What can we expect from the next-gen Alienware laptops?

O.K.
I've seen a lot of speculation in many posts here and thought it might be interesting/fun to discuss what may be likely included in the next generation of A.W. laptops.

Here's what I think will be included:
-Calpella X58 platform
-Clarksfield Core i7 processor
-Up to 6 gigs memory @1333
-ATI 4870's Xfire
-Nvidia GTX 280m
-Raid ability on at least one model (like now)
-Smart bay on one or more models (like now)
-Alien FX lighting
-Vista 32/64 and depending on release date W7

Here's what I hope will be offered: in addition to the above
-Core i7 xtreme mobile processor
-GTX 280m in SLI
-LED backlit screen
-Name brand performance memory, For what we pay we should get the best
-Choices of brands of performance SSD's
-Card reader that accepts SDHC cards
-A laptop chassis that has a front load optical drive
-USB 3.0 ports

Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

Again, Alienware does NOT design or manufacturer their notebooks... they might make a contract to keep the ODM from selling it to other OEMs.

They rely on an ODM to make the notebooks, then AW will either choose to re-brand them (with paint job, name plates, AW LCD casing, etc.).. or not.

Clevo is the one and only ODM now that is releasing Core i7 notebooks.... but AW stopped re-branding their systems since there are so many vendors that do already... they will just lose business unless if they are more price competitive.

 

AW sold Arima's W840 at a very competitive price too...

 

The only reason that it was priced competitively is because they did not have exclusivity of the product (like they did with the previous Arima's ...M9700 and M9750).

AW failed with their M17x and jumped back to Arima for the M17.... which was already being sold by many many vendors that were selling it at competitive prices.

If AW got the Arima W840 DI exclusively from the beginning... you can be sure it would not have been "competitively priced"... since there would not be any competition at all.

 

you're missing the point. if AW can sell the W840 at a competitive price, they can do the same with Clevo machines.

 

thats true.

But AW is a boutique brand that is known to have exclusive systems so that they can get the most profit.

Its been this way for the longest time.

Hopefully they are transitioning to be a bang for the buck OEM, but I sincerely doubt that.

 

By the time they come out with there next-gen laptop, if it uses Calpella X58 platform that would be also around the same time nvidia will release there Direct X 11 graphics cards. So it wouldnt be 280M in the laptop, most likly anyway.

 

With Dell now taking over production of the AW line and given AW's first foray into design with the m15x and m17x, It is my understanding that they worked with the ODM to specifically design the two models for themselves, I think it is possible that big changes are afoot. (Whew that was a long sentence!)

I would not be surprised if in one or two models from now, they are designed in house and production occurs through Dell's facilities. With the increase in international presence causing larger sales channels there may be the ability to create better margins as well hopefully lowering the price point.

 

jd's right...The DELL takeover is a game changer for Alienware and It's probably more then likely they'll be doing inhouse designing from now on, as I would expect it to be more cost efficient for them to use inhouse designing and production with DELL's resources available to them now. Gophn's logic certainly applies now but likely won't apply to AW's future platforms.

 

Yeah, I get it dude.

I know they don't have a plant where they manufacture laptops. I don't think anybody is saying they do. Sorry to offend you.

Don't know where that came out of left field.

Anyway..............Alienware, the "brander" of things will be offering a laptop that someone else built and will put their finishing touches on it. Just thought it might be nice to discuss what we may have to look forward to around the corner.

And...... http://www.smoothcreations.com/pilot.asp?pg=proddetail_notebooks

I think they are making, or rebranding, them too.

I'm guessing you own a Clevo?

Sorry to have bothered you Gophn. And thanks for making this thread go in a different direction!

 

those are Acer, Clevo and i think Compal rebrands

 

Yup, Clevo re-brander.

all in the Clevo Guide

 

Alienware generally does the same thing other ODMs do - the contract one of the actual manufacturers (Quanta and Compal are the largest) to make them notebooks.
The m15x and m17x are exclusive to Alienware, no one else sells anything like them. IMO it is a good thing that Alienware stopped branding Clevos.

Anyways, back on topic.

 

Clarksfield Core i7?

