVM, keyboard ghosting was already mentioned in the OP.

 

I would like to see the M20X has a ring to it.

 

Look at how expensive the m18x already is. Imagine how expensive a 20" would cost.
Check out this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=646157

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Sent from my SGS2 Skyrocket using Tapatalk

 

I would like a m20x too and whatever the price !

But this is not the good thread to talk about

 

Ethernet, hdmi in and out, any heavier cable like that connect to the back instead of the side which I know would be tough as that would be a complete redesign.

 

^^ Our laptops release the heat out the back ( which is better than releasing it on the sides etc. IMO ), having ports/cables in that area might not be a good idea.

 

Ethernet isn't a very heavy cable....

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Sent from my SGS2 Skyrocket using Tapatalk

 

What I meant was easier ability to route cable, such as mouse or keyboard which are thinner. Ethernet and hdmi are less flexible and if you put a couple speakers on your desk next to the lap top, they get in the way, then add the hdmi if you want to connect to a tv, you pretty much have to clear the side of the laptop. MSI had the cables out the back, vented heat toward the left side/rear which worked well. Granted they don't have two video cards to deal with and three fans total versus they're one fan.

 

40 days...in the warehouse waiting for repair

 

Thats what you want to see in the R2 is a 40 day turn-around... Boo !

 

Is there actually any information as to an estimated release date for the M18x R2? Will it be coming with the ivy bridge processors? and if so is it better to wait for them if im planning on buying soon? also, do you guys know if the price will increase from regular?

 

The best service will attract the best customers.

 

Could anyone help me?
I send my computer back more than 42 days, it is still in the warehouse.

 

Announcement will be made around 26th of April with the first machines to be available and tested mid-end of May. And yes, Ivy + 7970M/675M

 

yay can't wait to see what these new machines can do

 

Yay me too!. Can't wait.

 

Any word on screen options in the R2 yet?

 

This is also what I would rally like to know. I REALLY want a 1920 X 1200 screen.. and I have been trying to wait till they drop the spec list to 100% pick out my next system..I have my fingers crossed for this.. PLEASE

 

16:10 isn't possible, sry. But I do hope they increase the overall resolution above 1920x1080p. That would align well with the upcoming GPU refresh and most demanding games should still be playable.

 

Thx you very much Aikimox for the info !

Very Hard to wait now

 

A 120hz screen would be nice.

 

Apple write it on the wall: more pixel density per square inch, higher resolution... and yes, 120hz would be a real step forward! ( Let's hope Dellienware decision makers are not deaf and blind...)

 

Matte screen as previously mentioned would be nice, something not so reflective.

 

Yeah!!! You're totally right!

( I just unapologetically forgot it in my previous post, shame on me! )

 

Thinking more and more about my M18X.. Here is my Short List of changes:

1) Change the Keyboard to remove the shortcut Keys on the left.
2) Drop the Number Keypad on the Keyboard and place the Enlarged Track-pad there.
3) Drop the Optical Drive.
4) Trim 1/2 Inch or more from the Thickness by using a thinner display and rearranging components.
5) Switch heat-sink material to Aluminum from Copper and re-configure it using the added space from dropping the Optical Drive.
6) Reduce the weight to 8-9lbs. (Thought the changes above)
7) Change grills on the front to be a little less tacky.
8) Use a Matte screen with 120hz.
9) Relocate the power plug to one side of the back of the unit.
10) Use black magic to reduce the size of the power brick to 4 cubic-inches.

 

I've yet to find it but a way to turn all the keyboard and effects lights off. When your downloading something, screen goes to saving (black), everything it lit up still which is not needed while downloading. I like the option to be discrete, turn everything off (keyboard lighting) while it downloads.

The option to turn the screen off (black) was an option on the MSI laptops, that was nice also.

 

copper conducts heat better by a factor of 2 almost...

