AW organization suggestions

Hey all,
the Alienware sub forum could use some restructuring and we are looking for your ideas on how to do it.

@DeeX suggested adding a new section called "2019+ Alienware Legend - Area51 / m15 R2 / m17 R2" as Legend is the new styling ID.

What suggestions does everyone else have? We are open to feedback on what our members would like to see.

 

Yes here is my suggestion.
Since technically the last major change to AWs design styling was 2015, I feel the 2015+ forums is no longer a good place for the up and coming new systems.

My suggestion is:

That we create a new sub forum under Alienware called I would like there to be a section called "2019+ Alienware Legend - Area51 / m15 R2 / m17 R2"
We then move threads related threads. As of now there are not many major Legend related threads.

Here is a list of threads for the new section:


*OFFICIAL* Alienware m15 R2 / m17 R2 Owner's Lounge
*OFFICIAL* Alienware Area-51M Owner's Lounge

Area-51m BIOS / VBIOS Collection (mirrors)
Thermal Pad Guide for Alienware Area-51m (9900K + RTX2080)
Force downgrade Alienware Area-51m Bios (or any alienware) to locked lower versions
Alienware Area-51m Review by Ultra Male
Alienware Area-51m Drivers
Alienware Area51m - All Downloads Page

*These are not all the threads. Im just listing this as a starting point

 

I agree with his suggestion, the "2015+ Thread" needs to be more structured.

I think the "Legend design" laptops needs a separate place in itself.. because of its soldered ram and a new design.

There should be a separate one for Area 51m because of its LGA socket.

In any case, this is a great initiative and was much needed.

Sent from a Galaxy S9+

 

Having m15/m17 and Area51m posts in the 2015+ Alienware 13/15/17 subforum is indeed a bit misleading since the actual AW13/15/17 line has been effectively killed off by Dell now, sadly.

The two new product lines since 2018 are "thin and light" m15/m17 and the fundamentally different Area-51m. I suggest creating a separate subforum for the thin and light, e. g.
(2018+ Light Models (m15/m17)". The R2 "Legend" variant is essentially DoA, so I would expect another revision to follow shortly, but the thin and light line is likely to stay.

The Area 51m, on the other hand, belongs to a DTR subforum, perhaps based on / merged with the Area51 thread where I can see people actually post stuff about the 51m.

What makes absolutely no sense is splitting m15 R1/R2 across different subforums.

.02

 

Even though the m17/m15 r1 and r2 share the same name they are different essentially from the ground up.

Staring with the Area51m the legend design was born. This was the first complete design change since the r4. While the m15r1/m17R1 was a minor design change. The general styling was very similar as the r4 and r5 etc.

The legend will be the current styling even when they make a m15/m17 R3. There for I feel the sub forum should be Legend and group and laptops that have the legend styling. Within that sub forum owners lounges will be created as usual.

There are many more detailed or less detailed ways to approach this. One could make subs for each model. One could make more generalized/ less specific subs. Infeel my idea follows suit with the past and is also a good happy medium.

I'm also thinking down the road when these laptops are dead and gone. A user can easily come back and the info/ forums be clear.

 

I suggest that the Alienware Desktop subsection be dissolved as it hasn't seen activity in many months (and also has been the least active).
I also think the Graphics Amplifier thread might need to be pinned in the general subforum as it's present on a multitude of models (since 2014). Or maybe each of the new subsection has a link that redirects to the thread.
The 2015+ section could probably be renamed to "2015 to 2019" or whatever the old styling ID was called, which should cover up from the 13 R1 to the m15 and m17.

 

I don't know how you mean to divide those 2015+ machines, but I think a new subform should be named "Legacy Systems" and move the M15x, M17x, M18x, M14x subforums under there. Those machines are ancient by todays standards, very few users still using them.

 

There is far less difference between the m1/m17 R1 and R2 than you suggest. The form factor is identical, target user base is almost identical (at least in intent), the class of components is the same. Yes, they changed the styling and gimped upgradeability, but that's subject to change within months, especially now that Azor is gone. Will we have another subforum for each design tweak? No, so the laptop class is a far more stable classification method, which - at a risk of repetition - would be consistent in with Dell's own product classification. They didn't even include the word "Legend" in any laptop's name.

There is no point trying to predict the future here either (a taxing task at the best of times), especially based on very incomplete information. For all we know, now that Azor is gone, Dell's next steps might include killing off the whole or parts of the Alienware brand as unprofitable and/or redundant in presence of Dell's native product lines.

 

I think you are over thinking this too much lol. The new design is indeed called Legend internally. There have been marketing info with this code name but yes its not everywhere. I only added that cuz I knew what the new design was called.

Their chassis and components have been completely redesigned. How are the form factors identical? I'm not referring to the user base. I'm referring to the design generation of the system. How they are related for reference in the future when they are gone.
As I mentioned in previous posts. The general design of the m17 R1 started back with the Alienware 17 R4 was launched. Compare the lid of the 17 R4 (2015) and the m17 r1 (2018) The lid is the same shape, the lines etc.
They changed this and launched the "Legend" design which looks like the m17 R2 Area51m etc.

