Dell dropping XPS, focusing on Alienware

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/12/dell-dropping-xps-focusing-on-alienware/

I thought this might be interesting.. don't know if it's good news or bad.

 

There's another thread on this, literally like 5 lines down

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=249445

 

I'll just clarify that a bit by saying Dell is dropping their XPS gaming line this summer, not the XPS M1530, XPS M1330 or anything related to that. The XPS M1730 would be retired and they will not develop any more pure gaming XPS PCs. The XPS brand will live on as their high-end consumer brand though.

 

They're just dropping the desktop one's aren't they?

EDIT: Nvm, I read the whole thing. They're axing the beefier laptops as well.

 

anyone who believes that is probably stupid

 

"the Wall St. Journal is reporting..."

Because only stupid people read the Wall St. Journal

 

Can't they have deals/sales like DELL does? Alienware= overpriced.

 

the xps 1730 is overpriced also.

 

Well, that's interesting. Means the M17X will only have Sager notebooks as competition.

I must admit it's a good marketing ploy, it did seem wierd that they released the XPS1730 and then Alienware started to compete with it's own family lol

OB

 

Thats bad IMO... I was planning to maybe get the successor of the m1530, and after my alienware disaster, I don't think I want buy from them again anytime soon...

 

If they are supporting Alienware more, it measn that Dell's CS will be overseeing AW's...that's got to be good. I've been reading about it and apparently AW are releasing some new machines soon by working with Dell...

OB

 

alienwares laptops really are not that expensive... for a standard well done config its only upmarked as much as say mac...

 

It's an interesting move, but I think it should have been expected at some point. I'm just curious why now of all times...

 

Update: Since Dell axes its XPS line, AW now has to take on a wider spectrum of the market

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/13/alienware-to-launch-low-cost-amd-based-gaming-rig/

 

What about those good deals like the XPS 420? Are they going to drop that line of XPS? If Alienware maintains their line that they have now and they don't expand it and if XPS is mostly gone, the choice is going to be limited.

 

It's a conspiracy!!!

A conspiracy I tell yas!!!

 

Come on we should haev saw this coming A mile away. Dell has been slashing jobs all over the world, and they even began selling low end gear at walmart and other shops.

Why would they compete in a niche market and drive prices down, when they can BUY AW and increse profit margins. At the same time holding onto a large chunk of the world PC sales.

We shoudl haev seen this coming MILES ago. And from what I see AW could use the help of Dell right now. Well at least there bullying power anyways.
I wouldn't want to be teh CEO of Quanta right now. (they make the M15x system)

 

Well, the point is if anyone wants an m1730, they better get one before it's off the market... Long live Alienware!

 

i think its funny because alienwares service and build quality may actually rise now.... if there staff are replaced by dell staff..

which begs the question... was alienware even really boutique for the past fue years.?

i just hope they keep

Coolpaintjobs (silver black green blue)
Nice cases.. but make the quality as good as the photo shop skills on the website

and drop the price ALOT...

 

Quanta made the xps dell cases also............... soooo i don't see your point..

 

Heath do you really understand international business. First of all in this industry there is no such thing as loyalty. When your doing your business as usual the big PC manufacturers are always meeting with other suppliers. It's all about Bottom Line. It isn't about what is right for you and me the customer it's about bottom line. Protecting the shareholders investement, and those profit margins.

And of course faulty systems completly destroy those margins. So lets say I am the CEO of Quanta, I am quite happy with Dell/AW selling my cases. Wait a minute my cases are proving to be faulty. So Mr Mike Dell comes rolling in, "listen your gonna drop the cost of those cases, to compensate for the drastic reduction in profit margins due to your faulty products."

Quanat Ceo tries his best to smooth things over. Finaly old mike comes in and says quite bluntly. "Your in breach of contract under quality assurance. If you do not remedy this situation we will find another supplier."

They can and they will. Why because they have the buying power to force these manufacturers to drop prices. Larger volumes usually mean larger discounts when ordering. So if Dell decides to pull away from Quanta do you think somebody will just jump and fill the void left. I doubt it. Quanta shares would drop. What happens when shares drop? The CEO and other official's butts are on the line.

And that goes back to my comment "I would not want to be Quanta's CEO right now." I would rather be back in my uni days and oblivious to the cruel economical world world we live in.

 

this is like hp with voodoo before the blackbird. dell had some nice case designs on the 720 h2c. hopefully alienware will offer multiple options for cases. the m1730 imo was actually a very nice machine.

 

My friend has a M1730, it freaking huge that is for sure. But in all honesty it really doesn't look that bad in person. And the performance he gets on it is quite amazing.

 

That means we can expect huge price cuts on the M1730 if it does go away?

 

I would think so. Just make sure you get some seriously good warranty.

