$499 Cyber Monday Refurb Quick Review

"Revised"?

 

They fed me the same bull.. about sending me a new unit twice. It was just lies. First they send me a refurb that was silver instead of black, with scratches on it, and tha second time they emailed after 2 days of talking to them on the phone, and was told that my only option was to get another silver refurb as they are out of black ones. Of course i called them back and after a few transfered calls I got them to give me a refund.

 

Yep, he told me the LCD hinge was fixed with new plastics. He assured me the unit I'm receiving will be brand new. Guess we'll find out soon enough, right?

 

Grrr. Ok, I am calling again today. This is becoming a comedy of errors

I called their return/exchanges number, was on hold for ten minutes, then the person tells me that they can't help me because it's Dell Canada. She tells the number to call, which was the exact number I just called. She says it was probably just a routing error. She transfers me. I'm on hold for another ten minutes, then get disconnected.

I'm back on the line and on hold. I'm thinking its time to just return the damn thing because I can't go through this again if the next unit is crap. We will see what they say.

 

Get the guys name and his supervisor's name if you can. Would love for there to be a fixed LCD assembly out there, but every time a Dell representative has made this claim to a broken hinge owner it's been untrue. If this ends up not being true then you need to call his supervisor and have him explain why he feels it's acceptable for his team members to lie to customers.

 

Finally got ahold of someone that could help. They said that they are sending me a brand new one. And return my existing one after the new one arrives. Either they do this for everyone, or I sounded ticked off enough.

 

Nice! I am hopefully ordering mine tomorrow. Just need work to approve the order and Im set for an actual work computer.

 

Don't ask. I was in a long search for a somewhat gaming capable netbook, and the Envy 14 was such a rock bottom deal I could pass up and really was to replace my Sager because it has some issues with USB and some flaky operation time and again (from a spill). Funny thing is that after buying an Acer 1410 netbook, M11x, Toshiba T115D-S1125, Hannspree Hannsbook (I love this one), I probably lost about $200-$250 from buying (all at significant sales / discounts though) and reselling. The funny thing is that with the Envy 14, I got it with the Bing Cashback program. Well an issue I had lingered on so long and a part was on constant backorder so they kept extending my return period. I got my Bing casback (~ $500!!!) and then eventually returned the Envy 14 for a full refund. So in the end I made out decently, lol.

But here I am still in search for a decent gaming capable netbook. The Hannspree I have is a great little machine, actually. I can play Starcraft 2 at all low at about 25fps with it overclocked from 1.3GHz to 1.7GHz (SU4100 and Intel GMA 4500MHD). I may still return the M11x if it doesn't meet my needs after I use it for a bit. My biggest concern is the screen brightness. This one isn't that bright, but I'll have to use it outside to really tell, but now that it's freezing out don't know that I care to give it a try.

 

why don't u get a xps 14? I am thinking of returning mine and get one of those with I7 and the much better video card.

 

Not to thread crap, but the configurator for the AAFES Military website for Dell/Alienware wasn't working a few moments ago. I maxed out an M11X i7 version including 256GBSSD for only $759. Too bad it wouldn't process the order.

 

Because I want small. The M11x is almost too big. My 12" netbook is almost a little too big, but still just about right. As sad as it sounds I still like my netbook better than this M11x.

 

Wow, I got an open box M11x from Micro Center, and it's apparently way better than Dell's own refurbished laptops, being extremely close to new, except for the fact that it isn't! Of course, used laptops are always a gamble, it all depends on the previous owner, but at least you got a full warranty with that!

 

With refurbished they're supposed to test, inspect, and repair to make it like new. It's clear nothing was done with this laptop. With open box products, if you can see them first hand like at Micro Center, you can get some great bargains. Most of the time they're bought and returned with little to no use.

 

before I got mine I went to Microcenter to dee if they had any, and they did. 2 refurbs m11x r1 at about 900 a piece. The warranty over there was a lot shorter as well. A couple weeks later I ordered mine at dell outlet for 860. Mine is I7, 4ram, 320 hdd at 7200, bluetooth. Plus 1 year warranty. Too bad the screen hinge went bad a few weeks later.

 

Well, if they truly replace my $499 refurb with a completely new unit I'll be happy. I really didnt expect that, just a replacement. Maybe they're running low or ran out of refurbs, I dunno. They said it will take however long it normally takes to order new, and when I configured one on their website it says shipping by 12/15. So hopefully have it before xmas!

