Dell Goes Private w/Assistance From Microsoft, What Does The Future Hold For Alienware?

Samsung are nice, they just don't go on the high end and aren't user configurable. You basically have to buy an off the shelf configuration. Asus has taken a side saddle to gaming notebooks. They offer mid-grade performance products like Samsung (i.e. GTX 660m, 670m) but nothing beyond that.

Your only real high end GPU laptops would be Sager (Clevo), Alienware, and MSI. They all offer great cooling, Sager and AW tend to be best with ease of accessing components, and I'd say cooling is comparable between the two. I think AW wins the crown for best overall though since they offer better warranty and a more feature filled BIOS, and things like manual switchable graphics. Granted AW tend to be the most expensive. I find the Clevo/Sager notebooks best combination of cost/performance and features. And again it gets back to personal preference for styling as well. Clevos are a bit bland. I wouldn't mind something a bit less conventional, but it's not bad.

 

Yeah, it would really suck for that to happen with any lame outfit to end up owning the Alienware brand... especially on the warranty/support side. Buying an outstanding product is still a big mistake if the company selling it doesn't swiftly and painlessly take care of customers when something goes wrong with the product they sold them. So, that could end up being a deal killer for me. A good machine is worthless to me if it doesn't have excellent warranty support and they treat you like trash. If the worse possible scenario occurs, I will just go back to building my own monster desktops like I used to and forget about gaming and benching on the road. I won't give any of my money to a company that has lame warranty support. Plain and simple... that is what has made me a die-hard Dell/Alienware fanboy.

But, I'm not going to speculate about Dell selling off Alienware. It has been a huge success for them. I'll just wait to see what happens. Only time will tell and speculation doesn't do me any good. I will remain optimistic that people are stressing out over something that they don't need to be worried about.

 

True. Future is still unwritten. We will just have to wait and see.

 

I'm looking to purchase an alienware laptop or maybe I should rephrase and say I was looking to purchase one. Scares me to think Asus could end up with Alienware, I have an Asus laptop now G73J and it has spent more time in CA then it ever has where I live (Maine) and sometimes its been gone for up to 3 months. It actually needs to go back now that will be its 3rd trip out there since Dec 09th. You think its possible another company could end up with alienware and be taken care of the warranty issues on them?
Trish

 

Hi Trish, I wouldn't worry too much about it at this point. Alienware products are reliable from my experience, and Dell will be handling the warranty services for the foreseeable future. If you want one, I say go for it... this is all just speculation after all.

 

Hi Trish. Welcome to our Community. Glad you're here.

Anything you read in this thread is 100% pure unadulterated speculation and nobody posting has any direct inside knowledge about anything Dell plans to do with Alienware, or even if there will be no changes whatsoever. It may be status quo in the end. The comments about Asus, Samsung and others is nothing but random "what if" scenarios.

My advice would be to buy an Alienware now and not worry about the future. They are awesome machines and I think you'll love owning one. Sorry to hear about your Asus G73J. That's a great example of what sets Dell/Alienware apart from the competition. There are horror stories with every brand, I"m sure. But, Dell/Alienware warranty support is superior to the alternatives. And, we have great representation here in the forum.

 

That was just speculation since that is what this thread is about. Nobody besides Michael Dell and the board at Dell knows what will happen with Alienware. It could continue as is or be sold off anytime but I wouldn't worry about that if you're in the market for one right now since they will honor any warranty you get with it.

 

Thanks guys for your input. I've always had dells up to the point I bought this asus. I've always had such quick turn around when there was a problem with my dell but didn't want to spent the money on the alienware at the time. I have since made my mind up it will be the best this time!! I just have to put together what I really want and give them a call.

Trish

 

I am totally with your sentiments - but I also tend to agree with Joker that it is unlikely that Dell will keep the brand unless they reposition the XPS - I suspect a lot of XPS people were very p.o'd to become 2nd stringers after all those years and are sharpening their knives now (its amazing what internal politics can do - just read up on how GM screwed over Saturn).

