Poll: Who Wants MORE Metal From AW?

I've read the Alienware plans NOT to build anymore notebooks made from metal when they replace the current models. BOOHOO!

The M17x is by far the nicest laptop I've ever owned. I would buy another one in a minute! A lot of that reason is the metal design...I absolutely LOVE it! Stick with it Alienware.

What does everyone else think? Maybe we can persuade the evils of Dell to let Alienware continue with metal. I myself would gladly pay the extra $$$ for metal!

I would love to see some larger desktop displays made out of metal too. Like the Dell HIGH END displays! I own the Dell 2707WFP and absolutely love it! I would love
to see Alienware come out with a similar unit made for gaming!

Thoughts?

 

Yes definitely metal, as long as it doesn't weigh as much as a car.

 

Yes, the big deal is weight and I'm sure cost to them.

 

I would love to see a fully aluminum notebook (including the palm rest) or at least a fully magnesium alloy one. Plastic feels cheap and notebook makers never use the best quality plastic, usually they go with the cheapest. If AW goes down that path, there won't be much to distinguish it from Clevo/Asus and it will become yet another run of the mill notebook maker. Bottom line can't be that big of a concern given the premium Dell charges for AW notebooks. At the very least they should give an option to consumers where they can choose a lighter/cheaper plastic design or an all aluminum/magnesium design.

 

Where did they say this? I would be really disappointed if they stopped using metal, and Clevos would be a much better value unless prices dropped accordingly.

 

What the hell lol? Cost them? We pay enough as it is.


If they really are switching the main material to plastic then im done with alienware .

I'm sure they will just make it optional if they were were to make changes.

 

Duhhhh...
(whooow surprising outcome!)


yes, naturally.

 

They told me as much when I was at their headquarters in Miami. That future Alienwares would shift from a metal chasis to plastic or at least a lighter material. I protested to this change in design and blamed Dell but I was told it was an AW decision because too many consumers were complaining about weight. Who knows, it may have been something they considered and then abandoned in favor of sticking with metal or we really are doomed to cheap plastic laptops. If the quality of future plastic AW's are like the current palm rest (garbage compared to the rest of the M17x), the Clevo's will become a much better buy unfortunately.

 

maybe for nvidia + chiclet keyboard fans.

 

Ha I tried the G73 last night for the first time at a local BB. I HATED the keyboard, it was uncomfortable. The system itself looked just as ugly/cheap in person as it does in pictures. The screen was 900p and sucked but I can't pass judgment on the 1080p since I haven't seen it.

Anyway, the Clevo chicklet/island style keyboard from what I remember was much better than the Asus - it felt far closer to an Apple design. Overall though I prefer the AW keyboard but it's not enough to sway me from going to Clevo in the future should they get a better design/kb backlighting/rgb led and AW goes plastic.

 

but wouldn't you still pay the extra price for the RGB LED?

 

Well if Clevo goes RGB LED then it won't matter. But of course, I paid extra now and will continue to in the future.

 

the metal design is why im interested in the m17x .... i hope the 5870's come before they ditch the metal... so I can get one before they make them el' cheapo! that sux!

 

I think a lot of jaws would drop if the 5870's came with a new model that was no longer metal. Of course, i don't see this happening, but hey.

 

even the M15x and the M11x is a hybrid of metal and plastic right?

even if they dont want to continue full metal laptops and least do a hybrid. i was really suprised that the M11x was a hybrid of metal and plastic when i thought it was going to be all plastic. I dont even mind if i have to pay a little bit extra if the laptop is metal.

But definitely stay with the metal notebooks. The build quality would always stay amazing and the only thing that would probably beat it is those panasonic toughbooks which are indestructable

 

Every laptop is a hybrid of metal and plastic....

M17x has aluminum, magnesium, and plastic.
M15x has magnesium and plastic.
M11x has magnesium and plastic <---way more plastic though than the M15x.

 

The only thing that is metal on the M11x is the bottom cover plate for the internals. All the rest is plastics of various grades. While I wouldn't care so much for this laptop, I'd be a bit peeved if I was purchasing a $1500+ laptop that was all plastic.

 

The M11x has an internal magnesium chassis wrapped with a plastic frame.

 

One aluminum chassis and you're spoiled for life...

 

If weight's a problem...use carbon fibre? Joking, that really WOULD be too expensive.

In all honesty, I'd prefer metal, but I wouldn't mind plastic as long as it's high quality. The plastic on my M17, for example, appears to be of a very high quality and certainly doesn't look cheap.

Still, it's going to be another 2 years at least before I upgrade, so I don't really mind.

 

Yeah Evil, I didn't spend close to $1,700 so I can sell it off in the next few months lol for close to half price.

 

My plastic alienware compared to my m17x feels cheap and easily breakable. My m17x feels like a tank.

 

I really hope this isn't true. These are the best laptops I've seen from Alienware, and it's almost all thanks to the use of metal rather than plastic. If this is true, then this M15x I'm getting will be my first and last Alienware notebook.

 

MANOWAR's made of STEEL NOT CLAY!!!

C'mon Alienware, thou goes plastic - we hate thee

I say, give me a metal gear solid, military grade, shock-spill-dust-proof, under 4kg weight and I'm in love forever...Oops, forgot the anti-glare

Seriously, at least a metal palmrest....

 

I have to say a Hybrid design is nice, but coming from a SXPS 16 to the M17x I don't mind the weight of this laptop. If they took the metal away it just wouldn't have the same Wow! factor

 

They could really fix this. Have two types of 15 Inch laptops and Two 17 inch Laptops. One set out of so called carbon Fibers aka Plastic and One set Metal and let people pick.

 

Being on active duty the metal case was actually one of the defining items......at deployed locations its nice to know that it can survive getting bumped around without cracking anything. Maybe they do a tough line in metal and a lightweight in plastic.

