*Official* Alienware Launch Discussion Thread

Take this with a grain of salt, and understand that this was an escalated order. I received a call today in regards to my 18 that is in "pre-production" status now. This is a replacement for my m18xr2 that was has been sent to the depot and had two onsite visits to attempt to repair. I was told by a phone rep that my laptop would ship sometime early next week when they called to confirm order details. Based on my understanding of the order process, that means that they likely are completing hardware build this week and will ship them over the weekend as an order "batch" to be sent to end customers next week. If you go look online right now at the AW site it does show that a new order will ship on 7/25. I am hoping that this is in fact the case because my existing m18xr2 is totally hosed and I need a computer to work from home.

 

Yeah always take dell with a grain of salt

However mine has been "In prod" for 5 days.

 

If you are indeed getting an new Alienware 18 - I would go out on a limb and say that I am 99% sure that you will not get by the date they told you. EVERYONE who has a new one on order is being told 07/15ish. Mine is 07/18. I have been told by 2 Dell reps [1 in customer care and 1 whom is w/e department is higher than them] that the LCD issue is a GLOBAL quality issue.

 

Well, my replacement 17 (which they really hosed me on the specs of - only non-stock component is the screen) has been "in production" since the 19th, and the tech coordinating the replacement said it would be at least another week, probably longer. So serious quantities of salt.

 

Well.. It looks like that dell wasn't no where near ready to the launch of the new alienware laptops when they did it...

Quality problems with the screen is just not a good excuse... The first thing any organisation was to do before a new product launch is making sure that the suppliers are able to meet the specifications of the product being produced...

I'm my opinion.. The product wasn't ready to be launched but they did anyway because the deadline was the E3... I wouldn't be surprised if even the end july EDD gets postpone...

 

I would say several grains of salt>>>

 

I'd at least complain for a 150 dollar upgrade somewhere because of the CPU. Did you install the SSD yourself?

They postpone the builds they are going to owe lots of people lots of money.

 

I've been trying - but every time it seems like a 24hour wait before they respond via email, and my tech is without fail busy with someone else when I call. (My first priority is the GPU, anyways) And even they don't seem to have the authority to change anything... I even offered to pay for different parts, but apparently that's unacceptable.

As for the SSD, dell didn't offer asymmetric (SSD+HDD) setups when I purchased mine, and it's cheaper to do it yourself anyways. So I get to keep that, at least - and if I want to hurt my ram clocks, I can move my 2x8 1333 kit over too.

 

Open a BBB case for warranty qualms. Thats how i got a 10% coupon off for my previous order which i lost out on a coupon because of their mistakes.It goes to someone in America fast if you file a BBB complaint.

 

Not sure if this has been posted somewhere else, but I just saw this on AW's Facebook page, and it looks like they are getting ready to start testing and shipping out some new laptops. :thumbsup:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151515297616973&set=a.139387336972.113372.71644901972&type=1&permPage=1

 

Yeah they posted that a while ago but we have yet to see any. Thanks though!

Note that picture is full of 18's which are the most delayed lol.

 

Probably true, it just feels a bit mean. Of course, it has the possibility of a much less neutered replacement, so I'll start filling that out tonight.

 

It takes 10 minutes and it isn't mean. Its a way to get a quick response. And if they resolve it which they always do it ups their rating so really it benefits both parties.

Edit: And of course fill us in.

Edit 2: I'd put something along the lines of i paid 2500 for this machine i expect a replacement of equal value. Not one that has base specs that is worth 1800. Of course the prices are incorrect but you get the example.

 

Well, yeah - if I'm going to bother filing a BBB complaint, I'll also post about how well it works. And I forgot how short the forms were - It's been a couple of years since I last had to do this. (Comcast seemed to think I had an IP address rather different than the one I actually did, one which happened to be torrenting a TON of movies and . They threatened to cut off my service. Again, not coming from my IP - which somehow they didn't realize)

 

Lol @ Comcast and their NBC affiliation.

 

Just got off the phone with the sales people and thought I was getting a good deal on the 17. I go in immediately to double check the specs only to find out that they put in the i7-4800 instead of the i7-4900 they read back over the phone. So I call back and I get quoted $700 more for the same config with the 4900. I have them send me the quote and they added the over locked 4900 instead. This is getting frustrating.

 

It happens buddy, call them back and haggle it. Worked for me

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

Anyone bought a Alienware Vindicator Backpack. It ordered one and it gonna have it at 6 august 2013. That crazy! I got to wait a month for a backpack?! I'm trying to contact dell about this but there quite slow when it comes to email.