To me it only makes sense to group systems of the same generation together. Right now every system launched after 2015 is in the same sub forum. That doesnt make sense to me.

Below you can visually see they have a totally different chassis and design theme they are following. judging by their systems going as far back as 2009, they will stick to their general design for a few refreshes. Usually this lasts about 4 to 6 years of refreshes.

Clearly with the launch of the Area51m and the "Legend" design they have moved forward away from the design they had before which started in 2015 with the Alienware 17 R4.

m17 R1 (2018): m17 R2(2019):



m17 R1 (2018): m17 R2 (2019):

Also to add:
This is a marketing graphic essentially announcing the new styling.
As much as it doesn't make sense, the m15 R1 & m17 R1 are part of the old design ID.




Another suggestion, whenever a decision is made, would be to rename the current "2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17" to something like "2015 - 2018 Alienware 13 / 15 / 17"

 

@custom90gt I agree with brother @DeeX . I also recommend keeping the latest Alienware in their own sub-forums and moving all old threads/owners lounges for the older laptops to a sub-forum called " Alienware Legacy Laptops"

Be simple...be like Ultra Male...

 

Guess I prefer overthinking to underthinking

The 17R4 actually resembles the m1x R2 design somewhat, with the extended bottom. Perhaps we need a separate forum for Alienware Extended Bottom laptops? A rhetorical question of course.

Anyway, there is no point in further rehashing a given simple idea with disregard to the counterpoints made. I'm pretty sure the admins got the gist of it from the first posts.

 

Isn’t M17 R1 2019 model? The shortest AW 17 design language in history.

 

Correct. It was announced this past CES. But considering it's literally a bigger variant of the m15, I kind of don't blame DeeX for thinking it came out a year earlier.

 

You have also m15 r1 with 9th gen Core i7 launched Q2’19. Adding the year for the models (in new sub-forum) is misleading. And I don’t blame anyone for this I just post facts.

 

True, but the m15 came in like Oct, they are sisters.
My point is the "Thin and light" m series laptops started in 2018 and have a design that is pre 2019.
Regardless, There is a clear design stylistic separation when you take the Alienware 17 R4 till the Alienware m17 R1 and then go to the modern Legend style ID.
The base stylistic design of the 17 R4 till the m17 R1, is essentially the same with some many minor differences.
I'm not talking details of specs or anything like that.
Think of this as the same as car body styles. Cars have generations based on the over all design of the body. (color scheme, shape, etc).
This is usually how car sites separate their model lines. Even if the engine, technology packages, features, etc change, they still call it Generation #.
Its really simple, the m17 R1 looks "kind of like all systems going back to the 17 R4. The m17 R2 looks like the Area51m and nothing like the m17 R1. So there for the cut off should be the Area51m as the design changed.
Sorry for over explaining my view, opinion, and suggestion. I just want to hit it from all angles.


That is pretty crazy that the m17 came out in Jan and now there's already an r2 LOLOL

 

Bear in mind a good classificatiom should be self-explanatory. I don't think anyone would fail to find their way around the following Alienware section:
Pre-2015 Models
2015+ AW 13/15/17
2018+ Light Models (m15/m17)
2019+ Desktop Replacement Models (Area 51m)

or find the contents of a subforum completely irrelevant to their system, as would be the case with the proposed styling-based categorization.

 

I think that's too specific. One could say the 17 R4 / R5 is a DTR as its very heavy and has the power of a DTR.
Also as of now, under your definition there is no other DTR so the A51m will be the only model relevant in that sub forum.
Why would we need to divide the groups by their weight or usage characteristics as opposed to their release generation?
I kinda of see what you are saying but I personally think this not ideal especially if they change the way they sell laptops.
I kind of still feel things should go by their design ID. After all we dealt with putting all into the 2015+ AW 13/15/17 for 5 years no one until now even cared the forums were getting all cluttered and not very organized.
I still think comparing AW to car body styles is a good way to look at it since AW has done this with design IDs ever since they have been part of Dell.

Also just to add what Ultra Male said...
I think a good suggestion would be to move a few sub forums to the "Alienware Area-51/Aurora and Legacy Systems", However I would suggest changing the name to "Alienware Desktops and Legacy Systems"
I suggest moving the following forums to the Legacy forums as sub forums.

• Alienware 14 and M14x
• Alienware M15x
• Alienware 17 and M17x
• Alienware 18 and M18x

I would keep the 2015+ outside the legacy systems forums.

 

Area 51M is very clearly the only actual Alienware DTR with desktop components since 2015.