 

Maybe you can resell it and make a small profit. It'll help close the gap between the M11x price and the Acer you were looking at.

I got another M11x today, and the hinge is messed up, one screw on the bottom is stripped, and all in all I'm happy. It just wasn't the same without this problematic little thing around. I'll ignore all the issues until a third revision is released, since I'd rather have a damaged machine all the time instead of constant exchanges. It still amuses me that this happened even after their experience with the Area 51 m15x hinges.

 

According to what the customer service supervisor told me (I have my doubts on the extent of his knowledge, although he definitely was more helpful than the first lady i talked to), only 2% of Alienware m11x owners ever need to contact customer support. In addition, he said all refurbished laptops undergo a 200 point inspection. I started laughing when he said that.

Oh well. I'll give y'all an update in ~2 weeks or so, when I'm supposed to receive my new laptop. If it's a brand new unit, then kudos to Dell and I'll stop ing about the ty customer service.

 

Stripped screw at the bottom too? Wow. What made me ask for replacement though was if they screwed up those things I found, what else is screwed up that I didn't see or haven't seen yet?

I considered that, if it is new. Same config as new costs $699 right now with their discount. I guess I could sell it to net $599, because much more than that, most people would want to order new from Dell for the slight price increase ($100). Then again there are some stupid people on eBay.

Yeah, I'll give an update in about two weeks as well. Hoping it's brand new. If only 2% do contact them then maybe why they're so willing to do the exchange. However if so many go out like this I'm surprised the percentage isn't a lot higher.

 

I guess I wasn't completely clear about some things. This was a trade I did (my X200s for an M11xR1) and I already knew all the issues the M11x had. All the present issues are minor wear and tear breaks wherever the M11x is weak.

My friend had had enough of the M11x issues, and I wasn't using my X200s much anyway, so I traded knowing that eventually they'll be a new revision that fixes these issues. I always have my M15x around for something reliable (his other laptop is a MacBook Pro 15 with an 8600M GT, so he could really use something more reliable).

 

Well I hope you guys will have better luck than me. Apparently mine has to be sent back to Dell to do full repair. The new latch cover and bottom panel didn't do the trick. The laptop is still not screwed and closed properly and apparently this requires complete dis-assembly. The main problem being the screw at the bottom that wont go in, leaving the bottom panel hanging. Just a note to anyone trying to screw around with it... :-/ You can really mess it up if the screw threads give away.

The support was actually OK this time, the guy on the phone was OK. He also tried to get me extend the warranty. I told him this laptop is going away as soon as its fixed. Then he laughed.

 

Nice.

What are you planning on getting next?

 

Whoa. My new M11x came today. Well, it isn't "new", its another certified refurbished, same packaging and everything but this machine looks new. Everything about it is brand spanking new. It looks great so far and runs great.

First thing I noticed was the vibration was more than the other one, and well, they gave me a 500GB hard drive instead of the 250GB, but obviously I'm not going to complain. I'm planning on an SSD anyhow eventually. It also doesn't have the "Alienware M11x" tag on the bottom but I'll just appropriate that from the other one.

Very nice Dell. This is somewhat what I was expecting the first time around.

However it didn't come with any instructions to return the old one. Guess I'll have to get on the horn with Dell again and see what to do.

I sure hope Dell doesn't try to sell this returned one again, unless it's "scratch and bang and thrown around" version for $200.

 

Glad to hear that this was resolved to your satisfaction. Hopefully now you can enjoy your m11x as much as I enjoy mine

 

Or just hold on to it for a while and see if they ask for it back

 

I replaced it with Thinkpad X200. I couldn't get anything else with discrete GPU.... m11x simply obliterates anything else in it's category, so I'd rather live without it than with Acer or alike. No offense to Acer and it's owners of course, but I'm not going to lower my standards that low.

Btw, mine is now on the way to Dell/AW service center. The tech support rep suggested sending it in, since the on-site tech repair didn't seem to be going anywhere. The on-site tech also asked me whether I feel comfortable with him taking the entire laptop apart and then he laughed manically like the evil character from a cartoon. I know he was making a joke, but he was so good at the evil laugh, I found it creepy... I laughed of course.

