The m15x will now ship with a new higher quality chassis...

I think it's really funny to hear someone coming up and saying... "ALienware is great cause they gave me a refund because my laptop was completely screwed up!" I mean... isn't that the minimum they could do? I don't know, but seeing someone happy to have been refunded does not fill me with confidence and makes me go "Oh yeah, AW is amazing!". Anyway...
Regarding the chassis... it's obvious the only thing you are going to get is the skullcap. But well... People can keep dreaming.

 

ya, I made that comment in that other thread. it's really too bad we're at that level now

 

The only thing that is crossing my mind, right now is really "WHY????". Why did I get myself into this. Anyway...

 

I'm really hoping all the ones that have begun to ship after the back log will be alright.

 

time will tell...

 

I could be wrong but i would think the Skullcap case wont have any cracking issues, because it has rubber on the outside it should hold the plastic together better also no more scratches.

In a lot of ways the new skullcap case will "fix" some of the currrent problems. my bet is that this new chassis is really a new case... but same same on the inside.

my 2 cents
JGR

p.s. i have been away for a while... whats the word on the 2.8 extremes downcloaking? anything new or are u guys still rocking the heat. send me a pm so we dont get side tracked.

 

in the skull cap pictures even the bumps are made of the same material. they have the same glossy reflection in the picture. theres no rubber on the outside...

regarding the extreme processor taco has lowered the voltage for the cpu so it doesnt downclock. we still need an official fix from AW though. perhaps a bios that will lower voltage.

 

well all we get from AW is we are working on the issue I do have a thread going with a fix but we shouldn't be the ones looking for the fix. Maybe a new chassis will do better for the heat

 

yeah, I was wondering where people were getting this rubber thing. also, cracking isn't a big issue on the outside anyway (in fact, the existence of multiple sharp angles may increase the chances of cracking)

 

So, if that sales-dept dialog is to be believed; AW will be offering the m15x in skullcap soon, for new customers; but also - the cooling-system issue has been resolved. Does that mean that the current, silver-ripley chassis has been modified for new customers as well? Better heat-sinks, etc...?

 

Yeah, this makes sense. I think that if there are "improvements" beyond aesthetics, then they will apply to the basic chassis of both the silver-ripley and the black-skullcap designs. The differences will likely only be paint and the lid design. I'm hoping, however, that beneath the surface, they've made some real imrpovements to case-stability and heat management. This would make sense of the month-long delay that many people have experienced, and would only be prudent of AW in moving past all of the criticisms over the past months.

 

humm they may still have massive stock of the silver gloss design.. that they are unable to sell did u even think about that... alot of fuss has been tossed about about the m15x a quick Google search makes it look pretty gastly.

 

Maybe, but there's been a pretty long delay for the whole month of May, when people were stuck in Phase 4 (pre-assembly), and told it was because of cases on backorder. When they called to inquire, several people have been told that the cases were somehow redesigned, and that those in the build-que now will have new chassis. We'll see... might just be wishful thinking!

 

yeah, if they had massive stock of the silver ripley then everyone wouldn't've been stuck for a month waiting for backordered cases.

 

haha... wouldn't've....thats awesome

 

"Wouldn't've" - Would not have.

Haha I wonder what my teacher would do if I used that in my writing . Awesome word

 

heh, I know people don't commonly use it in writing but most people say it all the time, so you might as well use it in casual writing

 

i realle doubt that there is a new case design. just think of it this way. Why do most people not buy the m15x and wait for another laptop like the M860TU or get something different? Because the case of a supposed boutique laptop is crappy plastic.

If they made a revolutionary change like this, they would advertise it to prospective customers, especially here on NBR.

Secondly, how much of a redesign is it? for all we know, they could have say slightly made the edges on the laptop sharper while using the same crappy material.

 

because advertising it now would be a concession that they had junk to start with. You want AW to start plastering on their website "m15x: now with high-quality, crack-free plastic!"? From a PR perspective, you're shooting yourself in the foot. Now, I agree that it would be nice if they could at least put something here at NBR, but I'm still not surprised if they chose to keep this all hush-hush.