 

I agree that it should stay metal, even though the weight is way to heavy but that's what the M11x is for though, a good design of metal and plastic like my Precision M6400, but its sad that the M17x has better build quality than a professional notebook. For someone who is in the Army then you can take carrying a 12 pound beast! You guys carry already 60 or so pounds on yourback. It be very funny if the m17x could take a bullet and survive. I agree that having a design of an alienware defines apart from a Asus and Clevo which use way too much plastic.

 

Just another reason I'm going to get the M17x with 5870's and that will last me for the next few years. I'm resisting all changes to plastic now that the M17x R1 made my Inspiron 1720 feel a little more cheap. I'm also resisting all changes to 16:9 as long as possible. I see the R2 lasting me at least 3 years. Not that it's a bad thing, but I don't like where things are headed.

 

I dont mind the weight of the m17x, they are not for carrying around anyway. metal or aluminum or carbon fibre is the way to go. The price shouldnt matter since it is supposed to be the best possible set-up. Im sure alienware wouldnt do this unless they have something in mind to surprise us. Anyway the should have one more 17inch model to choose from. Im not in favor of being able to choose between plastic or metal but if there are two models they could make one plastic and one metal.

 

Carbon fibre isn't plastic.

It's actually a light but very, very strong composite material. It's used in the bodies of very high cost racing cars. It's much better than metal in reality-but 3 times the cost of steel.

 

Where did you read that?.Can you post the link

 

Sorry, i voted 'No' without first reading the OP.. i feel that the current range of AW notebooks feel robust with the metal base, i wouldn't like the entire chassis to be composed of metal. Quite annoyed that Dell AW are considering to replace metal components with plastic.. my gf has bought several non-metallic notebooks in the past and they all seem so flimsy. I don't think i'd consider AW for my next purchase if they'll compromise build quality when we're already paying top dollar.

 

I love the metal and hate plastic. Metal laptops are one of the main reasons to pay a premium for an Alienware laptop for me. If they were made of plastic, I'd likely go with a much cheaper Clevo system or similar.
Although if they made a sturdy carbon fiber/composite chassis as some suggested it may be even better.

 

Man I hope they keep the metal around. It really bothers me that people complain about the weight when they are buying a desktop replacement.. Those crybabies should just stick with macs or netbooks.. What do you expect when you are buying the M17x with all that it offers.. To weigh 5 pounds... People are crazy.. I would rather deal with the extra few pounds and have a solid notebook than a cheap plastic one.. The metal is one of the big factors that sold me on the M17x aside from the performance parts..

 

Joker went to AW headquarters and they told him metal is out for future notebooks.

By the look of this poll, it looks like they're making a bad decision...

 

Yes nice poll, it's like asking the Pope if he likes Catholicism.

 

He Does?!?

ROFL

 

You have to look at it from a marketing perspective.
They need to produce laptops that sell for a lot(like the Alienware logo) but are inexpensive to manufacture. Plastic is a lot more readily available and most people don't understand why metal is "better" than plastic per se.
General population>select, picky, few when money is involved

 

Still, reputation is reputation. They almost lost it with the first m15x and m17x models with their sketchy build quality, and I'm sure their first plastic run will be just as bad. After that they may realize they need metal to be a boutique brand, because if ASUS is grabbing all the "common people" gamers Alienware wont have anyone left to sell to but us

 

Fixed

 

seriously, c'mon now everybody!

in an effort to more broadly appeal to the entire mobile pc enthusiast market (which does include gamers, but most definitely not comprised solely of them), dell is looking to sell their high performance line (recall this is the reason for the merger/acquisition, not just to have some high cost/low volume "niche" brand - that model will last only so long before bean counters pull the plug) alienware to consumers looking for something not quite as heavy as the majority of the existing lineup. this most likely will result in a chassis similar in construction to the M11x – not entirely metal free, but weight reduced and of high quality nonetheless!

so imho, this poll poses entirely the wrong question. the M11x is what people should be taking into consideration when gauging future product lineup - the reducing weight, reducing costs (to both company and in turn consumers) aspects - but again, not compromising quality!

keep in mind the ever increasing market competition, even from odm's; don't want the same fate to befall alienware that has other "niche" companies of late, right?

so an improved poll (aside from adding "high quality regardless" as an option) would incorporate thinking along the lines:

if there was a 17" version of the M11x chassis, would that suddenly not be good enough to don the alienware marquee?

 

The M11x chassis is still better than most.

 

The M11x build quality is okay but too plastic for my tastes. Plus given all the defects it's had, I would say it leaves a lot to be desired. So no, I would certainly not pay top dollar for an M11x quality design.

 

It's still more sturdy than your average Dell/Acer/HP/Asus/Clevo system.

 

If they change to plastic I will be making my current Alienware last a lifetime... Otherwise I'm gonna have to take the plastic one to Dubai and have it redone in Silver.



Btw, Mandrake I see you went ahead and re-ordered an M11x. Nice. I want to also, but I am willing to wait it out a bit longer.

 

all in favour of titanium with a paint coat say aye!

min. price 5k :tongue:

 

That looks like chrome.

 

Definitely not silver, but that's what they call it.

 

I disagree, I think Clevo's use better quality plastic than the one employed in the M11x or even M17x. The palm rest in the M17x really is flimsy and prone to scratches very easily. When I played with the M11x prototype, the chasis felt pretty good (the base was clearly a magnesium composite) but the rest of it didn't measure up to it's bigger brothers (M15x/M17x). The M11x design is great for budget gamers, maybe even a 15" built on a similar design would be okay. However, the M17x should be left alone as a top end metal notebook (get rid of the plastic palm rest while they're at it).