So, in the light of these events, I agreed with sending it to repair and the box for mailing arrived right the next day with FedEx overnight. I immediately sent it back today. So it seems we're going somewhere.

You should call them and ask for them to send a return box or something. I remember hearing stories here that someone got charged for the laptop that wasn't returned. That would be unfortunate, because it would involve N more phone calls (where N>>1) probably with their financial services department. Which, err.... is a punishment on it's own.

 

Good, hope you get yours fixed satisfactorily.

And I do plan on calling. Nothing in life is ever free. At least never for me. Although I might preface the call by telling them I'll give them $100 for the original one 'cause that's all it's really worth. lol. Then I could give it to my sister for xmas.

 

Don't hold onto it! They'll charge you for the new one they sent.

Speaking of free things; I got a Dell Inspiron 2500 for free. It runs Xubuntu and Firefox nicely, and has already proven itself useful. I sort of lost my M15x and M11x at the same time , so at least I have this until I can look for the other two tomorrow.

I forgot to mention the XPS M1730. That one is in a box either in a friends car or at his house. It needs to go off to Dell for repairs.

 

How do you lose TWO computers?

 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

I'm sending mine back to the Mothership after I get back home, which will be less than a month now.

 

Glad you got yours! I am hoping mine will ship soon.

 

How come? +10char

 

I had each one of them in a separate bag, and I tend to keep my bags together. Admittedly, that was pretty bad. I do have both of them back now though.

The M11x has been good. I had a small LAN party with a friend. Once I get the XPS M1730 back I'll be able to have three decent computers available for LAN parties!

Another funny unrelated thing was that apparently after getting to a FedEx location too late, finding that it was closed, and leaving the box (with the broken XPS M1730) in a friends car, it still made it to Dell at some point. I found out that it had in fact been shipped when I got a call from Dell asking if they could reinstall the operating system, which was startling since I didn't know that it was shipped (never mind already being worked on halfway across the country). No complaints however.

 

Ok. Finally got back home from school. Opened the supposedly new computer. It's a refurb, like the others on here. It's an r2. Speaker issue seems more or less fixed... wireless card has the same issue. Poor reception and odd dips in performance where it gets worse. Is this normal with the Dell half-mini card or did I just luck out with two bad antennas?

Screen hinge I think is fixed... hard to tell except once I start lugging it around in a backpack. But the bezels are put in a lot better and etc. One of the screws on the back was basically on the verge of coming out... looks like they rushed when putting it all back together.

O, screen is also seems brighter, although I don't know how to tell which model it is.

My issue now is that I'm not sure I like the r2. The "soft touch" stuff doesn't feel as good as the r1 plastic in my opinion. But more importantly, it lacks a VGA port (I still use old school, non hdmi/DVI ports.) and it has optimus which has all sorts of small bugs and stuff, and also turns on the GPU at times when it's really not necessary resulting in lower battery life. It was nice on the 1215n, because a lot of times the GPU really did need to be turn out to help out the Atom processor... but with the i5, I don't really need it to turn out when streaming youtube videos or etc..

I think I could probably call Dell... have them send another. Maybe I can make a big deal and alot about how the supervisor said it would be a brand new unit built to the same specs. Might be a "downgrade" but I feel like VGA is a rather useful/important plug, and I'd really like to be able to select myself when the GPU turns on (so far I haven't ever had to turn it on..). So should I keep the r2, try to get a brand new, or try my luck at another random refurbish m11x?

So for those who say tl;dr here are some cliff notes.
-Bought an r1 on cybermonday
-It was crap, good job Dell quality control.
-Broken right speaker, screen hinge, wifi card. Bezels aren't flush.
-Dell says they'll send me a brand new r1, built to the same specs.
-Receive a refurbish r2 instead. 250gb HD, 4gb Ram like r1, but w/i5 520um, slightly brighter screen, bluetooth, optimus.
-don't like optimus/r2 because it lacks vga port, and battery life is lower.
-what to do.