I highlighted your comment about AW being successful for them - I have often wondered if this was so - can you point me to any articles on that? If indeed AW has been successful then maybe there is hope it will stay in-house. I too am seriously concerned about warranty support on laptops, in fact it is the decision maker ultimately- and I sure as heck don't want to go the MBP route (personal choice).

It is possible that Dell will create a good game-worthy XPS line up again now, there is that to consider too...

 

Its pretty obvious AW has been successful for them. AW is the biggest gaming laptop maker in the world, has the biggest online presence (just look at the average user count for each of the laptop forums on this site, and any other), presence on TV, youtube, and has arguably the most recognizable look of any gaming laptop brand aside from the asus G-series. And they continue to innovate the models, and even add new ones, which costs lots of money. If they weren't making money on AW, they would have probably never taken a chance with something risky like the M18x for instance.

 

I agree this is a good point - I guess the fact we haven't seen anything more substantial from them since then is what gives me pause. I actually had to use the warranty on my beloved M11x-R2 this week, and though it took two back-to-back trips I am writing from my baby now. I so wish they would bring back the M11x, but the poor hinge design and the washing Dell has taken on it didn't surprise me when they canceled it. In terms of innovation lets be honest, they seem to have regressed slightly outside of the M18x - where are the rumored liquid-cooled laptops for instance? I don't really count the X51 in there myself but I suppose a console-type PC could be considered somewhat innovative.

I am hoping beyond reason that the lack of change since the M18x is due to uncertainty in the future within Dellienware, and once it is settled the brand will stay in-house and the true next generation of mobile gaming platforms will come out, but I remain pessimistic

 

The x51 is arguably AW's most innovative product. A near console sized desktop that is priced for the masses, well made, and is relatively upgradable. It is the first of its kind really. For the first time in years Dell has made a truly innovative product, and all the other PC manufacturers are playing catchup, like Falcon Northwest with their Tiki, and Digital Storm with their bolt, both of which came out several months after the X51 with the same form factor, and were likely inspired to be created by the X51's high sales numbers.

I have been interested in a possible mini gaming desktop, and the x51 would be a great choice, but if I do get one, I think I will have to go for the DS bolt, simply because I can arm it with better specs, and its made in america (and one of comparable specs to an X51 is only a little more expensive and comes with a 3 year warranty).

 

I agree that the X51 is a very innovative product, but I wouldn't say it's the only thing AW has done that is innovative/unique. Alienware is in a class of their own imo; nobody else build products like them. There's only one place that sells boutique gaming PCs with distinctive styling/lighting, aluminum chassis on flagship models, incredible cooling and performance, all backed up by an massive company who offers the best warranty support in the business. I may be wrong, but where else could you get an affordable 11" gaming laptop 4 years ago? Had anyone ever done anything like the M11x before? The M18x is the only 18" sli notebook in the market right now as well. Nobody builds computers like AW does.

Ask the average person to name a high end gaming brand, and the most common answer you'll get is "Alienware." There were other manufacturers this market before them, but in my mind AW still created then dominated the market for high end gaming PCs. AW made me a fanboy. AW FTW.

 

Well said.

 

Couldn't agree more!! Imma be really really really really sad if I have to look at clevo machines for my next notebook.

 

Alienware is going nowhere it would be a stupid move by Dell to end alienware . They bought Alienware for the simple fact Dell wanted to build premium gaming Laptops and Alienware thrashed their XPS brand . As pointed out when people talk about gaming Laptops Alienware is the only brand they know .

 

In that same respect though, you are seeing AW reduce the range and quality of products it offers...........take for instance the discontinued M15x which was replaced by the far inferior but similarly priced M14x, and lets not forget the coup-de grace, the discontinuation of the entire m11x line.

AW does do some nice innovative ideas, but the company is barely a shadow of its former self as far as ingenuity and originality is concerned...........

 

AW needs to step it up. Newer <1" notebooks like the Samsung 780z5e with AMD Radeon 8870m are faster than m14x with far superior display are on the market. AW is falling behind the times with its bulky designs for the midrange segment.


Sent from my GT-N7000

 

I'm very curious about who your rep is.

