No.. Seriously.. Lighting/Lying issue

WTF...
apart from my one post with comments from a rep at AW.uk, other people who contacted the uk site got news that side lights are available on the laptops.
and since the uk website doesnt have a preconfigured one as such, can we assume that the basic config will ship out with the lights?

 

wow. seriously I thought people would be happy about the post. I believe Meghan is not making it up. good luck. I think im done with this one. going to owners lounge so I can hear positive stuff.

 

Well mrwater got the basic config, and the only lights he didn't get were the keyboard lights.

 

Well, that certainly complicates the matter

You can't go wrong with a Zalman NC-1000.

 

That sounds like they p reconfigured has the lights on, the configured has the lights off. Thats what it sounded like to me. But thats just me Im an optimist...

 

Ugh i cant believe it! I received this email from Alienware UK:

Thank you for contacting Alienware Sales.

Regarding your inquiry, currently, the Area 51 m15x is not being offered with the lighting around the LCD. The system has 6 different zones which can be lit up: Touchpad, Keyboard, Alienhead on front, Alienware name/logo, Quick Touch Area (above keyboard) and the Power Button.

Some of the models sold in Alienware US do have this feature. It was a limited option which is no longer available.

Please do not hesitate to contact Alienware's Sales Department by phone at 0800-279 9751, option 1(inside UK) or 00353 906 456 500, option 1 (International) if you have any questions or concerns. Office hours are Monday - Friday from 09:00 to 19:00 GMT and Saturday from 09:00 to 15:00 GMT.


Best regards,

Andrea Gil
Electronic Support Department
Alienware Corporation

 

There goes your answer, y'all.
So lucky are those who got to them first.

 

Nooo!!! Mrwaters laptop is a collectors item now. Quick, to Ebay!

edit: Maybe they'll do the same for the m17x

 

Good, now maybe the *****en will stop

 

Yep he is right, This is the e-mail i just received from their sales support.
"Thank you for contacting Alienware.

First we would like to apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Currently the Area 51 m15x is not being offered with the lighting around the LCD. Some of the models sold indeed have this feature. It was a limited option which is no longer available.

The system has 6 different zones which can be lighted up: Touchpad, Keyboard, Alienhead on front, Alienware name/logo, Quick Touch Area (above keyboard) and the Power Button."
Well there we go sounds like they where full of it when they talked about the Bios update.

 

LOL...told ya, din i?

 

OMg, If the lights are not on the laptops, in a few months they will put the lights back in, They seem to be doing it just to save themselves some extra cash. I was informed many times that the lighting is "coming soon". So no mrwater's computer is not a collector's item, and, there are still multiple answers which are being given to people, still not cool. But like I said, the rep superior I was talking to is talking to the techs, to try and get them to integrate the lights into it for me. I threatened to canel my order, and that the price I am paying more than warrants the side lights.
If you think it's silly, or stupid, well fine thats your opinion, but it is still a strong customer service issue which should be dealt with. You can say all you want about how miniscule the problem is, or you can actually realalize that the point is not actually about the lights themselves. Its about getting good customer service from a company who is so reputable, and charges sooo much.

 

my computer is most certainly a collectors item, who are you kidding. i'm a nice guy, so absinthe, i'll trade you my $2099 COLLECTORS ITEM for your $4k REGULAR EDITION when you get it.

Fair ? ? ?

 

Mrwater, hold on to that Area-51 M15X "LIMITED EDITION" tight because you are one of the few who have it. LOL. I received mine today and it doesn't bother me that i don't have it. This computer is flawless with or without the LCD lighting.

Absinthe42, you may not be getting your way right now, but your complaints is a step forward in AW making changes in their customer service. Every company strives for good customer service and it's people like you who make them take a second look at what they're doing. Good luck.

 

pfft, no thanks mrwater, I appreciate the offer though.

I am picky, but hey that is just the way I am, principle outrules anything on this matter.

 

[vent] god if my black skullcap m15x doesnt have the lid lighting ima hafta busta cap in some f*&#^n sales rep's ass... I been waiting 6 f'n years for this godamn computer and if its not exactly how I want it ima be pissed... well its actually comin up on 6 and a hlf years... it was 6 in november when they announced it. Then i waited like another three months because i thought it would have come out by now... This was supposed to be my godamn christmas present. AHHHHH!!!! RRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRR. [/vent]
anyways yeah mrwater ill trade my 3000$ black skullcap one for yours with the lighting haha. (jk)

 

Feedback from alienware regarding this issue

 

From what i see at the support page at alienware's website, all may not be lost for at least mrwater...apparently, all he may need to do to enable lights on the keyboard would be to purchase an AlienFX ribbon cable (from AW of course)
after this i thought that there may be a similar cable for the side lights and hence we could upgrade it later ourselves as opposed to a BIOS update...(this would be easier than shipping a laptop with a deactivated sidelight;just dont supply the cable)...but the above mail squashed my theory, but then again, its alienware we talkin bout

 

There has been some very surprising developments in here, thanks to all who contributed. It is disappointing that Alienware still advertises six lighting zones on their website:
http://www.alienware.com/product_de...Code=PC-LT-AREA51M15X-AI1&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT
I'll report on this in the news bits and bring as much attention to this issue as possible.

 

Thanks Chaz! Maybe if there is some sort of outcry from the customer base Alienware will include the screen lighting.

 

It would be great to get some help from the media on this, It is putting me off ordering the m15x, to some people it seems like a small problem and to others it is big, I am one of those who thinks its a big deal. Each to there own.

Thanks

Ade.

