The "Why you shouldn't buy the M15x" thread [OUTDATED] [FIRST GEN MODEL]

Enjoy that MBP. I remember the 15.4" model I had was amazing. I loved the build quality and the metal chassis. Beautiful machine.

 

Yeah dual booting with Vista X64 on bootcamp and using VMware while in Mac OSX when needing certain apps to work. Th build quality is light years ahead of the M15x, gaming is ok, but if your a hard core gamer then go with a PC.

The mac is expensive with all the software I need for work but I am not regretting anything at all. I should have done this a long time ago. Especially since I built my Desktop

CM cosmo S
QX 6850 @ 3.5 GHZ on Air
Extreme TT120 cooler
X3 1000 PSU
4 gigs of Dominator 1066 Ram. @ 2.2 Volts
Asus Striker Extreme MOBO
Raptor X drive in Raid Performance
8800 GTX in SLI
1 tb of back up Storage.
Running Vista X86/X64 and XP.
24" Dell ultra sharp.

So I don't need to game much on my PC besides a little World of Warcraft.
He he he Stop laughing.

 

The problems on the m15x are real and they are by no means trivial!!

Why hasn't anyone mention about the unresponsive keyboard? Totally unacceptable.. can't even register keystrokes 40% of the time LITERALLY.

You say trivial issues like webcam and mic quality? Seriously, my 3 years old IBM has far better webcam and mic quality than the m15x I own.. WTF?? Especially the quality on the webcam is totally unacceptable.. I would be happier if they didn't integrate a webcam at all!! I rather get nothing than get a piece of junk webcam on my high end laptop which is practically useless..

Also I can vouch for the security lock.. I have already contacted AW about it and they admitted that the lock is NOT standard or universal. I can only sit and wonder why would AW do that in the first place?

There are some minor issues with performance too. Overall I'm satisfied with the performance.. but with all these so called trivial issues.. it really makes my computer experience a bad one.

Final thoughts.. I doubt I'll be buying from AW again.. unless I see drastic improvements on their product quality and service.

 

Keyboard responsiveness is due to the Synaptics touchpad drivers, not the keyboard itself (even some Sagers have been reported as having the same problems as they also use Synaptics drivers, though seemingly nowhere near as bad as with some m15xes) -- besides, I believe someone came up with a fix for it.

as for the webcam, I came from a computer that didn't have one, so while I don't disagree that the quality is pretty bad, it's illogical to say they shouldn't've included one at all.

 

I have tried all the proposed solutions in regards to the Synaptics drivers and it did not solve my problem. I have the latest drivers, updated BIOS and replaced the keyboard from AW. This problem is very significant to me and is not just something I can ignore.

Also I don't know how good or bad your webcam quality is but mine is totally unacceptable. It is practically useless to me because it's so blurry and you can't fix it! Software alone won't do anything.. the problem lies with the webcam itself. So in my case I meant like I rather not have a webcam on my m15x if I can consider it to be not working at all?

And also to add.. it's true that the build quality should be much better for the price it's going for.. I don't really like how wobbly the screen is.. but that I don't really care either.

I've been reading a lot on Sager and Clevo and I really like what I'm seeing. I like my m15x too.. but my next laptop will definitely be a non-name-brand one.. they are cheaper and better quality. I never owned those though.. so don't take my word for it.

 

edit: have you tried uninstalling them and working that way?

 

I appreciate you digging up the thread, unfortunately it did not help and the problem persist. I think I might have to send my system back. man.. what a hassle..

btw I heard you can only send your system back once? like when u pack ur system in the black box they first sent u.. u won't get the same box back

 

yeah I looked at the thread and it actually doesn't seem to be such a big fix as I thought it was; did you try uninstalling?

also, while it is possible you won't get your box back you can send it back as many times as it takes to fix it.

 

yep.. I uninstalled.. then reinstalled the driver from my Hive support page.. I even tried the latest drivers ( http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15103)

From what I see many people are saying the unresponsiveness problem occurs only occassionally, or maybe like every 300th keystroke.. It's more like every 10 keystrokes for me! It's not just about the Synaptics drivers..

Anyway getting back on topic.. this is just one of the m15x issues prospective buyers should be wary of.. and no AW has not come up with a real fix. Most of the "fixes" you can find around are proposed by the users themselves.