 

I agree. The M14x is a nice machine but the size for what you get is a bit large. I thought the M11x was successful but it died rather quickly and was quite innovative. The 11.6" from Clevo has been very successful, and has nearly the same performance as the M14x. 11.6" screen is a bit small for me personally, but offer this sucker in a thin 13" and I'm sold.

Unless it was like "I can afford $X" and they worked it in that way. Although accidental requires same amount of standard warranty which is the expensive part. 3 year support is over $300, 3 yr accidental is $175. And with an M18x I'm sure it's easier to work with that amount of insurance gratis. That insurance doesn't cost Dell anything.

 

I have difficulty understanding how one can get used to such a tiny keyboard and small screen and have any kind of appreciation for them. They are so horribly uncomfortable to use, for me anyway, and I use so many different systems that I always end up loathing the small laptops and dread having to use them. Switching between them without being seriously annoyed by the thin and light device hasn't been something I have found any success at. I suppose if that were my only option and I never used any other system, adjustment would eventually follow.

 

A lot of effort and thought has to go into a small keyboard to make it usable, it's very easy to screw up, but it can be done.

 

If you're still interested, I'll pm you his contact info

Exactly. It works best when you give them a specific budget that you're working with. When I ordered my M17x, I didn'thave a specific number in mind, so the rep just discounted the upgrades I wanted. I got decent deal, but I got a better deal with the M18x. I told them I wanted to spend x ammount of dollars, and asked the rep if he would work in all the upgrades I wanted within that budget (including tax.) I got about $700 off without any coupons.

 

I'm reading in the news that the founder of Dell is trying to "buy back" the company... Dell is also facing declining sales and a host of customer service problems.

Will this affect Alienware? What are the chances that Alienware could go out of business in the next few years?

 

Don't we already have a thread discussing more or less the exact same thing?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...icrosoft-what-does-future-hold-alienware.html

 

Well if this does occur I'm not sure what it will mean for alienware. If some big corporation buys them out though I wouldn't surprised if they sell the alienware name to make some quick cash.

Potential Dell bidding war afoot as Blackstone Group and Carl Icahn reportedly making offers

 

Uh oh guys.
Michael Dell May Lose Control Of PC Maker After Two Competing Buyout Bids Emerge | TechCrunch

Looks like Carl Icahn is wanting to buy Dell.
Anyone who has any experience in the business/financial world will tell you how bad this is. Icahn is the worst type of Wall Street vulture. He swoops in and buys companies without bringing a real business plan to the table, he then guts the company, and then sells off the remains. He makes Bain Capital look like the Salvation Army.
He was pulling this same non-sense when Microsoft was trying to buy Yahoo. If Ichan is involved, you can bet his goal is to manipulate stock price. Every company he buys, he just guts and sells the parts.

 

I'm not liking this. Hope this doesn't happen.

 

I think this says a lot about what to think will eventually happen to AW at Dell:

"Michael Dell has said that he wants to re-engineer Dell’s strategy so its focus shifts from PCs to tablets, data-center hardware, and software for corporations"

No question in my mind that going forward the Alienware brand is going to get sold off, let's hope that someone decent picks it up. I really hate the idea of a Clevo lunchbox as my next gaming laptop

 

Alienware is a profitable boutique brand. They will not likely sell it off just like that.

 

Is there anyone else other than Clevo (not including all the Clevo oems) who sells a SLI or Crossfire laptop nowadays? I would think the margins for their "typical" Alienware sale is higher than their consumer PC division.

 

I agree, darkdomino. There's no basis for anyone to jump to conclusions about what the future holds. Speculation is fine, but I wouldn't recommend anyone base decisions on what any one individuals thinks might happen.

As far as the question "is there anyone else other that Clevo" the unfortunate answer is not at the moment. Nothing Clevo or Origin offers equals the quality of the closest Alienware product. They may in specs, but in build quality and performance (tweakability) they fall short.

The Origin EON17-SLX and Sager NP9370 (same Clevo P370EM platform) is cosmetically unaesthetic. It is also unclear if it has a unlockable BIOS like the M18x. This flagship Clevo products, including the P570WM and P570WM3 models with a desktop CPU all seem to be crippled by a locked down BIOS and all have a plastic chassis... "meh" is probably one of the nicest things an Alienware M18x fan can say about them. If Clevo would start being more CPU overclock-friendly and come up with a decent (aluminum versus plastic) chassis that was more cosmetically appealing, they would have a formidable contender.