 

-what to do.

download throttlestop and stop complaining you got a $500 R2 which most pay upwards to $900+ for that setup! Optimus will grow on you especially when you load bleeding edge drivers it really is an awesome feature to switch on and off the GPU automatically. The issues with optimus have all been eradicated with the new 265 drivers that got rid of the punkbuster issues. All you need to do is whitelist (check the sticky on this thread) programs that you dont want using the GPU like Google Chrome or Firefox and it wont use while doing flash or w/e program you set. The R2 is a little more power hungry but its well worth the performance in most games (any blizzard game, any RTS, any big map FPS like BFBC2, Black Ops etc, any source game like L4D2 will have a decent performance boost over the R1 with throttlestop enabled). Also VGA is sooo yesterday . I have the same setup as you do and look what this puppy can accomplish.

The highest R1 score i think it a little over 7.1k.

Edit: about the wifi i was having issues myself updating the drivers fixed all my problems.

 

Yeah I was leaning towards just keeping it.. instead of dealing with dell customer service again and etc. Just opened them both up, looks like the r2 has pc-10600 ram and the r1 only has pc-8500.

Guess I'll just buy a HDMI > Vga adapter or something.

If anyone wants to know anything regarding comparison between the r1 and r2, let me know.

Also, any way to check the exact system specs on dell's website? Like when I bought mine, I could see exactly what my system had and Dell's internal code for the item.

 

Whoa, you ordered an R1 and got an R2? That's a total bargain! I wouldn't complain at all, unless it doesn't work or is falling apart. I'll trade you my R1 if you really want one. I have an SU7300, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD. If you're really concerned, then just sell it on eBay for $750, and buy a brand new R1.

By the way, you will want a Displayport to VGA adapter, it's a simple conversion, HDMI to VGA will require additional hardware. The memory doesn't matter much, it's just what the machine requires. The SU7300 is 400MHz FSB, i5 ulv is 533MHz FSB.

I ordered an R1 and got a piece of crap R1, and they sent me a replacement good as new R1 which I'm totally happy with especially for $499.

That's the other thing. On my order initially it said samsung screen, but it was actually auo. The replacement has a Samsung screen which is LED and spectacular. I'm very happy with it. To check what screen you have, go to device manager, expand monitor and right click "Generic PnP monitor", select properties, choose 'details' tab and select 'hardwareid' from the pulldown menu. Google the code there for your screen.

 

All of the panels used in the M11x are LED. AUO105C, SEC5441 (Samsung) and the LG (can't recall the model).

 

Well the Samsung has a noticably different backlight than the AUO. Not sure what the difference is, but the samsung seems more uniform, bright, and crisp, although perhaps a bit washed out. But haven't toyed with the display settings yet.

 

A lot of people here who have had or seen both side-by-side would concur with that observation. The Samsung generally has better brightness and contrast, but not always. These are all inexpensive panels and there appears to be some noticeable variation from one to the next even between two of the same model.

 

The only reason I would complain about the r2 is if you require the better battery life and vga port. I require both and that's why I went with a r1 (well that and I didn't want optimus).

 

Right. Kind of the same reason I opted for an R1: vga, battery, no optimus (don't trust the tech yet), but most importantly price. VGA is an easy workaround, albeit an extra adapater you'd need, but its hard to improve battery life, and optimus can't be opted for switchable either.

 

So just how bad is the battery life on the r2?

 

I don't think it's "bad", just not as good as the R1. I believe my original R1 (at original launch day) was about six hours with light use, without much tuning. R2 you'll have to check these forums or ask in the owners lounge. I remember playing Battlefield 2 for well over two hours on battery too.

 

I was always under the impression 6-8ish for r1 and 4-6 for the r2. Either way the r1 suits my needs more and if I need a powerhouse I always have the SXPS.

 

Bingo. I want a small notebook that can game if I need to, but if I really want to play games, I have my 15" notebook (soon to be a 17" powerhouse. )

 

Right, that's my concern. On my busier class days, I go to campus in the morning at around 10 and don't get back till 7ish. I was able to go on one battery charge with on/off usage throughout the day which was very nice.

 

Wow.

Turns out the r2 is a defected unit as well. Was running the computer without battery from a full chrage. Battery drained abnormally fast... windows estimated 1 hr, 30 minutes with 48% left. About an hour later, the power button starts flashing (low battery warning). Before I had the time to reach over to get my power cord, plug it into the outlet, and plug it into the computer, the computer turned off. Now it gets stock on post. The little load bar on the bottom gets about 5% then just gets stuck.

I can't begin to explain how annoyed I am..