 

See, that was the problem. Nobody wanted the XPS m1730 because it is just too FUGLY! Hence, sales are down and Dell has to dump the line.

 

If I could get a really cheap one then I am all in

 

If I could get a m1730 with only one 8800GTX and in the design of a m1530 I shure would buy it!

 

The beauty of dell is that they haggle like hell and if they are dropping the line you have that much bargaining power, people have been none to get the top spec for £1500

 

That's your opinion that it's ugly, it's not because you think it's ugly that everybody else does. Do you have stats for Dell M1730 sales? I know many people that think it's the hottest thing in the world and some think it's ugly. I don't think sales are going down, they are just hurting Alienware because it's competing with the m17x.

 

To be fair it doesnt have the simplistic beauty of the m15x but it has a certain charm and quite frankly if you had to choose between build quality and looks I know which one I prefer

 

Yeah, but that's your taste. It's not because I don't like it that everyone else doesn't.

 

I know, but thats my opinion, in the same way that what you said is yours

 

wow, might be good for me if i try and bu an m1730 now? i personaly think that its a bit of a chunky girl, but if i can get it for cheap, then ill just keep it in the dark where no one can see it as a desctop replacement and get a cheap old portable.

 

Yeah, but therefore what the other poster said is wrong: "Everybody thinks the M1730 is FUGLY therefore sales are going down."

I know a lot of people that think it's really nice.

 

Correct, some people like it and others dont, I wasnt disagreeing. However, who ever said that originally is clearly wrong

 

I am waiting until around august as most companies do deals then anyway

 

i actually think the 1730 looks better than the m15x.

 

LMAO I know 3 things for sure about the M1730.
1 - The power supply is FREAKING HUGE.
2 - It works unlike our M15x's.
3 - The Extreme processor is running Cool at 3.2 ghz.

So I really hope the Dell people slip over to Aw and lend a helping hand.
I have an M15x that works when it wants to, with an X9000 that can't run it's own clocks let alone any overclocking.

 

I personally hate the look of the m1730 and how big it is, but otherwise its great. It is well cooled, and performs well. Not to expensive for what you get, but they should have added the option for a single 8800.

 

I personally think this is great because now Dell can focus a lot more money into cranking out great new AW PC's and possibly help AW where they are slacking.

 

1. It has SLi 8800's

2. Not as travel friendly as the m15x

3. The huge 17" chassis plays a big large factor on the temps for both CPU and GPU.

 

I'm sure I read somewhere that the M17x uses a 230watt power supply - thats the same rating as the M1730. I'd be suprised if there was much difference between the 2 in physical size. I wouldn't be suprised if they were identical.

I'm really on the fence at the moment. I want to see the UK prices and some real user reviews of the M17x before I decide. I'm leaning back towards the M1730 for Dells Complete Care insurance, the weights of both being equal - had hoped M17x would be lighter - and the strength of the M1730's chassis, unfortunately in the UK its not possible to get the M1730 with X9000 Extreme, blueray burner or 2x320GB disks.

 

i think it might be interesting in opening up an m17x and comparing it to the m1730... they might well be veeeeery similar...

 

Don't think so whizzo,
As far as I can remember from looking at pics the graphics module of the 1730 is at the front of the lappy, wheras in the 17x the graphics module is at the back. As regards weight and so on I havn't seen any 17 inch laptop under ten pounds, these are dtrs so what do people expect.

Kind of a bummer that Dell's ending the line up, they're going, rock laptops are going, most others merely sell rebranded Clevo's - what happened to competition?

 

not true. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yklqhb7PRXY he shows a shot from of the bottom at about 0:45. you can clearly see the BIG GPU fans on the back. plus, cooling the GPU's when they're at the front must be a nightmare (cause you can't blow scorching hot air at the user). so much easier when they're on the back. sorta like on the m17x

 

Oh sorry mate, could've swore I'd seen that way before,
- although thinking about, that arrangement would be kind of silly.

Though as regards likeness to the 17x, the graphics cards in the 1730 are on the left and the processor is on the right, wheras in the 17x the processor is the left and graphics are on the right. So I that kills the same board theory.

I still at a bit of a loss though about them ending their xps line - Is it just ending that name, or is it ending the manufacture of gaming systems completely?

 

okay, when comparing the layout, they are different. regarding your other question: i don't believe they'll completely stop making high-end stuff... i'm hoping they'll keep products like the m1530 and m1330, but lay off the big stuff, like the m1730 etc.

EDIT: about the pic: m17x on the left, m1730 on the rights. thx to AW.com and engadget.

 

Looking at the layouts of both machines and adding the fact that they are both similar in size, they should have the same cooling capacity....well, in theory anyway. I'm hoping that the thermal characteristics of the M17X are as good as the 1730, vent at the back and roomy case lol...

OB

 

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/14/dells-xps-systems-resurrected-wsj-is-judas/