 

no, I mean, uninstall and NOT reinstall. Let Windows default drivers take over.

 

LMAO AW still haven't given any kind of information regarding any of the issues the M15x.

 

yeah I did that too of course >.<

hmm.. from ur signature.. u can return a system after 6 months? what's the catch?

 

If there's a problem with your computer and you give AW one chance to fix it (i.e. send it in to the repair facility) and the problem remains, then you are allowed to return it at no cost.

 

What issues?

Its perfect.

 

Sorry for being off topic here, but I think it is necessary to clear up a false statement. At 2005 June, non of the thinkpads had integrated webcam, I am confident about that because my T43p was one of the first shipment, arrived on 1st June.

 

this is the worse laptop i have every owned alienware suck the quality is so crap i cant believe i bought one.

The reason why we get **** qualitly alienware laptop> because you have to buy one from the net you cant just walk into a shop to see, touch, feel or smell the laptop.

It is the crappiest laptop in the world 90% more expensive than other brand and the software that came with the laptop doesnt even run dvd or bd movies. The Cam doesnt even focus and its really poor quality one at that.

my spec 2.9Ghz Extreme with 4 Gig ram and 512M gtx8800M vid card. My desktop non Alienware runs so much faster at 2.4ghz compared to this extreme 2.9ghz.


This will be the first and last laptop i will ever buy from this ****ty company.

The stupid lid doesnt even close or lock in - it flops like rag doll. What kind of idots do they take us? make us pay for so much more than other brand in return we get the worse quality laptop?? Screw you ALienware i will never buy your laptop again.


The keyboard doesnt respond i have to press it like 6 times before the buttons work on the ON/OFF button.

The speaker hisses like a dying snake.

THe video card stutters like a kid that never learnt to speak.

Wtf is up with this bs laptop from AW?

Once bitten twice shy. Giving AW the fingers - yeah go laff at me for now but you wont get a good word of mouth from me.


DO NOT BUY m15x Laptop people be warned. THis ALienware Laptop is like a cheap chinese small car import.

 

yes, agreed. i mean who would put that kind of "speakers" in that price range laptop. they make anything but the proper sound. Fans rattle the frame pretty bad, not to mention they f****** unbelievable loud! Design sucks big time, the thing that got me to throw 3k was 8800mGTX which fallen apart. My main point downclocks... ehhh so on and on forever. i need to stop... goodbye

 

i am forced to use headphone because my speakers on this m15x laptop suck so bad it hisses like a dying snake rather than a proper sound volume speakers.

 

this is the best post i have ever seen on these forums, please foward this to alienware lol

 

Here what get me. People who pout. Due to the fact they did not do there own research. I am looking at this going ok the new laptop not looking to well. What can I do.

Going on Sites like CNet and PC mag. Will not tell you anything. All they want is to do is make them self look good. But going to Notebook review when people look at the issues as they are and try to help with issues. That show the ture reviews on new systems. It dont matter if it Dell or Acer or Apple. We care.

Blame your self like I blame my self. I order a area 51 5550I and had to have them rebuild it many times. I could of had a solid Pro Star laptop. With no problem. It might look to basic but it would of done what I wanted.

What Upsets me about Alienware is I seem to know more about computers then they do and they down play you. Even with a Well known Auther next to you.

 

I'm sorry for all of you that feel the frustration... I'm happy for the ones that don't.

Some might disagree, but the information I detailed here is quite accurate and, by no ways, exhagerated. I even left issues that are quite common out (like the keyboard unresponsiveness). Even if some might not agree (or not be as sensitive), the issues are there. I'm not that sensitive to most of the issues, and wouldn't worry if it wasn't for the screen wobbliness and the GPU going up above 100ºC (and the CPU on constant load for couple of hours to 92ºC).

My laptop is going back tomorrow for them to try to fix it... I honestly don't have much hope, but I'll give it a chance.

 

Well you have all gone and done it, looks like i will be waiting even longer to get a new laptop. I was hoping the mx15 would suit me fine to run the new conan game on max settings. But it seems with all the trouble with and lack of anything getting fixed, i will just have to plod on with the crappy desktop for a little longer.

