Stay away from Alienware - Previous owner

Hi, I have read some bits on the thread and as I have understood if you update your OS like from windows 8.1 to windows 10, dellalienware won't provide technical support. Does this mean dellalienware won't support you Software wise but would still provide support for your hardware problems? or they won't really care about you anymore and it's like your warranty is void?

 

No, it only means they won't support an OS that they don't support. This will vary by model. Nothing voids the warranty per se, but any problems that may arise or damage caused that is attributable to a change you make to the system (software or hardware) is excluded under the warranty. They cannot void the warranty on everything carte blanche and say that nothing is covered any more.

 

Thanks for the reply. I ended up asking dell tech support about it and they told me it won't void warranty. I was told warranty will most likely get void if you overclock or underclock and damage the laptop physically. My Alienware 17 R2 had problems and had 2 DOA motherboard. Explained to dell tech support in the UK that I can't keep up with unisys dell rescheduling to fix the laptop, I ended up asking them for a replacement. I'm waiting for my Alienware 17 R3. Hopefully no more problems with the coming laptop. Thanks for the reply tho @Mr. Fox

 

You're welcome. Please keep up posted on how things turn out.

 

If a laptop cannot be tweak without void warranty, it better not be marketed as anything but a POS/consumer system.

Those dell reps must sit on pinecone with dry asses, they also said that opening the side panel on the Area 51 R1/2 (thank god I didn't buy that) will instantly void the warranty.

 

If that's how they're going to roll, they can continue inserting their worthless filth-o-rama garbage into an orifice where the sun don't shine.

 

i doubt the latter. Since even changing the screen panels in current alienwares is allowed and acknowledged by some reps here.

 

I wish I have recorded that phone conversation lol.

But maybe because I was talking to sales, not an actual Dell rep.

 

I dont even communicate with them anymore. Sales team in holland are terrible. The technical support team is pretty forthcoming though.

 

Since their target market is no longer knowledgeable enthusiasts and now primarily uninformed consumers, it is easier than ever to get away with hiring incompetent help to handle first contact. Unfortunately, first impressions are lasting. That they do not put their best foot forward at first contact is pretty telling.

 

At least their new website isn't half-bad.

 

Wow would have thought this topic would have pettered (sp?) out.

If I insulted, acted negatively or challenging to anyone, just want to apologize, wasn't my intent. Just very passionate about this issue with AW/Dell.

Some ideas to toss around:
Are notebook makers perhaps in such a rush to get the next version of their laptops out that they don't spend enough time in R&D? I know some will say if they did more R/D the next CPU/GPU will already be out by the time their product hit the market. So the ? becomes, would you rather have last gen (lets say just for an example, 900 Nvidia and Broadwell - yes Broadwell isn't really around per se, if you know what I mean when the 10xx Nvidia and Skylake are the current gen) if it meant the companies would deliver a laptop that is so tested and developed it has fewer issues like Hardware failures and more robust tools in the bios, and just maybe, looking into the future and develop standards that would allow for easier upgrading of video cards, maybe even standardize mobos for a their cases? Imagine if they created a case that could be used for 2 generations of GPU/CPU. Is all the sleek styling more important than upgradability over time?

Do you think Dell and others should be providing software support with their hardware warranties, once again inserting "hardware" where it really isn't said formally that way? For me I understand that any OEM desktop/laptop/tablet, etc., that the general issues with Windows or other software is the responsibility really of Microsoft or the software designer. The question is what can Dell/AW and others do reduce these issues. Once again it comes down to drivers and trying to steer clear of special modifications and perhaps work with other laptop makers to keep parts more easily serviced by reference drivers and provide an interface for branding (sort of like GPU-Z and how you can pick an Asus, MSI and so on design to go over the tool/alter the look)

Is going paper thin really the best course? Smaller and smaller leaves fewer changes in the design. It seems like most companies are trying to make tablet gaming machines but shouldn't they perfect the previous size (heat, bios, etc.) before they try and rush to smush the computer thickness?

Please do not use the battery supplier from Samsung? Scary.

Sales will be sales. Look at Wells Fargo Bank, now there is a great example of stuffing the orders to meet quotas. I think all the boutique gaming brands need to return to being more intune with their customers and not look at the product as a mass consumed product, but one where the users are more interested in feeling like they are valued at both the start of the sale and the end. Don't use chessy sales or things that really don't make the laptop actually any better and save that for the support instead.

As you can tell have had a great deal of time to think these through.

P.S. Seeing the above post, no haven't checked it out. Too bad the effort in making their website flashy didn't go with the support as well - ha ha.

 

sometimes it almost seems as if all these kids coming out of college with no real tech or business experience are landing top positions in big tech companies and are trying to force consumers to buy a new unit every year or 2.

I worked for a customer service phone support contractor for a big TV company a year or 2 ago and one of the Top of the line TV models they sold ended up being a black Friday special. I was rather dissatisfied when we were forced to tell people they were getting a mid rang model with out actually saying so and pushing the specs in the most positive light possible because there were no parts or placements available let alone produced for the top model. (those extended warranties aren't always a bad idea folks, especially if you can get 4 or 5 year)

Fiddling around electronics and automotive over the years and reading various articles here and there I can definitely say i'v learned a bit about manufacturing and business trends. Glad i'm getting free hand me down and buying second third hand used. It ain't broke it probably won't or is already broke and have an idea on how to fix it or upgrade it. Kind of glad i'm not spending on the latest and greatest.

 

This is quite normal. My two year old clevo only has windows 8 drivers available. Guess what. They work perfectly. And if they don't you, can always check the hardware specs and go to intel or something other website to get them.

 

Other than Command Center and OSD (which are proprietary) just about everything else is available from the hardware vendors. I never rely on the laptop OEM for drivers I can get elsewhere. I actually prefer generic/reference drivers.