 

Heck, why not go all out and lets have diamond heatsinks - might add a bit to the price though

 

Of that there is no doubt, but with a little innovation, surly they can design a lighter cooler that can knock a few pounds off. Most desktop cards are cooled with Aluminum coolers (and CPUs too). The heatpipes i can see as needing a better conductor, but for radiators, there has to be a lighter way.

 

I am really asking this question as why... is a few ounces like 3 at the most really going to make the difference between you buying and not buying it... I would rather have the weight and have good cooling than have crappy cooling... if you are only talking about changing the heat sink part or the rad part you aren't going to lose that much weight for the performance loss...

most of those things on the list is a wish list item that probably only will help that one person...

But things that aren't likely due to how the mb is set up you can't just move stuff around like a desktop... it would more like dev time to create a new mb...

oh and we could always get some of that carbon-carbon from the space shuttle... That works better than diamonds...

 

I agree, it would be a major revision to the motherboard, casing, etc. to change where the power cord, ethernet, cooling, etc is connected or located. Small things we might see, Ivy and new gpus, probably not a whole lot more.

 

Well, yes. I have an M18X and it can be a bit unwieldy at times. I bought it with the full knowledge of what it was and how big it was, but a Couple pounds off would be nice. Weight savings has to start somewhere. Using light weight materials matter.

At 12lbs, it is what it is. At 8-9lbs its a little more lap friendly (and you could lift it with one hand easier). Same with the power brick. I realize you can only get one so small, but getting it lighter again, makes it little nicer to handle.

There is nothing wrong with that, and would potentially make it a better seller. There is always room for improvement in any product. If it cant be done, it can't be done, but this is a wish-list, so, im listing my wishes.

 

I think this is why we have the option of an M17x R3......lighter, more portable and still great performance. You could say that we could save a bit in weight by dropping a gpu, losing this and that here and there.....at the end of the day, what you will end up with ...an yup, you guessed it....is an M17x R3.

Although the M18x is a laptop, its built to be a true desktop replacement. I think (and as you said) you have go into buying an M18x with eyes wide open, and be prepared to make a "portability trade off" a little bit in terms of weight/build/components.

But, it is a wishlist and as such, wishes can never be wrong!

 

The way I see it, if there's no anti-glare and/or RGBLED and/or 120hz and/or IPS (Ideally, all of the above), - there's no reason to upgrade... at all. I'm pretty sure we will be able to upgrade the GPU's to whatever is available down the road. CPU-wise, thanks to Intel we can keep our money till they start making progress, lol.

 

I personally hate matte screens so I hope dell continues to offer glossy. If they offer a matte option thats fine but definitely not as a primary choice.

 

Trust me the M18x stock screen looks way better without the glass cover, and it's anti-glare. But since matte and anti-glare aren't always the same thing, let me correct my previous post to ant-glare instead of matte.

 

I think what they should do is just replace the plastic with slightly coated gorilla glass. Edge to edge covers are great and look a lot better than a recessed display IMO.

 

here's one: more flexible hard drive options (individual choices for the first and second hard drive and the raid options)
because with a laptop this expansive people should not have to go buy a new hard drive and install it themselves to get the hard drive configuration they want

 

If they could make the panel from my ultrasharp U2410 fit, I would be deliriously happy!!....or something along those lines without the glossy panel over the top.

 

Agreed. The Dual GPU is the only reason i chose the M18X over everything else on the market. My fallback was actually a 15" Clevo with a single 580M. Shame there aren't many (or any?) options to get Dual GPUs on a 17" platform.. just not enough room.

Had to Have the performance..but all of the bells and whistles on the M18X are nice to have too.

That said.. you can't go wrong with making things a bit smaller with the same or better performance.

 

Thats very true.....maybe I should get my mobile phone out and make a few calls to Dell - see what they can do, eh?

 

Seriouls considering the EON17-X instead of this now. Can get everything that you can in the M18X, maybe even more, but better custom service and a better price from originpc :/