Alienware laptop case redesign?

I know the current laptops are appealing to most. But I personally am a big fan of the old 'skull cap' design. Maybe I'm just an old school Alienware fan...
I really wish I would have bought an M17x/M9750 before the M17x redesign came out. Unfortunately it was discontinued before I was able to have fundage... Now I dont know what to do, buy M17x and hope design will grow on me or wait a little longer?
Does anyone think they will make a new case design in the relatively near future?
Alienware please start making different case options like you use to in the past!

 

Avast Matey! Ye want skulls? Start walking the plank, ye landlubber!

Though me likes the "redesign" idea. Ship-shape me says! Weigh the anchor ye scallywags!

 

im on the Same Boat With Yah Captain!~

 

i'm so happy i got my m17 befor it got discontinued

also if i ever get a newer alienware i'll se if i can make a custom skullcape lid

 

wow i found a sneak peek of the new case, looks friggin awesome.

 

Stop spreading false rumors...
Here is what the redesign will look like:

Freakin awesome if you ask me.

 

I thought they were swapping their flagship system to this 9" plasma?



Seriously though, I miss that stupid little 16mhz 386 with 2MB RAM running Win386 off a single floppy. It was fun to tinker with. That picture was from 2003. I think the system was included in one of my wife's "house cleanings". I still had all of the original paperwork from 1989 too.

 

I'm more into the new look. Just wish it had hinge locks on the cover, a la the M6500

 

Myself, I can't get over the extraordinary design and "lines" this laptop has. If you really study them, it's a work of art. Only way to describe it is it's like a sports car.

Most systems are riddled with screw opens/heads, lines going all over, nothing symmetrical or "proper". In my opinion the Alienware M1Xx line is some of the most impressive mainstream designs, definitely rivals Apples attention to detail and effort.

I don't know, maybe you need to be a car designer/artist to really grasp the "wow" factor or respect the details. Just like some people see a beautiful 16" Bass, others see a big smelly fish to eat.

 

My mistake... I meant to say I like the M17/M9750 design over the M17x


I'm not saying the current design looks bad by any means. Maybe if I had actually seen and personally handled one I might feel different?

 

Wow, skull-cap = do not want!

 

Agreed. I much prefer the 'aircraft' design of the newer machines.

 

No skull cap has wow factor, M17x looks cheap!! sorry but it does, speccy the red.....

 

Personally Im kinda fed up with the whole muscle car/airplane design thing. WTH started all the insanity any who? Even after saying that though the latest alienware mobile line along with asus's touted G73/53 series is the best thermally designed laptops out yet and are amazing to look at, the alienwares especially. There are some nice designs out there; lenovo Y460/560, timeline x 3820tg, just about every sony and mac, msi's new gx660r and especially the sager/clevo np8690/w860. Any one ever get a load of the toshiba qosmio with the fire lid design. Tha thing was a monster and the new x7200 is nice. I Still like my laptop the alienware area51m 776/5500. They are painted from back to front when you get them in a color, not this half black half red/silver stuff alienware is doing now. Even the screen hedge is painted blue on myn. Plus the hinges are made of reinforced steel, aint nothing breaking it. The screen would literly rip in two before those hindges gave way. haha I am positive about one thing though, If I Ever see another chasis d900f in any new laptop I would instantly throw up. That case is so sick and not in a good way.

 

My opinion = opposite of yours. :O

 

I dislike the skullcap design. It just looks too flamboyant and ridiculous, like a Lamborghini Reventon with a spoiler culled from that annoying riced Honda Civic that everyone has seen at one point.

I like the current designs, as they mix bold, angular lines with an overall professional appearance. No weird colors or shapes, just like a supercar.

 

Yep skullcap or huge logos are out for me. Simple clean lines, maybe some reserved flash (but very reserved) and that's about it. The more you advertise, the more likely your notebook grows legs and walks away when you aren't looking. I don't mind the current R2 design. It fits the bill and isn't too over the top. But if they made the Alien head thing optional, I'd skip it and go for a simple smooth black shell.

I'll add that I had considered, at one time, trying to fill in that Alien head with some liquid black acrylic (and letting it harden) to simply remove the thing from my sight. Look at the M6400 or the 8740. Simple shells that are elegant in their simplicity.

 

You should just get a Macbook Unibody, it's a plain as you can get.

I like simple, clean proper lines, everything lines up, symetrical etc. Best way to describe it is a factory car, everything just rolls with the eyes. Than you get a kid that shoves all these stupid scoops, bumpers etc on there and it totally ruins the looks, that's what majority of laptops look like to me.



I like the old Skull-caps, but I also like the new designs as well.

 

I'm not saying the new design looks bad.... But I'm not looking at purchasing an Alienware to have it be incognito and unrecognizable either.
I guess my biggest problem with the new design is (1) the discolored piece that's black on the lid.... I like the lid to be all the same color / texture.

(2) I don't like the angle on the back of the case instead of making a squared back.

 

I'm also worrying about the aleinware design a bit. I really like the m15x design, but would also want to wait till SB comes out. My question is, will I be able to get an m15x when alienware will already have released its new line up (in case the new looks will look worse).

Btw, I really like the skullcap design on the older models. It really has a nice impression, looks a bit like Airforce material ^^ (you know like the wings of an eagle).

 

Actually, this is a good thread!
I think, AW does indeed need to think of a new design.
And, more importantly - new models!


Here's a couple of ideas:

1) the Mothership - A 17"-18" big and somewhat chunky, but stylish (w/o the glowing head though) beast with a desktop CPU and 2x6870, similar to Clevo x7200 in terms of internals, but with all the good AW/Dell features: HDMI in, backlit KB, RGB LED, etc..