 

Well, I finally purchased the 840 Pro SSD 256GB. An interesting fact is that Dell has it at $240 but I called up to use a 15% off code that I had (wasn't applicable at first but manager approved) I was sure to mention the prior purchases and it came out to about $204. Considering I should have gotten the drive when I first did the customization...at least it broke even(although now I have to do the install). Can someone point me to the thread about installing an SSD with Windows 8 Clean install and any BiOS changes I may need to make it my boot drive. Also I hope Dell posts the manuals on their site soon as I'm very curious to get inside.

 

It was part of my order too, but I was quoted July 25th for the 17.

 

I gather they quoted you the $700+ with the OC 4900 as opposed to the base 4900. I wonder how much the price difference is since I got the OC standard when they were first available to order. Now the OC processors aren't even on the site (at least for the 17" in the U.S.)

 

I already received my Vindicator backpack. took them two weeks to deliver it. the backpack is good. it has a hard front so I need not worry if someone bumps me from behind.

 

Thats a pretty annoying screw up. Don't worry if the 4900mq reads OC at the end or not. They are the exact same chip, and you will be able to do the exact same OC in about 5 key stokes in the BIOS. Its not a special deal or anything.

 

Original quote was with regular 4900 (or so I thought) but showed on order as 4800. Never mentioned OC. Now quoting for an additional $700 for the same system with the 4900. Still no mention of OC, but when I had them email me the quote it now states OC 4900.

 

(double)...

 

Hey! I want to thank you so much for letting us know about this website. I have been waiting for a while for Xotic PC to get the new Alienware 18 available for pre-order. I am excited to be able to customize my own computer. If Dell knew their users at all, they would let us do it directly through them. The "Customize & Buy" button on their website is a complete joke. ((I am also liking that the warranty options are cheaper through this site as well ^o^))

P.S. I am a U.S. customer and this site was helpful for me to know about, had to cut the link because it wouldn't reply correctly, but he posted it on page 120 if anyone's interested! I am still hoping Xotic PC comes through though.

 

OC is like few changes in the Bios, takes like 5 sec to do lol.

 

So Dell keeps phoning and asking whether they can do anything to incentivize me to not return my 17r4, which I received just days before the announcement of the new lineup. I keep saying I want the new model but I guess they would prefer not to return a laptop they aren't even selling anymore. Thoughts? What would you ask for?

 

Well, as my reply to the above was deleted, I'll re-post it in the interests of giving AlienThoughts the correct information he needs. It is somewhat irrelevant for him that the US has a 21 day returns period as he is not a US customer. As he is a UK customer, he only get's 7 days return period and if he is a UK business customer, he doesn't get a return period at all. Period.

This is not intended to get anyone's back up or bicker.....this is simply the correct information that AlienThoughts should be aware of - allowing the incorrect information to remain posted, and deleting the correct information is somewhat strange, but if this get's deleted again, so be it.

 

Thats odd. I was enrolled in the EPP just so that i could be given a further discount and i provided no information. So it appears if they do that randomly to UK customers it ensures they get the credit for the sale regardless. ~ No bueno.


EDit: Being in the EPP has been a pain because i have to call a number that isn't listed on their site about my order. So if i lose it, or i'm not home i need to call 1 number to get redirected to another.

 

Do you want old technology? Ask for 1500$ refunded or 60% of your purchase price. Otherwise your just screwing yourself over with outdated gear. Return it.

((Also, might help to know what your specs are and how much you payed for the configuration.))

 

I partially agree. Unless he plans on getting a GTX 780m he won't benefit that much. Ivy Bridge to Haswell is like 5-8% more CPU performance which wouldn't even be noticeable in games. Only in benchmarks.

You are partially screwing yourself. While you still have a brand new laptop it is *SLIGHTLY* outdated. However if you'd ever want to see it, it would be worth a lot less than an AW 17. Saying that while you can still return it, i'd expect Dell to bite the bullet of the price depreciation. I wouldn't accept the laptop unless they knock off 15-20%

They might even laugh and hang up if he asks for 60% off.

 

I think the best thing he could do would be to ask Dell what they are prepared to offer as an incentive to keep the current machine. There is little point placing unrealistic demands as they will only be met with rebuttal. My advice would be to see what they would offer, and then it would be up to you to decide if you are prepared to take that as an incentive or not.

It's up to him how much he wants to haggle. Only he can decide what incentives would be worth it to him to keep the current machine.

 

I agree. Although, I wonder if he requested that they send out a 780M how that would be met...

