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    My new m11x r1 refurb is here! Initial Impressions...

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Jrcampb, Mar 11, 2011.

  1. Jrcampb

    Jrcampb Notebook Guru

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    Initial impressions:

    I didn't open the box, my roommate did, I don't know why, but he said he had to for a reason and would tell me later.

    Packaging looks shoddy... no foam or anything but apparently it got here unscathed.

    It came 3 days from order with free shipping from Dell Outlet... even though it said it would be 3-16, I got it on 3-11.

    Other than a bright green sticker on the bottom that says "REFURBISHED", the unit looks totally new.

    The screen looks nicer, and "spacier" than I anticipated. I used to have an HP Mini 210 and I felt like it was way too small. This seems much nicer.

    Came with 3 pamphlets and an A/C adapter, nothing fancy.

    Can't find the alienware wallpapers anywhere.

    Being my first alienware, this is really fun! The face recognition and color changing tool work great, and I'd recommend everybody get one of these. :)

    Other than a bunch of superficial crap (wallpaper not set, steam not installed, stupid mcaffee autoupdating) I was able to have it pretty pimped out in about 15 minutes.

    I recommend one of these to everyone!
     
  2. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    glad you like it, i would suggest turning off unused windows services and and uninstall the bloatware if it had any. would speed things up more, and turn things off at start up =)
     
  3. Jrcampb

    Jrcampb Notebook Guru

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    The screws on the bottom of the unit were so loose that the bottom panel was literally about to fall off, and was causing it to be wobbly, and made a "crunch" type noise when I put my wrist on it.

    Once I heard the noise, I checked the bottom and tightened all the screws.
     
  4. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Did they all tighten properly? I had a similar issue with one of the screws on one of these exact same systems except that it was stripped and no amount of tightening could get it back in place. I ended up returning it.
     
  5. Jrcampb

    Jrcampb Notebook Guru

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    I was able to get them all okay, I have a lot of special screwdrivers from when I used to work at U.S. Cellular. (We did unauthorized phone repairs in our store in a small town.)

    I think I'm going to call dell and ask they send me a package of them and see what they say
     
  6. GCK

    GCK Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nice

    Hope you didn't pay too much. I got the unit in my sig for $636.
     
  7. hdad2

    hdad2 Notebook Consultant

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    You got a crazy one time- ain't been back since- super deal. Not the norm at all. Today someone pays $1000 for the same. So even if the OP paid even a bit less, it could be a great deal depending on config
     
  8. Derfernerf

    Derfernerf Notebook Guru

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    Yeah, that was way too good of a deal! I paid the same price for what the OP got (Brand new, not refurb)
     
  9. trikan

    trikan Notebook Geek

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    Ah yes, the 636$ deal, quite a good time.
     
  10. ragingazn628

    ragingazn628 Notebook Consultant

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    how much was it?
     
  11. HighLife420

    HighLife420 Notebook Guru

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    i got mine m11x from the outlet too. I actually had a M1730 that was DOA, after that i got a XPS17, which ended up dieing (bad motherboard and none in stock to replace). Finally took 1 more chance and got the m11x. I bought a Previously ordered New machine. It came with the screen's glass stuck to the inner part of the screen itself. I guess its comes from how they ship it. They put it in a plastic cover that pulls down when you fold it over and place it in the box. This puts ALOT of pressure on the machine since the plastic is very strong.

    im happy with this laptop finally. But im NOT happy with Dell outlet....they are horrible.
     
  12. HighLife420

    HighLife420 Notebook Guru

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    i dunno if this is allowed, but here is a link with my experiences with dell outlet.

    Mods if linking to other forums is not allowed, pls remove and i apologize. I didnt see anything in the rules stating that it was NOT permitted.
     
  13. sweatytaco

    sweatytaco Newbie

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    I just got my m11x refurb today. It cost me $571.50 shipped including tax (ca).
    Dell had a 15% coupon code for the outlet when I placed the order. It has since expired.
    There were only a handful available and I was lucky to get mine at the $517.65 pre-tax price. It came with 4gb ram, but only a 160gb (5400) drive.
    Of course now that the coupon code has expired. They have a bunch more refurbs in stock with higher capacity drives for basically the same price. Go figure.

    Haven't booted it up, since I'm at work. Hopefully it will be better than the last refurb laptop I got from Dell.
    The other one wouldn't update windows, even though I was on the phone with tech support for much of the weekend before returning it all together.
     
  14. Jrcampb

    Jrcampb Notebook Guru

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    Mine was the absolute base model (in my sig).

    $476 after tax with free shipping. It wasn't the $660 deal (I waited out for a few days just in case but didn't anticipate it coming back...), but I'm super happy with what I got for under $500!

    2 more gigs of ram costs about $40 bucks for crucial from Newegg, so you paid a good price for getting 4gb ram already installed. :)
     
  15. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

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    newegg/TD/others have been having sales on 8gb of ram for $70ish :eek:
     
  16. Jrcampb

    Jrcampb Notebook Guru

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    4GB is plenty. Even though it is only $30 more, 99% of users won't need it at all, if you look @ any of the ram upgrade threads they break it down a little more.

    If you have a billion dollars, might as well though. :)
     
  17. Whiteacre

    Whiteacre Notebook Enthusiast

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    I got mine for $590 including tax (friggin 8.5% in NY). Got the 4GB/500GB model and, like Jrcampb's, it is absolutely perfect. Although Dell Outlet is pretty much hit or miss--my last purchase from there was a Dell Vostro A90 and it had a scratch on the lid.