This is my first time ordering an alienware...[M17x]

...and I was wondering what I should expect. I heard a lot of bad stuff about their customer service and how expensive they were. (Cost me over $2800 for my M17x build) but after deciding over the M17x vs this other sager laptop I decided to get the M17x.

So how long should I expect the shipping to be? Sometimes I hear it takes a long time and sometimes people get it within 3 weeks. I chose a fast shipping option for an extra 39 bucks (I forgot the name) that would deliver on the 3rd/2nd business day after shipping.

And what do you guys think about the customer support? Is it really what people say it is?

 

I've owned an older generation AW laptop for 4 years, and not once did I have to call customer support. So I've had a very good ownership experience as have others. There are those, however, who have not.

Dell has acknowledged an issue involving DPC latency (follow the looooong thread of the same name) with some (many?) M17x laptops. It is a serious problem, and those who experience it have every right to demand and receive the proper satisfaction in resolving the problem. Supposedly a BIOS fix is in the works, but ETA is unknown and Dell has been cryptic on the details.

I just received my M17x last Friday, and I have not had any problems with this new machine so far. I'm running a configuration (quad core, Win 7) that is certainly subject to this issue, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't manifest itself. I'm very pleased with the build quality, quietness, cooling, and performance experienced to date.

The delay between ordering and receiving your machine varies. I ordered mine on 11/29 and got it on 12/11, but I sprang for next business day shipping. A good dose of patience helps.

Just fyi, I'm also a past Sager owner. While I liked my old NP5620, the cooling was substandard given that it had a desktop chip shoehorned into it. I'm amazed it lasted 3 years. I enjoy(ed) my AW m7700a much more.

So what will be your primary uses for the M17x?

 

Gaming like most people who bought this. Then school, and sound editing. (I make electronic music)

 

Should handle that with no problems. If you are one of the unlucky souls who gets one with the nasty DPC latency issue, the sound editing will be heavily impacted to the point of being practically impossible (clicks, pops, stutters, etc.).

The killer is not really knowing the % of M17x machines affected. Reading forums really doesn't give an accurate depiction, because the tendency is for people who have been "wronged" to vent their frustration. People who are satisfied tend to remain silent. The yelling to cheerig ratio is artificially inflated.

 

I am sure it will have DPC latency.

Whether or not it will be severe enough to interfere with music production, I don't know.

 

Oh yay T_T I hope a fix doesn't require me to send my M17x back to dell and wait like 6 months for fixing/shipping/ect

Wonder if it will have a huge impact on games..

 

Check out this thread, should give you a good idea of how long others have been waiting. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=423387&page=110

Also here is the thread on DPC Latency. Gives a good explanation on it http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=408300&page=60