 

I hear this from time to time and would think it's true - but have you seen a site by chance that actually breaks down how Dell fares with Alienware sales? I do agree that In favor of them keeping and maintaining a "PC" line is the move in general to mobile computing, of which laptops become the heavy hitters still in that space. Desktops are slowly fading in use but it will be some time before the combo laptop/tablet becomes the norm. The real question is just how far will Dell go in their data-center focus?

 

The notion of cheap tablets becoming the norm is a symptom of consumer ignorance and lack of technical knowledge more than evidence of progressive technology. We see a steady march in the dumbing down of all things, and I doubt computing will be exempt from that as consumers grow more complacent, increasingly ignorant and satisfied with mediocre products that are poorly made and inexpensive. Nonetheless, I expect there will continue to be a niche market for expensive high performance computing products as long as there are enthusiasts like us that are passionate about them and deliberate in passing that legacy of demanding excellence on to our children and grandchildren.

I liken the prediction of über-crappy computer hardware becoming the defacto standard to the predictions by carbon-fuel hating wackos predicting the demise of internal combustion engines and high performance automobiles. By repeating it again and again they convince themselves (and a few mindless souls searching for meaning to their dull existence) that this is inevitable, but it doesn't mean their wish is going to come true.

 

I'd have to disagree with a good part of this statement; computing power will for the time being continue to improve; a light keyboard-capable format keyboard is the logical progression for general computing, not power workstations, etc. Essentially, a tablet-like laptop. This of course is not aimed at enthusiasts, but the 95+% of purchases of people who simply watch videos, listen to music, read and send emails, document process and surf the web. There's no reason to believe this is not the trend, I really can't agree that it's "dumbing down" as a progression as people have been using PC's to do the same thing with what would be considered technologically inferior to today's tablets for several decades now. We all know the inherent limitations to inputs using solely a touch-screen ergonomic, and that is my point, the tablet will persist (just check medical and shipping environments where they are a god-send over the older laptop designs) but require a more laptop-like ergonomic. I contend that the combo device makes the most sense over time for general computing going forward for most people (enthusiasts aside who will have one in addition to their pride and joy systems). Now, for the 5% that have to have more - there will probably be heavier systems, and likely even continue to have desktops in some manner. Considering that the product development at Apple and others are looking (see iWatch, Google-glasses) down the road past the smart phone to wearable computing there's just no question that mobile computing is what people really want. If not, would we make such a fuss over the possible demise over our favorite laptop maker, and we are by and large the 5% enthusiast group?

 

It's all about mobility. People seem to want to be able to play Crysis 3 while driving to work, hiking up mount everest, and on the beach...is the desire rational or realistic? Probably not. It is what it is though...and Dell is just trying to do what every other company is trying to do: cater to a demand.

As a geek, I like the concept of a tablet...I don't know what niche it would fill in my life currently but that's never stopped me from buying gadgets in the past.

 

I agree that there will be a place for limited-use devices as you mention regarding medical and shipping environments. There always has been a demand for them in a variety of business environments. A lot of the gadgets and gizmos are likely to end up going by the wayside due to convergence. The ADD/ADHD gizmos junkies will always have their coffee tables littered with the latest assortment of electronics garbage. Having a plethora of limited use gadgets is what makes them happy. They don't need to be good products as long as they have an abundance of them.

Others are more interested in convergence and the elimination of the need for multiple gizmos and gadgets. That's where the "convertible" products come into play. There are some folks (the group that I fall into) that dislike the idea of having multiple computing devices, but are unwilling to compromise in terms of quality and performance. Some are satisfied with less, and some demand the best. The big question is, how much folks are willing to lower their standards before landing on a single device that makes them happy. I believe that does bear some relationship to their level of ignorance or technical knowledge as consumers. Regrettable low-cost computing device purchases are commonplace among that group of consumers... and it's a large group, unfortunately, in great part due to the prevalence of technical ignorance and an insatiable appetite for inexpensive junk to replace what they regret having purchased the last time. The cycle repeats itself and they never learn that cheap equals compromise, which equals a poor overall end user experience. And, some remain oblivious and are perfectly happy with junk.