2) "the Armageddon" - A 16" system, dust and waterproof, shock resistant, with a RGB LED anti glare screen, an xtreme CPU, single GPU, etc...

 

I agree, kinda like a 'stealth' material look / feel.
Man do I every have lack of buyer remorse....
I also liked the look of the M15 with the skullcap in silver, thought those looked sharp as well.

I think Alienware should have some different case options instead of only one design.

The lid design of the M11x isn't bad.. maybe expand that to M15x and M17x
Also has a squared back instead at an angle!

 

I think the option to pick your own lid is an awesome idea, makes each unit a little more personal than they are, apart from being able to tweak and tune every configuration item and pick a color chassis and lights!

 

I think my number one customization preference would be to remove the point from the front of the system, or at least round it out more. That point is a real inconvenience when using the systems on a tray.

 

My biggest prefrence is performance, I'm going to be playing games on this thing not staring at it all day. So if the design can make my gaming experince better like dual GPU and great cooling that keeps the keyboard from warming up like most of its compitors-- THUMBS UP.

I agree about the factory cars and walking away.
If I could have my way I'd have an all business thinkpad looking Alienware (ok maybe the glowing head). Come to think of it if thinkpads had the performance, price, and lack of horrible screens I'd probaly use one for gaming instead os just my banking.

 

Excellent idea, the mothership with an 18" screen, now that I would buy a new Alienware, with a new glowing head...more aggressive look hhmmmm

 

Certainly performance is of utmost importance.... however I've always said there is no reason you can not blend performance / function with aesthetics. Why cant an awesome gaming machine look good also?
My worry is they are making all their laptops look the same, with no variations... I dont want dell streamlining them so they look like Dells. Alienware is known or being custom, so why not have a few different chassis available to chose from?

 

Ewww those old cases look 'orrible imo of course, i much prefer the clean lines and almost stealth fighter look of the new design especially in black, the old one looks too gimmicky and plasticy

 

I thought the new onwa were supposed to be Lamborghini Michellago/Galardo/Revington.

 

this si why we are talking about the skull cape wich is the ribbed desing on the lid while keeping the newer desing for the rest of the case

and the m17 does not look plastic at all the m15x kinda did though

 

Is there any reason they can't offer both styles?
They use to have a clean lid style as well as the skull cap to choose from

 

the M17 itself mighten look plasticy, but that lid with the huge ribs in it does, with the two of them side by side, 1 looks likes a powerful sleek laptop the other looks like its been pimped by westwood but then again its all down to personal taste and if your paying £1800+ for a laptop it would be nice to give the option to have a slightly crazier design for those that like em

 

So it's agreed, we need to all storm Dell's doors and demand lid design option for the next release of laptops...

Frankly, I'm surprised they stopped doing this with the R2 of the M1X line. The did ti with the originals, and it's a special "feature" that makes the unit feel even more unique and separates the brand from the competition further.


Oh, and Alienware designer FAIL on the Lamborghini pictures. The front of the R2's is a SPITTING image of the lower bumper and grills on the vehicle, but you know what, it's so so sexy so woot!

 

aiki, you really need to lay off the soda 'mate' lolol.

 

Why are they offering different towers on desktops then?
Granted I still liked the old style of those better also, but at least there is an option. Let's hope Alienware will start offering more laptop designs!

 

considering Dells cost cutting tactics, I can't see it ever being an option. The M17X is the first in-house made Alienware, so it already has tons of alienware design going for it. The textured LCD backing for the whitebooks was Alienware's adition to make it stand out. You don't need that with an M17x ,M15X or M11x. They're uniquely Alienware.

When you see an M17X in person, you know it's an alienware. If you had two OCZ whitebooks next to eachother with the clean lid style, you presumably wouldn't be able to tell them apart. There was no brand identity, now there is. Simple as that.

 

Offering a lot of options is a cost that these days isn't as easy for companies to do. Dell does a good job in that regard, so I wouldn't say this concept of "both" isn't possible, but I wouldn't count on it as probable either. Even with the clean lines, no one mistakes the machine for something else.

 

I think before re-designing the case, they should make a Starcraft II edition.

 

Having had both an OCZ whitebook and the M17x. I love my M17x, lets just get that out of the way right now. But when I had the whitebook, I was going to sell it but before I did put an AW skullcap on it. I fell in love with that look and almost abandoned selling it. Ultimately though I gave in and got the M17x but I dearly miss that look.

You can still have it yourself though. Doing the switch is not that hard and looks AWESOME once done. You can also get a green or blue lid if you want to switch things up

Laptop

Lid

 

I too used to love the skullcap but though I am not sure why I prefer today's design. I think it is more modern and more with our time.

 

I actually like the current design. I just wish they move some ports to the back on the next gen.

 

Current design >>>>>> skullcap. The skullcap looked amateurish/childish in comparison. This new design is streamlined and fits together nicely. I saw the M17 in person while I was at AW headquarters (they have an entire lan gaming room in their offices) and I wasn't the least bit impressed with it.

 

Well that is the beauty of it....you were never forced to get the skullcap. The ripley design (essentially what we have now) was always an option if you preferred that.

 

The new AW chassis should be the Skullcap design on the Dell Adamo chassis...since the anorexic ribcage would be so à propos for an ultra-thin notebook. ;þ

 

+1 I HATE having my power and everything else on the sides, looks cluttered. The power and atleast one USB should be on the back, simply to keep clutter down.

Otherwise <3 M15x

 

On pretty much all highend laptops the power is (and has been for some time) on the back....keeping space free for cooling vents

 

THAT was funny! +1!

 

I like it because it scares small children.

 

I never thought of that, but I do notice that the look of my M15x seems to be an unspoken invitation for people to walk over and touch it.

 

I like the current design much more than the skullcap.