 

they are right advertising 6 zones!!!!
mrwater got 6 and so do will absinthe42!!!
they have really played a nice game with words...have to give it to them
iv uploaded 2 pics, one from a vid at ces and another from the website...see the difference for urselves and count the number of light zones

 

we have already talked about this, that damn power button does NOT Count. Distinct means different, stands out, unique. Passing that power button off as one of them is just plain rediculous.

 

So are you keeping your order? Wasn't yesterday "D-Day" for them to get back to you? Sounds like if anything the issue has become more muddled with different answers coming from different people at Alienware.

 

of course we think so, and of course they didn't originally mean it that way, but i'm sure their lawyers could argue that there are still 6 different ones including the power button if they had to

 

what ur sayin also holds true...upto a certain extent...since everybody interprets laws differently
here's my take on it:
what they probably have in their defense is that they mention six 'distinct' 'zones'...and acording to general terms a distinct zone would mean an area which is clearly demarcated and distinguishable from another...
power button = away from alien head = distinct
and as long as they are delivering lighting options that can be played with on these zones, they still are one up no matter how ridiculous it may sound

 

Thank you for this information, we now have proof that Alienware has changed their definition of "six lighting zones". I will include this in the bits as evidence to support the story.

Question: Can we confirm that ALL models of the m15x are shipping without side lights? In other words, are the preconfigured ones also no longer shipping with the side lights? We know the configured ones don't have them.

 

here is what I just got...

Thanks, Tina. We keep up on forums, so I’m sure someone’s aware about what’s being posted out there. Honestly, these things are rumors. I can’t go out and squash them all, even though I wish I could. The information I provided to you was straight out of my supervisor’s mouth, and she’s the manager of the Corporate and Government Sales Dept. That’s what I have to stand by right now. So I will just wait and see..

 

We need to get the blogs to pick this up. Could be interesting to have everyone questioning Alienware and their marketing tactics.

Edit: Sent the info and link to this thread to Engadget. Maybe they'll write something about it.

 

Just had a conversation with a "Robert E" at alienware and this is there latest response regarding the light tubes.

 

WTF? Why can't they get their story straight?

 

anything to sell a product, at least thats what the conv suggests

 

Alienware needs to give an official statement on this fast. Until I get my tubes I'm not pressing that purchase button.

 

Do you think when they mean not available at this time, it means its not available working at this time. Then maybe the sales people say it came on the prefig. meaning activated. Its the only thing that would make sense. They way they actually word it, they never physically say it not there, they just say, not available. It would make more sense than everyone having made up stories about bios, and having it and taking it off. Or available at a later date. Im hoping this would make more sense. The sales people could just be told to say not available and mistake it for, its not even there physically...

I guess Im just hoping

 

While my System just arrived and no side lights. Bu otherwise this system is amazing. OK back to Crysis.

 

Everyone should submit the story to Engadget or your tech blog of choice. If we can get someone "official" to report on it Alienware will feel more pressure to get their story together and issue some sort of statement. If the lighting is not there at all, fine. If it is there but there will be a bios update to enable them later due to rushing the units out the door, fine too. If there was an issue with power drain that kept them from enabling them until it's fixed, I can accept that. But just pick one reason and stick to it! Lol.

 

This is the exact reason I started this thread. I appreciate everyone who actually cares that they get thier damn story straight. Hopefully the bios update thing is true. If so mabye someone who is really good with computer scripting might be able to go in and see. The sales rep is calling me TODAY, at least he better. He is the supervisor, and well, hopefully he can actually give me an answer. I bet all the questions and calls have really caused some kind of rukus. Or at least I hope so.

 

I think the thing than really needs to be clarified is whether the light tube is present in all of the notebook case lids or not. If the tube is there and simply needs to be activated somehow then it is a rather simple matter to have the laptop side lights working with a future upgrade that can be done without sending the computer into AW. Otherwise, the lid would have to be replaced with one having the light tube built in.

 

One thing I have learned about AW, they have a very difficult time getting their story straight.

It seems like I get a different answer to my questions every time I call.

 

Yeah, I think we should find a way to tell them to make an 'official statement'. The whole thing seems weird. If someone from alienware was monitoring the posts, would someone say something about it by now. They should have spokespeople that are allow to pass offical info on the posts.

I dont even have a clue what stage my computer is in. it says billing but I did that that out over 7 days ago. Did anyone else order a computer around the 25th (not preconfigured?)

 

Anyone looking to fight for a discount because of the side lights are screwed:
I don't even think they'll waive the 15% restock fee if you say you didn't get what you wanted and just want to return it.

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I have an email from MY salesperson saying im getting ' disabled' side lighting so Id like to see them get out of that one. but seriously, I wouldnt return it anyway.

 

So...does it has lid lighting or not??

 

Nobody knows at the moment and most of Alienware don't

 

I have lloked at the lid closely and I don't think it has the light tube installed. Unless it's suppose to shine thru, I don't think I will be getting side lights.

 

Ok so The guy called me and said that he believes that he will have "good news" for me. He said he was talking to assembly and corprate. He said he cant quite confirm it yet but he said that its looking like the lid light is in there, but deactivated.

 

there is no way to tell there is a lid light unless it's on. nobody can look closely to find out, i will take a couple of pictures to show you all. i'll be back in a couple of minutes

 

laptop in dark, no flash. lights on.
laptop in light, flash, lights on. can barely see the light.
laptop in light, no flash, lights off, no way to see lights are there at all.

 

oh wow, I was gonna ask you to do this mrwater but you beat me to it

But yeah, when it's off it appears exactly like my (and our) lid(s).

 

damn that light is sexy....