Yes, I'll probably end up being forced to use a different piece of trash for work that is worse than what I have now. It will likely be smaller, slower and less capable, more unpleasant to use, and make me appreciate my beast even more. But, I won't want or need something extra for personal use in addition to my pride and joy. The other devices end up collecting dust, rotting in a drawer or sitting on a shelf because they are unnecessary and redundant, and not anywhere nearly as pleasurable to use.

As long as there is something for everyone, everyone will be happy. I expect there will be something for everyone, and I expect the enthusiast group will slowly continue to grow as more discriminating and intelligent consumers become increasingly dissatisfied with the anemic thin and light junk. I do agree with the idea that high performance desktop will become less prevalent as high performance laptops narrow the performance gap like the M18x has. But, there will still be enthusiasts that prefer to build their own beast even if that means being confined to a desk in one room. If I were going to have multiple devices, I would be leaning the direction adding another wicked custom-built desktop to my arsenal, rather than the M18x plus a lesser device. My only impediment would be having to spend $4000+ on a desktop in addition to having spent $4000+ on a laptop. Since I cannot afford both, I have just the one. For now.

People that want or have this...	Will never be happy with this.
People that drive one of these...	Will not be satisfied with this.

 

I seem to remember people were going on about how mainframes were the only way computers should be when the first PC's started appearing...

In a few years mobile tech will be staggeringly more capable than it is now. Tegra 5, a phone CPU/GPU, is supposed to be more powerful than the PS3 and PS4's internals.
Right now mobile is in the dinky smart car stage, but eventually its going to be in the electric porche 918 sypder stage.

 

You can play Crysis 3 on a tablet now actually. Razer just released the Razer Edge for sale. The first real gaming tablet, and technically the most powerful tablet in the world. Razer Edge Gaming Tablet: The World's First Tablet Designed for PC Gamers - Razer United States
I gotta say, it is very impressive, but I would probably wait for the next gen one so that some of the kinks get ironed out.

 

The 918 has so much potential that it's a shame to compromise automotive technology by crippling it with an electric powerplant. No matter how special the electric motor is, it will never be able to achieve the level of awesomeness that it is capable of with that type of drive train.

I'd like to see what the Razer Edge is able to do with Crysis 3. I cannot imagine it would play Crysis 3 very well. Do you mean it is impressive by tablet standards? The specs are not very impressive by gamer standards... By that, I mean an i5 dual core 2.6GHz and GT 640M LE is not something worth writing home about. If they could somehow keep it from catching on fire with an XM CPU @ 4.0GHz+ and 7970M or 680M pushing it, that would definitely be impressive.

 

I know. I ordered a Razer Edge Pro yesterday to replace my M11x. I'm psyched to see what this little thing can do.

 

Awesome! please post your impression when it arrives!

I personally think AW could make a gaming tablet similar to the edge (a good replacement for the m11x line), and give it better specs for the same price, since dell has much better supply lines than Razer does.

 

Fox, I respect your knowledge about computers, but can we please start being realistic about the build quality comparison between clevo and AW. The aluminum vs. plastic argument is solely an aesthetic one, unless of course you plan on assaulting someone with your m18x........ As for performance a 370EM vs an m18x with the same specs come out with identical marks in performance so I'm not sure where the performance part of your statement comes from. Also to point out your critique of the clevo design, some of us use these laptops at our place of business and I do not think using an m18x for presenting a budget proposal to board members is the most "professional" thing to do (unless of course you are wearing a purple dress shirt and a lime green suit).

I will concede that the BIOS lock is a bit of a problem, but it's not a huge factor in anything above the 170EM.

 

Thank you. I appreciate that comment. I also respect the fact that there are a variety of opinions about things. We're exchanging views and opinions, and they don't need to all be the same.

