An Interview w/Alienware Vice President and General Manager Arthur Lewis

the full interview can be read here.

 

Haha that's funny because Gerhard (one of their oldest engineers) is now at Apple. So much for their low attrition rate. Oh yeah they also let go most of the Miami staff.

 

Thanks for the heads-up. Interesting read.

 

Wait, weren't the Origin PC guys the founders? How long ago did they break off?

 

No, the Origin guys are not the founders but they are ex-employees.

 

Any idea why did this occur?

Just how many original Alienware employees still remain in the present Dell Alienware? Does that include the founders of Alienware as well?

 

Because Dell didnt need them.

 

All this talk of usage models and not PC Hardware as a focus... kind of reminds me of the attempts by Starbucks to re-brand themselves as more than coffee... so, maybe we will see an Alienware X-Box console and perhaps an Alienware tablet, and who knows maybe even a smart phone

 

I don't think Dell is foolish enough to enter the console realm and end up like Panasonic or NEC.

 

Well the sad thing about mergers is that once the deal is said and done, there will ALWAYS be layoffs due to job redundancy.

Now I'm really curious to see what Alienware has in mind for the next M11x...

 

However, a phone might not be out of the question now that Dell is getting their 'feet wet' in that arena...

 

Make a phone? Outside of making a phone that's "Playstation Certified" like the XPERIA Play, exactly how are they going to make a phone that has a primary purpose of gaming?

 

Thanks for reminding the cold hard fact about acquisition by a larger company. My worry is whether the Alienware computers made by Dell Alienware are really Alienware, or they are just by namesake. We have seen intances that owners of pre-Dell Alienware enjoyed better service back then, compared to that of the present Dell Alienware. I am wondering that after the acquistion, Alienware computers start to lose its essence, the key factor making it one of the top choice among hardcore gamers back then.

Perhaps, if you really want to get a "real" Alienware, probably you should get Origin PC. It is my opinion, though. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

I still have my pre-Dell Alienware, the m5500. It has been the second best computer purchase I have ever made; The best purchase is my original AW M11X- This little thing is amazing.

 

Dell service isn't as bad as the horror stories go. Yes some people got screwed. But overall, with a company as large as they are, and such a global product, it happens. Alienware has changed for the better I think. They used to just be another clevo rebrander. Now they actually have custom built systems unlike any else in the world (at least I believe so). Origin is a good portion of the original alienware team, but the other part of that team is still with them. Being bought out by Dell wasn't as bad as we all think, it gave them globalization. Plus, have you checked the prices for Origin? It makes xoticpc look dirt cheap.

 

Origin was founded because the team members wanted to get back to modifying chassis and reselling clevos at a higher markup than your resellers like xoticpc, power notebooks etc. Alienware now makes computers with their own custom chassis. If you ask me, the industry is better as a whole because they are competing and driving innovation.

 

You must not have seen the Alienware MP3 player.
or
the Alienware Hangar 18 Audio receiver.
or
the alleged Alienware Android phone from 2008.

 

Haha. That phone would look great.

 

Great article, thanks for sharing.

 

Nice to hear from execs every so often

 

That is one ugly phone.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself.