m1730 phased out? Colors reduced, WoW removed

Hi,

Is the m1730 being phased out by dell?

Only 3 colors are available (most popular grey color no longer available) along with the WoW version being removed, along with the release of the Alienware m17x being released it appears it is being phased out?

Is this true? Any other discussions on this?

Looking for a gaming laptop (no rush) so wondering what is happening here. Any suggestions welcome.

 

Don't forget the reduction of prices on the UK dell site. and the fully maxed out one being heavily reduced too. Its inevitabley gonna go, my guess is 12th November when all the new ones come

 

Yep - wow 1730's are gone - I think my 10 day old one is probably one of the last. If you want gaming performance you will need to look at the M17.

I bet you can still get the gray wings - they are around 10 bucks so order any color and just swap the wings.

 

You recommend grabbing a m1730 while they are still there or wait and see what comes next?

I have the first gen m170 but its limited to 2gb ram, no wireless-n, no raid, etc and warranty runs out in december so was thinking of upgrading.

Basically I use the laptop as my main computer. I do travel quite a bit so I use it for business but I also use it for gaming. It is nice not having to sync a desktop and a laptop as well. The m17 seems a bit bulkier and not to mention a bit ugly (in my opinion) as far as the case goes.

 

I say you could wait.
But I don`t think the XPS line will continue.
The m17 from Alienware seems to be a very catchy laptop. But in terms of upgrades, I`d get everything separate.

 

DP - very similar situation here - actually typing on a M170 now. I still have two M170's that work like a champ for extra around the house laptop's but like you said a little long in the tooth to game, vizio or photoshop on. I'm a bit late to the 1730 game as I meant to pick these up earlier in the year but work/travel etc... got in the way.

I personally like the 1730 style over the current 17 Alienware so if you can live with the 8800's and X9000 since they are the best you can do on the 1730 I'd say go for it. I picked up two 1730's (one wow one reg) in the last week's and I'm fine for now with scores in the 14K 3dmark range.

As for Travel I plan to tote the 1730's along from time to time on Xcountry btrips but I picked up a couple mini's that so far are working very well for the light travel setup.

If I was going to buy Today I'd also seriously consider the Alienware M17 with Quadcore - see spec below of the unit I am looking at - pretty good value for its PIECES. If they had the latest Nvidia cards I'd probably pull the the trigger now.

-----------------
I'm considering.......This but still not decided if I'd get the Quad or the 9100.
-----------------
Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™ Enabled!
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Extreme Quad QX9300 2.53GHz (12MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Chassis: 17-Inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p) with Clearview Technology
Keyboard Options: Illuminated Keyboard – Alienware Exclusive Design - Fusion Red
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium (32-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB

 

You mention getting everything separate. Do you meaning ordering the lowest possible configuration from alienware then hitting up say newegg and ordering the exact same higher end components listed? This ends up being cheaper? Seems it would be cheaper from alienware since they bulk order that stuff but I didnt do the comparison.

I like the fact of having everything in one laptop that way no syncing or "oh crap that file I needed to work on is on the other laptop".

They gonna add these?

 

DP - you need to get your company to graduate to "SHAREPOINT" - once they setup a master portal for you --- you will never have to worry about where your stuff is... its on the Enterprise and as long as you have a VZW card and or WIFI you are set. Long ago I gave up on trying to keep computers sync'd - I have offices on each coast and several inbetween and having an enterprise solution is a life saver.

No idea on when they will offer the next gen Nvidia -

3K gets you the PROC and Dual Vid's on the M17 --- not sure you would save very much if you parted out the components in my post the quad proc is quite expensive and I'd prefer to let someone else install it (IE Factory install).

 

Indeed, it`s exactly my sugestion. AW charges A LOT for upgrades, even though the baseline is amazingly cheap...

 

Hmm I just had a look at both the alienware us and the alienware Ireland websites and for the exact same system
M17 decent specs - there's a price difference of 700 euros or nearly 900 dollars!

Ridiculous or what?

 

i really like the ocz / alienware (just not the alienware version the xoticpc one but the same exact machine just different lid lol) i got to play with one this week its a very nice system i wish i had one..

 

Self-employed here A lot of stuff is in a subversion repo but there is a lot of stuff that doesn't really need to be in a repo.

I know your probably gonna go tell me to figure it out myself, but any idea how much $ you would save?

 

Lots and lots and lots (I know over emphasis, but its true)
Assuming you're okay with opening the case and installing pieces yourself, you can save a lot of money.

it is technically cheaper, as Alienware do buy in bulk but then they slap on ridiculous excess charges on the pieces, with the sole justification being 'You're paying for the name' but thats total bs as they've currently selling them in costco (which is like wallmart in a way) totally destroys the exclusiveness idiology (assuming you were into that).

If I was buying an Alienware I'd buy as close to the barebones as possible. hdd's, ram can be got a lot cheaper elsewhere.

Though to be honest If you're concerned about value for your money, Why are you buying an Alienware?

 

What other suggestions do you have? I'm open for any The laptop will be used as a desktop replacement for business + gaming. (a lot of multitasking when doing work, then the obvious to handle gaming easily)

 

Firstly I'd wait at least till dell brings out it new refresh, though it is unlikely they'll be bringing out anything new in the league of the 1730. Assuming your not too concerned about the cost (As in you were intending on buying a decent gaming laptop in the league of an alienware or 1730 i.e ~ around 3-4000 euros) I'd have a look at asus or clevo as well before I made a decision to purchase.

Something like these
http://www.zimbio.com/Affordable+Gaming+Laptops
http://www.mycizmo.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=72
http://www.laptop-computer-comparison.com/gaming-laptops.html

 

How are you determining which are Clevo? It seems the resellers have their own codenames.

 

I was checking out these:
xoticpc.com (17" notebooks)

Hard to filter em down. Any suggestions to narrow it down and compare?

 

Sorry, shouldn't have said that - Clevo's or Sager's are the base laptop or barebones design that a lot of the 'so called' gaming laptop manufacturers like (xotic pc) ususally use, they buy a load of base ones, spec them up to their own specifications and then rebrand them as their own. Thats why its so important to look around before you buy.

Basically It depends on what you wan't to spend, what you wan't your laptop to do, and how long a lifetime you want it to have.

 

You have to decide what you want this laptop to do.
Some of these laptops (xotic pc - sager Np9262 for example) are ridiculously powerfull , with desktop quadcores, dual sli 9800gtx's, three hard-drives, the list goes on and on, and the price sky rockets more and more.

 

you could try to find the original g50vm-x1. it doesn't have as good specs as the A and B models, but it has a 9700m and is thin as well as not being too overstated. There is also the g71 at best buy, again being thinner but with a worse GPU.

I don't recommend the G50vm-A models because they're thicker and have a gaudy paint job.

 

When do you think this will be? as i'm looking to buy an XPS, but dont want to buy if new models are just over the horizon

 

Well dell has being trying to flog their current xps line quite a bit recently (There's been lots of offers and major reductions in price) The current offer ends on Wednesday next, that coupled with the reductions in customisability of the systems has given quite a few people the notion that it'l happen this week.


Though that is only speculation, realistically there will be a refresh of the line somewhere in the next month to two months. Though its most likely it will be an end to the xps line, instead there will be a mid-range studio xps hybrid line and Alienware will take over the high spec end.

 

Depends on what xps you are looking for -- Several of us have been told that the 1730's are not going to be updated in favor of the M17 ( wont know if this is true until it happens so its surely not 100 percent certain) If you are looking for a sli laptop and you want Dell now is probably a pretty good time to get the 1730 or wait a few weeks to see holiday sales etc...

I jumped in because I wanted a laptop that only dell sells - the WOW version of the 1730. Days after mine arrived they removed it from the web-site. So its all about what you want now vs waiting to see what shakes out with Holiday sales and Dell XPS line.


If I had a budget I'd seriously look at the Gateway FX line of laptop-s... nice understated design (I love the orange) and good price performance.

 

i was told when talking with a dell corporate person regarding a issue i had and yes they were from corporate that they had no plans on refreshing the 1730. he could not give me more than that but he said he could only say he was not aware that dell would release another machine the same caliber of the 1730. i was told this because i asked about complete care and what it would be replaced with if something happend to it.. he was not sure at that point what they would do.. now that is just what i was told over the phone it may or may not come to pass or be true but the guy was in fact from the corp offices

 

Good question about Complete Care - I have 4 year on both of my 1730's .... so all the way to 2012. I have a pretty good Fed Rep as well as Large Business rep that I'll ask next week to see if they have anything. If they integrate AW I'm sure they would have to give us something in the M17 line.

 

By that time, quad sli and 8 cores will be mainstream

 

Quad sli? Single chip multi cores in the region of gpu core numbers would be my bet. If the ceiling can't go higher, you can only go sideways and add more cores. So why not add lots and lots and then some more

Edit: oh sorry didn't see you actually meant quad sli graphics.

 

Played a bit with GTX(SLI on a STICK) cards - 2 of 'em so total of 4 vid's or dual SLI on a Quad Extreme (QX6700) - and instead of more FPS I got lots of HEAT and NOISE. IMO - SLI is finally close to the main streme whereas anything more is bleeding bleeding edge.

 

SLI is forced upon us. It`s not like they don`t have the technology to make single GPUs that can max out any game.
But the fact is it`s always better to sell 2 cards than 1...

 

I want an updated 1730

Just let me order it with an LED backlight (let us pick either model the Studio 17 comes with!) the new chipset, quad core CPUs, and a single Geforce 9800GTX. Is all that really too much to ask?

I do not want Alienware, I'd rather have a 1730 than that new Alienware

 

imo even though alienware is owned by dell their cust service sucks. way worse than dell's does. dell's is actually not really to bad

 

That's what I've always heard regarding Alienware's customer service.

Until recently I always figured I could get help from Dell if I really needed it, 'cause the people who work on the forums are so good...except now that's gone.

 

Dell's customer service is among the best.
AW is horrible in this domain.
I mean, with complete care, do we get a stinkin AW in the future,or what? A desktop equivalent ?

Please Dell don`t phase out the high end XPS gaming laptops

 

They'll probably try to pass off an Inspiron 1525 or it's equivalent.

"Yes! This Intel video is very extreme, it's even better than those Geforce 8800GTXs, they're not extreme at all!"

 

I expect that AW's customer service will get better as Dell continues to work the integration. If the 1730 goes away in favor of the M17 I would not worry too much about support since we know Dell understands the key to complete care they will infuse AW with the same thing. I have no worries about buying an AW today from a customer service/warranty standpoint. They appear to have a similar warranty and if the M17 was based on Nvidia I'd have already ordered one.

 

Any update on this?
It looks like Nov 12 (when some foresaw the M1730 would be discontinued) has come and gone and nothing seems to have changed.
I am still holding out for a M1730 64-bits. Although I really need a new notebook. Should I just give up?

 

You can always just buy a copy of 64-bit Windows for it. Last I checked it was $80 for Home Premium (probably a $20 sale though).

 

Yes, you are right, but I think I would have to do a full reinstall and change all the drivers... I am sure I could do it. I just don't want the trouble.

 

I have noticed a LOT of m1730s with some UK dell re-sellers. Not refurbs,brand new ones, very high spec at very good prices. So it definitely looks like they are trying to empty their inventory.

They will probably not announce anything new before the year is out, as there would not be enough time to get it to market for xmas. So announcing it would just stifle current sales. My guess is that jan/feb will see a lot of new models.

 

Well no updates - no quad core or 9100 options unfortunately...

 

I wish that were true, but what with Dell killing their forums, and being a good 5 months (at least) behind with new models, and from comments they've made, I'm guessing they're done with the mid and high end market

 

Pretty much, that section will revert to Alienware...

 

Which is bad news for those of us who at best distrust Alienware...

 

yup i love their systems but their customer service blows from alienware

 

So Wolf -- what are you going to buy?

 

I have no idea. I've been going back and forth between a Macbook Pro, Sony AW (model with LED backlight), and Asus N80nv. Don't know what else is out there that sort of meets my criteria, now that Dell is out