 

We'll know soon enough. Personally, I can't wait to get it next week and compare to the one I had several weeks ago. I kind of doubt they made any changes but I could be wrong. From a marketing and PR standpoint, it would undoubtedly be suicide to release a public statement claiming a new and improved chassis. You'd have a huge consumer backlash and all the tech sites would have a field day. It would be like a techie version of Britney Spears going to that club with no underwear on and endgadget being the paparazzi.

 

agreed. keep us posted groove since, as you say, you will have had both types and would be most able to check for differences.

 

You got it.

 

well obviously you would not say that. mst ordinary people do not know of the m15x's faults, so your right, no need to state the pbvious to them, but to coach people like you an me who know better, you could simply have this "new case" advertised with the new skulcap design and perhaps throw in a phase like. "built with alien technology, protected with human magnesium allow." i know that doesnt sound great, but thats what they hire marketing people for.

 

yeah, I don't disagree that they could slip in a statement here on NBR acknowledging the problem, because as you say, for us more educated types it would be a boost to their rep as opposed to a detriment.

 

they will have to do more than make a working case to get our support back, but it would be a start

 

well I meant more that putting such a message on the main website would lose support, if they put it here they would gain support. yes I know it wouldn't be much but it was more a comparison between those two that I was after

 

I have the broken right hinge issue and little pieces of plastic are falling out.

They have asked me to ship the system back for repair. Let's hope that does it.

 

PS - I took a quick peek inside and the problem is the golden nuts the screws thread into are secured in place by brittle PLASTIC. I have never in my life seen a laptop hinge that was anything but solid metal. If they repair this by giving me the same type of hinge, I can GUARANTEE the problem will recur within 6 months time (probably conveniently when my 1 year warranty expires).

Has anyone gotten their laptop hinge issue back and repaired? For the people that don't have the issue yet, I guarantee if you took of the front panel of your LCD screen you would immediately see signs of broken plastic at the hinge.

It's a HUGE problem that is just starting to rear its ugly head. EVERYONE who has the original style will experience this issue sooner or later, I guarantee it. That's obviously why they are announcing the new chassis for the m15x. It is a design flaw and a stupid one at that. I have owned dozens of laptops (usually Dells) and NONE has EVER had a plastic hinge like this one.

 

fex has gotten this back repaired i believe.

 

I think it's about time we write to Engadget exposing this problem.
For the believers and scepticals... Here is your proof.
Are you going to keep not wanting to see? THREE exactly identical cases. It's time for the "lovers" and believers to give real owners and people some credit.
This happenings are simply unnaceptable. And EVERYONE that buys an M15x puts her/himself at the exact same risk.

 

Man if they release an updated case, I will buy it instantly.

 

By the way buzzin... They didn't announce no new chassis. This was wrong information conveyed by someone that did not possess any evidence. It was mere speculation and, your problem, keeps being the problem everyone is exposed to.

 

Hmm, well that ruins my buzz. If they aren't releasing a new and improved hinge system/ chassis, then I'm positive the same issue will be back within a few months time. If that turns out to be the case (and believe me I plan on inspecting my system when it comes back from the depot to see how they repaired it), then I will immediately put the system up for sale on ebay and never purchase another alienware product.

This was my first alienware purchase, and now it looks like my last.

 

BTW, based on the way the guy on tech support was talking to me, they are getting more and more calls like this. Most people probably don't go online to this forum and *****, so rather than say 3 people have the same issue I think its much higher. Also the fact that it tends to take 5 or 6 months of use for this issue to finally manifest... most people probably didn't purchase it the day they went up for sale like I did.

 

Well, I got my m15x skullcap last friday and had a previous ripley model that I sent back in March that I mentally compared it to and there is no change in the chassis at all. I thought there might have been a change in the webcam, but I'm doubting it at this point. The only thing that "might" have changed is an additional support point at the arrow keys but I can't accurately recall enough specifics about my ripley model to be sure. My arrow keys don't move much at all.

Same plastic, same squeaks, same wobble, etc.. My lcd lid is perhaps a bit stiffer but that's it. The flaws aren't big enough to make me unsatisfied with the purchase. Enjoying it regardless.

 

... at least... for six months.

 

Deleted by Svarto

 

groove, you should take the the rubber bumps off the front panel and remove the few screws holding it on and look and see if the hinge is held in place with little plastic pieces.