 

Well, he has already said he wanted the new model. Not to mention, all of the specs of the new model are cheaper than it was on the older model. So that's already a few hundred dollar increase right there. And throughout this year I've seen a person get a 40% off way before the new model even was released, so it's not unrealistic to get a huge cut on opened, and outdated, merchandise (which will have to be listed as refurbished when they get it back btw).. So if it were me, id just send it back; no amount they are willing to refund him is going to make him want to keep it. There is also a better cooling system on new model, so it'll last longer? 770M* is almost on par with 680M for less the price? so what GPU he got is irrelevant.

It isn't his fault for ordering the old model and then they release a new model without even giving him a heads up before he purchased, so he should not be forced to keep it anyways. Dell has more leftover parts from last year than just his, having extras each quarter is the price any manufacturer pays. Hardware gets outdated and their pockets start hurting-- that's life.

 

GTX 780M ~ 7700P 3D mark 11

GTX 765M ~ 4300P 3D mark 11

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M - NotebookCheck.net Tech

 

I am aware of many different GPU benchmark sites, thanks. I was actually referring to the 770M* chip versus the 680M chip (The chip from last generation alienware computers btw). The difference is only 5 FPS and 770M is cheaper than 680M. So either way he will be receiving a performance increase, especially if he grabs that 780.

 

I apologize for the misunderstanding.

At this point i'm curious why he would "upgrade" to pay less for close to, but less performance? Especially if they offer him a fair amount of a discount.

 

If you really feel that way, why don't you just haggle a huge discount on one of the old models? Why does anyone buy new gear? Dude, I can get a huge discount on a 2006 model, almost free even, I might just get that how about! LOL.

Also, he would not be losing performance since the old models are higher valued on the website than the newer ones, he would be gaining money and performance (or if he gets a discount on the old one, he'd be breaking even).

 

Well i mean performance wise from a 680M to a 770M theres really no change. Theres a huge change from a 650m to a 765m and the 900p screen to a 1080p ips.


The video cards would be near identical and the 17 screen is still TN and still 1080p



If i had to choose an R4 with a 3630QM and a 680M @ 1500 or a AW 17 with a 4700MQ and a 770M and its 1900, i'd take the R4.

 

Tell them you need the best video card. Say you would like the GTX 780M, its compatible and they can install it for you, or you can talk them into doing it yourself (they may argue that its not compatible as it wasn't sold with the R4, just call back another rep because someone there should know thats not true), otherwise your returning your unit

 

Maybe Luis can give this a try before he drops all those machines?

 

I had a 20% off coupon during Dell's 10-20-30 coupon sale about a month back before the new machines came out so if you want the new machines, but are ok with keeping the older model for a large discount, I'd probably try for 30% off. When I priced it out with Dell EPP and it being on sale and dell advantage, I was able to get it down to about 28% off or so all said and done. Even then, I held off and told the rep if he gave me the 30% off coupon (I think only 1% of people got these on their mailing list), which would translate to probably around 38% off, I'd move forward...I'm still glad I didn't for a multitude of reasons, but he said he couldn't (as they always do) and have no problems waiting (as I'm dead broke anyways).

All that said, it's doubtful you would see 25%+ off right now for the new models so if you need the machine now and want a better discount, that's what I'd suggest.

This was all for the M18x for me though. There are some nice things in the old model like 3 monitor outputs, Express Port not found in the new model which some people may also prefer.

Really sad that you can do 3 external monitors anymore (only with ATI earlier though...maybe I'll wait till nVidia comes up with something in mobile).

 

More like this when it comes to Dell.

 

My Alienware 17 3d went into production today after waiting almost two weeks into pre-production status. EDD has not change tho and still 29/7. Hopefully it does not take them the whole month to build it

 

Ok, so, as I mentioned in a previous post, I received a weird phone call yesterday telling my that my 18 would be delayed due to the LCD QC issue...but it still had the same EDD. I just got an email from Dell with the following: "As per latest update from our fulfillment team we were able to recover the inventory and order moved into production. Once we receive any further update will keep you posted."

I don't know what this means, I am trying to get confirmation if this means that the LCD issue has been resolved or not. I'll edit this post when I hear more...

 

Thanks for the update!

 

I just got a call from Dell telling me that there is a processing error with my order and that it will need to be canceled and replaced. The guy did not give/have any more detail. Waiting on a callback now. I assume its config related.

This order is for an Alienware 17..

 

I got that too except I was notified through e-mail. They immediately made another order and it took one day to go from processing to pre-production and after another day, which is today, it went into production.