Not true... I have had more plastic laptops than aluminum and they don't hold up nearly as well. I've never needed to replace broken parts on my M17x R2 or my M18x, but I have had to replace numerous LCD covers and chassis base panels that were cracked during the rough and tumble of heavy travel. Durability aside, there's something to be said for better aesthetics as well. For me, the anodized aluminum versus plastic is a make-it-or-break it feature. If I am going to spend big bucks on something awesome, ordinary plastic misses the mark. This is a matter of preference concerning aesthetics... whatever makes a guy happy. I think it's a tough case to argue that plastic is just as good. This is my personal opinion on the subject.

This is only true left at stock operating speeds. The 370EM is not overclock friendly and the M18x consistently destroys it in benchmarks. Leaving something configured the way it came in the box seems boring and ordinary to me. Doing that, there is not much point in benchmark leader boards.

The 370EM doesn't get to be excused, at least not by me, for lower performance with the same specs because of having a locked-down BIOS. It is what it is, and it can't keep up. That does not mean the Clevo is a poor performer. It only means it does not perform as well.

If you have this issue and are worried about what others might think about your interest in high-performance computers, then a true professional workstation like the Dell Precision might win more points than a gigantic plastic 370EM or 570WM. The Precision is widely recognized in the professional circles as being a world class machine. Clevo is generally only recognized among enthusiasts and in tech savvy circles. That being said, I am an executive with a large company and my M18x has always been looked upon in wonderment and awe by associates. Perhaps the folks you are worried about are not as stuffy as you might think. Even big-shots like awesome. I know one that rides a Kawasaki Ninja and another that rides a Yamaha R1... doesn't make them any less professional, but it does speak volumes about their passion for power and fun.

This is the price of admission as far as I am concerned. If they were to take these steps to improve their product, it would capture my interest. Until they do, they will not... at least not as long as the M18x or an equivalent successor is available. If that ever goes away, I'll be first in line to buy a maxed out P570WM or P570WM3. I will not be downgrading to single GPU and QM processor regardless of brand as long as there is an SLI and Extreme CPU laptop option available, whether it be made of metal or plastic.

 

I hated the garishness of Alienware laptops a few months ago, and I wanted good excuses to buy a Clevo. After using an m17x (alas, the plastic chassis) for a few weeks, I don't see merit in the argument that it is too flashy for a "professional environment." I wouldn't take myself so seriously. My laptop stands out in the deluge of Macbooks. Worrying about theft is different, but many thieves will steal even the plainest laptops. About the cost: when you can call Dell and buy an Alienware for $100 less than a Clevo with the same specifications, the choice is easy.

Also, HP Elitebooks, Dell Precisions and Thinkpads are the best choices for a plain-looking laptop.

 

In the end it really comes down to what you are looking for in a machine. I prefer a strong plastic chassis to an aluminum one because I have had several aluminum laptops in the past that became dented and discolored (palm wrest) through normal use, whereas I've never had a plastic laptop crack, granted they are always of high-quality. If you are measuring the performance of each product based upon their max potential through user tweaking then yes AW is the clear winner, but for people like myself who tend not to mess with the stock performance then the locked BIOS does not bother me. As for pricing though despite what people say I have not seen any instance where the pricing is similar. I bought this configuration at release, and even with the >20% discount on an m17x it was not within ~$300 when the discounts from Sager/reseller were factored in.

Personally I see these 2 products as targeting different portions of a niche market, which isn't exactly a marketing strategy that is unheard of

 

gotta keep in mind that the display is only a 1024x768. Less pixels to push. But yea I agree that I won't be gaming on a tablet anytime soon, especially when I can buy a decent ultrabook or a gaming machine for the same price.

Depends on who and when you buy it from really. My base r3 that I originally started with was way less due to military discounts and the competitive sagers were at least a $100 more. Each to their own though. Might pic up that 11" sager beast next revision for my networking classes where I need some processing power on the go, but we shall see.

 

I've owned both Clevos and Alienwares, and Clevo doesn't even come close to matching AW's build quality. Even when comparing the M17x (plastic/magnesium chassis) to NP9150/NP9170, the Alienware has better materials, fit and finish, and feel. The styling is subjective of course, but arguing that Clevo matches AW's build quality is simply wrong.