Slow down buddy, the m15x and 17x still haven't updated to Monty yet.

 

and they never will. AW will go directly to Calpella with the release of the "Quicksilver" model.

 

cant every one just forget the m15x and m17x yet?

 

Easy, we'll be there soon enough!

 

Well they DID design the m15x and m17x... failed with both, and decided it was probably safer to just rebrand/jazz up other designs.

What I'd hope for in a new laptop:

15.4-17" LED LCD (not OLED, I don't want to pay $10k for a laptop)
Sturdy case without any flex if possible (see Al MBP or Sony Z for amazing designs)
Sony/Mac-style keyboard, NO KEYPAD
Core i7
2x DDR3
Depending on LCD size, 1 or 2 280 GTXs as long as they're not re-branded 9800m GTXs, which is what nVidia has been doing with mobile graphics cards lately
Depending on size, 2 HD slots
Blu-Ray
Battery with a long life span


Basically I want a 17" Al MBP with blu-ray, better processor and better gfx card... but mostly just the graphics card. If Apple made the 17" MBP with a 9800m GTX and HDMI instead of display port, they'd have probably the ultimate laptop right now.

 

OLED is beautiful (I've owned a Cowon S9) but right now its waaaay too expensive to be used on anything larger than 5". Think several thousands of dollars for the display only.

 

ehhh i could care less for mbile core i7...for gaming it hasnt done much on desktops anyways....i think its more for server platforms...anyways....lets see instead ocz/AW figure out how to get the qx9300 working without issues in the m17 before they release another half working monster

 

Safe bet would be exclusive 15" and 17" chassis designs produced by Dell or a Dell partner with a Calpella CPU. Reports are that Intel wants Lynnfield/Clarksfield quad-cores to replace dual-cores in performance laptops and I expect AW accepting that change since they're not shy about charging higher prices for their machines.

What I'm hoping to see is the option for either ATI or Nvidia GPUs in the same chassis like how they do for the m15X right now.

 

Intel is slashing the prices for quads by up to 20%

 

TBH if the new model looks more with the m7700 and not with those ugly m15x, m17x, m17 im already happy

but a core i7 + sli/crossfire should be great

 

Do you mean XC? As they already support SDHC don't they? My M15x can read and write to one.

 

Nope, It's SDHC.

 

Dell lovers will like the look of the new laptop, others not so much.

Count me in the not so much category right now.

 

Im wondering if is possible to alienware make anything uglier than the ripley m17x (even the skullcap is ugly in my opnion... the single-tone non glossy lid cover simply killed the "coolness"). At least dell xps m1710 is prettly good soo if they dont make a box that look like a christmas tree (aka xps m1730) it MAYBE can be a "true" alienware again lol.

 

Well in that case they already can.

 

WHOAAAA!!! I never even heard of smooth creations, Those specs are INSANE!

http://www.smoothcreations.com/pilot.asp

The prices are harsh but tbh alienware machines are not far off! The laptops are nuts but the desktops are quite simply put immense I mean having 3x 1Gb BFG GT280 Gpu's is OVERKILL!

http://www.smoothcreations.com/pilot.asp?pg=xtreme_neptune

 

Dude....

please read the Clevo Guide if you havent yet.

Smooth is just another Clevo re-brander.... an overpriced one IMO as compared to other great vendors for the same exact stuff.

 

Yeah but there is definately something to the custom painting they do on all of their laptops.... that is the differentiator and compared to the others that offer painting like those NW guys it is much cheaper. I cant imagine paying for a paintjob on a shell that won't get used over and over, but for those that have money to burn....

 

if dell's alienware division did come out with a new gaming laptop, dell precision division will just make a newer cheaper product called xps m1740, they will undercut alienware's pricing and steal all alien's customers away just like what they did with xps m1730.

competition always makes business better!!!

 

Competing against yourself only makes golf better. It doesn't even make playing with yourself better...because even if you win whatever little competition you set up for your self-luvin' who are you going to brag to about it?

 

By the time Alienware rolls out its next-gen notebooks, they will contain last-gen's technology.

 

right..

You can say that about anything coming out, it will be old within a few days. Im sure Alienware is aware of this..