Be interesting to see if the mx17 makes it to the UK maybe that will be the better answer, but at a cost i dare say. Or would the old m9750 be able to handle it ? (never owend a laptop before but its only gonna play conan and the usual pc music and photo thing)

 

Hi there Slumpy...
If you wait a couple of month, you will have the new Clevo M860TU coming out. It's positive in two ways... It's a similar concept to the M15x (same size and similar/more performance). The other positive think coming out of it, AW will have to do something regarding the M15x if they want to keep on the market.

 

That looks it could be the ticket, bit of a noob question though, the 15" will be fine for sitting in the garden and while out and about, but if i want to have a serious gaming session (without the mrs nagging me) can i just hook it up to my 24" monitor and play at the same resoultion as the m15x (the wugxa or something like that ? )

 

AW won't even admit they have issues.
They won't even answer post here anymore.

Man I am so sorry for all of you have stuck it out this long. Kudos to you all. You have much more patience then I.

 

It's also a matter of our individual laptops, newfie. If I had as many problems as you had, I too would probably send mine back. Luckily, I (and those of us still with their m15xes) haven't.

 

GRB, I think things should be put the way they are. The M15x was produced systematically, the way it is now. Appart from slight variations in production, the M15x standard is what is here to see.
As it was already mentioned, some people are aware of the problems and are able to see it, other won't even bother.
I would bet that someone that doesn't even read this forum wouldn't even be aware of the overheating (and maybe the downclocking would never have been found... or at least as promptly) and the other generalized problems. Does it make it right? I have no doubt saying "NO".

Saying these problems are down to some individual cases is, in my humble opinion, an irresponsable statement.
It's quite obvious and it's there to see... the majority can easily identify these same problems. Again... not everyone will care.

 

No no, milcs, I didn't mean that -- we're on the same team here . There are systematic faults with this machine which apply/applied to everyone, and threads like this are doing the community a favour by outlining what they are. Of course I agree with that.

That said, there are some issues which aren't as common. For example, MrDJ's 3dmark score tanking for no apparent reason. If I owned that computer, then I definitely would've returned it (as he did). newfie has also had similar problems which cripple his computer in ways that mine hasn't been. My point? I'm definitely not denying systematic issues, but what I am saying is that for our victims of the horror stories, there is often a difference between the faults their laptops have and the ones that, say, mine has. It's not like I'm choosing to live with a 3dmark score which was cut in half, while MrDJ chose not to -- I just literally don't have that problem.

 

Ok, got your point.

I just don't want my post to be understood as a biased one. I have the feeling I need to be repeating that as people sometimes take my 1st post, offensively. I read so much, I spent so much time trying to gather information from the forum, so much time testing my laptop... I just hope people realize this is not a "I hate AW" thread. I WANT TO be able to say... I love my M15x. That's all...

If everything goes well, I will keep the M15x and I'll be happy with it. But that there are issues there, that's undeniable... No horror story on my side (so far), although >100ºC does make me imagine burning stuff.

 

yeah, I understand what you're saying. I had the same 'conflicted' feeling back when I was dealing with the earlier issues like GPU downclocking

 

you know voodoopc is soon to launch some new as well... if they look as good as they used to, quality ( they used to cost more than the fun, but as HP has a say now, the cost might be less and the standardization might make them a bit more AW)

 

Well, Voodoo has a long way before their prices are anywhere close to reasonable. HP hasn't changed much in regards to that yet

 

did someone mention my name

hi guys and gals, how you all doing.
so sorry to hear even more horror stories. all i can say is been there done that and got the tee shirt.
im still waiting for my refund
i do miss my m15x but it was not worth all the hassle of keep returning it every couple of weeks.

 

hahaha, i wasnt even aware these companies sold alienware, i thought you could only buy directly from them

 

Some comptuter stores act as agents for example mose computer stores sell Asus or nVidia Laptops therefore acting as agents.

 

Please keep the comments reasonable and non-offensive in here, thanks.

 

erm.. some of you say Alienware doesn't admit m15x faults.. you're right and wrong.

You're right because YES Alienware doesn't admit m15x faults publicly or openly.

You're wrong because NO Alienware does admit m15x faults through emails and phonecalls. I have alias with them regarding my problems and they have admitted the faults explicitly, my problems namely: m15x security lock not universal, webcam quality, mic quality, keyboard responsiveness.