There are other performance benefits to AW machines aside from the better BIOS options. The M18x has better cooling than the NP9370, which is one of the reasons why it overclocks so much better. There are numerous examples of people having temperature issues with their NP370s, especially ones equipped with 7970ms. The M18x's cooling is rock-solid on the other hand. My GPUs have never broken 80C, even with massive overclocks.

In terms of pricing, both of my Alienwares (M17x and M18x) were within a hundred or two dollars of comparable Sagers from the various resellers online. My M18x with i7 3740qm, 60m sli, and four year warranty with accidental coverage came out to $2,999 after tax ($2800 before ttax.) I just built an NP9370 with the same specs and a 3 year warranty on Xoticpc's site, and it came out to $3,068, and that's with vastly inferior warranty coverage. My M17x came out to $2.3k after tax, while a similar NP9170 would be over $2100 from Xoticpc. People who say Alienware notebooks are overpriced are propagating a myth. As long as you avoid excessive ram and hdd upgrades (order them aftermarket) and call in to get a discount from a rep, then AW notebooks are always within the same price range as a Clevo/Sager, and they beat them handily in terms of cooling, performance, build quality, and warranty support.

 

Again, I've had both AW's (m15x) and Dell's..........their build quality and materials are not superior when comparing plastic to plastic, the chassis do not have any appreciable give or flex to them in either case. As for the "feel" if you like "weightier" notebooks then sure I guess they feel better. As for the "finish", my 150em has a full rubberized finish which even my buddy with an M14x admits is cooler (personal preference but just a reference). Like I mentioned earlier, you can also get discounts from certain resellers (Xotic is not the best place to look), I pulled my 150em for ~$1300 at pre-order.......an equivalent AW even with the absurd discounts that were present at the time still cost over $1700 not including tax.

People need to start comparing these computers for what they are and not what they want to justify their purchases by. Alienwares are nice machines and yes you do get some minor improvements like muxless design, HDMI-in, and better warranty for your extra pay, it's whether or not those extras are worth it to you. To a lot of people they are not worth the extra $$$, but to others those options are.

 

I've never owned an M15x so I can't comment on its build quality and materials (though I'm sure it's a well-made machine) but I have first-hand experience with the NP6165, NP9150, M17x, and M18x. If you had an M17x r4 and an NP9150 sitting side bide side, you'd either have to be lying or extremely biased to say that they both have similar build quality. The M17x feels sturdier than the NP9150, with absolutely no flex or weakness in the chassis (the magnesium chassis helps with this.) Speaking of magnesium, the M17x makes greater use of metal in its design, which also makes it pricier and adds to a more "premium" feel than the NP9150. The panel fitment is tighter and more even on the M17x than it was on my NP9150. The keyboard is higher quality and feels better to type on, with no missed keystrokes or ghosting like I experienced with my NP9150. They both have similar soft touch materials, but the M17x's is smoother and less prone to fingerprints than the NP9150. These aren't subjective observations, they're facts that I've gathered from owning both machines. When comparing the NP9370 and NP9570 to the M18x, the differences in their build quality are even more pronounced. Their cheap plastic chassis doesn't compare with stronger and more expensive aluminum. Even if your preference is plastic (which I still don't understand why it would be) there's no denying the M18x is made of more expensive and higher quality components.

If you're wanting a high performance machine in the $1000-1300 price range, then you don't want an Alienware. Bleeding edge performance on the other hand comes at a price. If you're in the market for a very high end machine ($2k+) it makes a lot of sense to go with Alienware, considering all the advantages it has over the competition. You may call them "minor improvements," but they're much more than that to me. It's the difference between getting stuck with horrible Enduro issues or getting the full power of the 7970m. It's about getting world class cooling that allows you to achieve record-breaking benchmarks and better gaming performance. It's the difference between having to wait weeks for your laptop to be repaired if something goes wrong, or having a tech come to your house the next day to fix any issues you may have. It's the difference between being stuck with a cheap plastic chassis or one made out of anodized aluminum. It's about better BIOS options that allow to get the very most out of your expensive hardware.

It's pretty simple: if you think these things are minor, then stick with Sager. If you want the very best gaming notebook on the market, then go with Alienware.