 

Desktop components does not make a laptop a DTR.
A DTR is any laptop that is powerful enough that a user can use instead of a desktop. It does not mean that it is a desktop, it replaces a desktop.
The logic behind a laptop being a DTR simply because it has a desktop socket doesn't fully make sense.
The socket would be literally the only part that is actually "Desktop". MXM / DGFF while cool that they are modular are not desktop parts.
Plus if the laptop had more desktop parts, it would be closer to being an actual desktop, rather than a desktop replacement.
Ever tried to run a R4 or R5 on a battery? It usually stays on a desk. One could say a 17 R4 / 17 R5 are DTRs because they have desktop graphics and have overlockable CPUs, plus at the time of their release the numbers they were pulling in were pretty close to their desktop counterparts.
I would then also say that a m17 R1 or any computer with Max Q is a normal gaming laptop (as opposed to a desktop replacement). They are lighter, have more battery life, but also have a lower performance ceiling due to their increased portability.
I guess another thing that would make me consider a laptop a desktop replacement is if its cumbersome to carry around and transport. I've heard of many people saying the 17 R4 & R5 got annoying to carry around.
Just random thoughts in between work projects.

 

AW 17 is just a somewhat bulky 17 inch laptop, internals are almost identical to AW15 and performance didn't quite match reasonable top-spec desktop counterparts (not even talking about Extreme/Multi-CPU/SLI/Titan setups).

Importantly though, new models released since 2018/2019 clearly bifurcated into thin and DTR lines. The internal design varies dramatically between the two and thus content posted in relation to one line bears little relevance to owners of the opposite one. Additionally, content posted in relation to AW13/15/17 is not particularly relevant to either m15/m17 or 51M users. All this should be very clear to most people TBH.

 

Alienware Legend/Thin Design (2018+)

Alienware BGA Redesign 13/15/17 (2015+)

Alienware Legendary (M11x/M14x/M15x/M17x/M18x)

Alienware Legacy Systems

Alienware Desktops

 

how about calling it "Golden Era" instead of Legendary for the M11x/M14x/M15x/M17x/M18x

 

Rename them to:

• 2013–19: Alienware 13, 15 and 17 (Epic)
• 2019–present: Alienware m15, m17 and Area-51m (Legend)

 

It's been mentioned before: AGA needs its own subforum. It transcends product generations and is basically Alienware laptops' main USP these days.

 

Maybe add AGA to Desktops:

Alienware Desktops/Graphics AMP

I don't think AMP will create enough traffic for its own subforum

 

I'd think this should be just about logical categorisation. There are probably a few dozen threads devoted to the AGA, and it would be nice to have them all in one place. Not sure why the desktop section exists in a laptop forum to begin with.

 

Maybe...

Alienware Legend DTR (Area-51m)
Alienware Legend Thin-n-Light (m15/m17)
Alienware Epic 2013-2018 (13/14/15/17/18)
Alienware OG (M11x/M14x/M15x/M17x/M18x)
Alienware Graphics Amplifier
Alienware Legacy

Maybe move the desktop threads to the desktop forum (since there's a desktop forum)

 

I'm interested in pushing a new design for the Alienware forum soon. I appreciate the feedback and the time you've all put into replying. There are a lot of opinions on how this should be organized and no real consensus, so we need to work on this a bit before I can submit anything.

I generally don't make subforums unless there's enough traffic to push threads off the main page in 24-48 hours. I already think there are too many subforums in here. If anything, I'd like to reduce the number.

I'm leaning towards merging all the old laptops into one legacy forum, desktops into another, and then possibly separating out some of the newer machines into their own subforums. Don't forget that we can use the main Alienware forum for discussion, too, so it's not mandatory that we make a subforum for every topic.

You're all intimately familiar with Alienware's design language and models, but the average customer/reader isn't. Try to bridge the gap; the forum names shouldn't be so specific that a user would have trouble knowing which forum to post in.

Take that into account and let me know your ideas. All will be considered.

Charles

 

My previous post reduces the number from 8 (current) to 6.

If you need less than 6, just scrap the desktop forum all together. I think it would be best as this then:

Alienware Legend Design (2019+)
Alienware Epic Design (2013-2018)
Alienware Legacy Design (<2012)

Amplifier content can be moved to the main AW forum or have it's own subforum with desktop "Alienware Graphics Amplifier/Desktops"

 

I don't like the design-based taxonomy at all. I had no idea my AW 15 or m15 R1 are examples of "epic" design, so fair assumption that 95% of newcomers will be scratching their heads too. The years are actually confusing too, given that the models listed in 2013-2018 have still been available this year. Maybe best to just rename the current 2015+ thread and then conflate the older models:

* Alienware 2015+ Models and Graphics Amplifier
* Alienware pre-2015 Legacy Laptops and Desktops

Just two categories.

 

That works too. The other forums aren't as active anymore so shouldn't feel too crowded.

 

I personally feel restructuring isn't needed because newer members will find it difficult to find and post new content. Also, creating a new separate thread/section for newer AW will mean most common or most highlights issues or fixes suggested by community members will be hard to find.
Anyway, newer m15/17 are essentially the same with newer codenames and colors.
I'm more inclined towards @Raidriar suggestion and also adding EOL section for too old AW(say 7yrs+).

 

Good suggestions all.

My personal feedback is that the new nomenclature makes the new "M" laptops confused with the old M laptops.

Therefore, I would move all the old M laptops into a section called Legacy for 2014 and older.

I'd also combine the two M14x and M15x into one subsection of Legacy, and remove the Desktop section entirely.