The good thing is that I haven't experience downclocking or overheating problems so far lol.. and you say I have trivial issues.. not really.. they're pretty serious especially when you account the price I paid for it! Except for the security lock compatibility which I don't really care.

After much deliberation, I am sending my system back for the first time hoping they will ease my keyboard responsiveness problem.

Actually apart from that (and the crappy build quality), I really like my m15x. But was it worth it? I don't think so. And that is after I accounted for all the hassle it has brought alongside. Why can't you get a peace of mind after spending 5k+ on a loaded laptop? That's ridiculous.

 

I think I'm going to wait until the end of July so I can get the Clevo m860tu with the 9800m GTX. (If it gets good reviews that is. ) I figure that the 9800m might not be a huge increase of the 8800m GTX performance wise... but it might offer a pretty decent reduction in heat for a 15.4" notebook. Again, either that or go with a m15x if Alienware gets their entire chassis made from the Magnesium alloy. That would solve so many issues right there... (heat, flex, hinge strength limitations), with what I imagine wouldn't be a huge increase in price. ($100-200). I'd buy one right now if they did that. <grin>

 

fully metal cases are bad they dent badly.. just look at macbookpros while they look good if u baby them damage to them is massive and almost impossible to fix..

there is nuthing wrong with abit of flex stops damage and helps to absorb impact... i would rather glue some thing back on than dent it back into shape. not to mention warping that takes place in fully metalic laptops

also metal gets hot on the touch even the macbookpro has a plastic top layer around the keyboard.

I think the real "cheap feeling issue" with the m15x is the gloss paintjob... i think once it goes black matte like the m17x people will stop complaining about quality.

I think its more a question of touch and feel than actually quality of materials. Over the past 4months i've only seen 2 hairline crack complaints 1 joined with a noisy opening complaint and only 1 serious damage one which on reflection was prob by user folt due to the extent of the damage.

hurry up black matte but <_>

but yer i don't know the number of m15x made.. but its fair to assume we are still in the first Batch of hardware right? the complaints of actually case integrity (beside feel) are not that high at all.

 

I agree with you heathkidd; you made the same point I have about the gloss plastic. To some, it's synonymous with cheap plastic, which is a false presupposition.

As well, while the screen has notable flex, the main case (and the laptop as a whole when the screen is closed) is entirely rock solid.

 

Just updated post number 1 on the thread to add some images.

Also, the laptop went back today to AW for repairs. I honestly hope they can fix the major problems regarding lid wobbliness and overheating.

 

By the way, the light is supposed to bleed through the plastic, but it looks like your isn't bleeding enough on the left side of the lid. Mine is more even all around, but not perfect I don't think.

 

Lessaj7, that bleed has nothing to do with the light pipe.
I have the light coming from the light pipe and it's fine and that's what's supposed to happen.
Here i'm taking pictures from the top. You can't see the light pipe but there's light coming through the plastic that surrounds the screen. A close look shows that this is due to the fact that the paint job is not thick enough on certain areas and leads to this light bleeding through.

 

you will most probably get a new case/chassis. just make sure its got your own name plate on it when it returns.

good luck mate

 

Like I said, the light is supposed to bleed through the plastic, if you'd like I can get you a picture of mine. The problem with your light pipe is that on some parts the paint is actually too thick, and thus not enough light is bleeding like it's supposed to.

 

thats what I was thinking

 

It's an interesting question; which way is it? Is it supposed to be thick or thin?

 

I prefer thick but maybe others don't

 

Let us know if you get a better/updated case/screen. Cause im sendin mine in if they have improved this.

 

Lets clear something out... this light bleeding is not normal and is a serious mistake in craftmanship. I will post some pictures of the light pipe when I get my computer back. My light pipe is fine, thick and quite cool. Now, the light bleeding through the lateral wall of the LCD case is just bad. It's quite obvious the light was not supposed to come through the plastic, otherwise the light pipe wouldn't even be there and they would have just let light come through the lid. Question yourself? Why did they take the light pipe out in the beggining?
Bottom line is, I'm sure of what I'm talking about and seeing... this is not a feature, this is not how it is supposed to be. There's the light pipe putting light out and then the crappy plastic combined with a crappy paint job, let the light of the light pipe bleed through.