Alienware first choice?

hmm..I hear alienware is pretty much the best you can get when it comes to laptops....
I should be able to have 1,500$-1,700$ by x mas.. and my dad said out of no where for no apperent reason whatever money I put into the laptop I'm getting he will match.

So I'm going to have 3,000$-3,400$ to spend..

Would this be enough to get a decent alienware (been looking at some today)...

I'm not looking for any particular model just to find out if that will be enough to get a decent one..

Alienware is allegedly the best you can get when it comes to gaming..

So should I go for alienware? or is there a cheaper just as effective alternative?

 

have you looked at dell XPS M1710? that thing is one of the best i think.

 

I've heard a lot of bad things about Alienware although I have never dealt with them personally. Even though I haven't bought from them just by looking around I can tell you their machines are overpriced for what you get and you'd be much better off with probably a Sager. I just got a Compal HEL80 a few months ago from powernotebooks.com and it is very reasonable for gaming even though I only spent $1700 on it. You could get a decked out Sager with the amount of money your talking about, I'd look into them. Here's a very good article to read since your new to laptops like myself,

http://www.powernotebooks.com/articles/index.php?action=fullnews&id=17

"An ODM named Clevo makes the Sager NP9890 and the Alienware Area-51 m7700, the Voodoo Envy u:703, the Hypersonic Aviator EX7, the Falcon Northwest FragBook DR 6800, and they are all the same computer (although Sager usually has the more advanced and exotic technology)."

Good luck with your search,
Evit

 

I keep hearing mention of HEL80 but, I can't seem to find it when I search for it outside of this forum x.x

 

I would definatley check out Alienware. They stand out among the rest. Granted there are cheaper notebooks, SAGER(which are great notebooks) AW just hits that sweet spot. Maybe its an aquired taste. Gaming wise, nothing beats them!

 

I have an Alienware desktop in my study... and it's pretty nice. SLi 6600GT's, AMD Athlon 4000 I believe. It's a great computer... but the tech support is TERRIBLE! I would say stay away... but it is your choice.

 

I can only speak for Alienware's presence in Australia, but from what I've seen their machines are poor value for money... pretty though, if you're into the bling thing.

 

Alienware charges a lot for the upgrades on their systems.

Some of the Alienware systems are actually Clevo systems--which also are what Sager bases their systems on.

The Sager NP5760 is a great one to look at. Its performance is hard to beat and you can get a very good configuration for about $2500.

 

I would also suggest either Sager or the Dell XPS. I've just heard a lot of bad things about Alienware's service. Dell services is much better IMHO, but only as long as you get either Small Business (such as I) or XPS support.

 

How much do any of you know about their tech support? 'm thinking the whole Alienware support is blown out of proportion on this forum (everyone says the support is terrible, but im guessing 90% have never even gotten an alienware let alone try to get help from them). Don't be phased from alienware from forum members here. And I don't mean this as a flame, but everyone who asks about alienware usually gets that same response as given here. besides, How often do you need tech support if your computer runs fine? Their computers are some of the best.. so it really doesnt matter

SO....
If you like good looks then get Alienware
If you want best value get Dell, either xps 1710, or dell e1705
Sager is decent too

It's that simple

(About the HEL80, since you have twice as much needed to purchase it, don't even bother. HEL80 is a great laptop, but you can get way better then that).

 

as far as support goes in all honesty we hardly ever call tech support.. I mean.. if we have problems with computers (in my house).. and worse comes to worse.. we just wipe the comp... and reload everything..

I do find it ironic that alot of you are complaining about alienware.. yet, on then recommending DELL... I have quite the reverse experience.. Everyone I know complains about DELL... and recommends alienware

I think alienware because it has stood out.. I have herd from multiple sources they are great. they do stand out.. which is why I generally asked about them here..

could anyone give me some websites that sell laptops (preferably sites you have used personally).. I mean aside from the standard ebay and such.. I do need to customize it.. because no matter what the specs are.. there is going to be something more I need then what it offers.. also.. I was wondering about programs that come with laptops.. do you think it would cost much for a laptop to COME with microsoft word/excell/powerpoint?

 

I will agree with that statement . . if you don't own an Alienware, then don't complain or spread rumors.

 

Where'd you hear this? Alienware just rebrands notebooks and charges a premium. Look at Sager or Hypersonic for the same notebook at a better price.

Dell owns Alienware... literally.

The MS Office suite is like $200-300. It's illegal to sell a used copy so you'd have to buy a new one.

 

Alienware is NOT and will NEVER be the best at gaming laptops.

You can get something much better for the price you pay for an Alienware or get what you get on an Alienware for MUCH less.

Alienwares are just overpriced pretty looking machines.

 

Well, as I said in my post, I have only heard that Alienware has bad service. I cannot comment on this from personal experience. But I can vouch for Dell's service from personal experience, and it has been fantastic thus far. But as I said, this only comes with either Small Business or XPS support. Inspiron support is outsourced to India and isn't that great... Inspirons are cheap laptops; Dell has to cut prices somewhere to give people a Core 2 Duo 7900GS laptop for under $1500. But Small Business and XPS support is managed within the U.S. since you pay a premium for the better service. That's all I'm saying.

And, as others have said, Alienware is pretty overpriced, mostly cause of the name and reputation. They also overcharge for upgrades (they are owned by Dell after all). But here's my thinking... if you're not gonna ever use service or support, then why don't you consider a Sager or Dell? Sager is gonna be just as good or better at a lower price, allowing you to spend some of that money on something else like peripherals, games, or more importantly... school or savings. Ditto with Dell. But if you want the flashy looks and Alienware "look at me I have money and play computer games" aura about you at all times... then by all means, get an Alienware. It's your money. I'm just giving you food for thought.

 

Oh, and as for websites, www.alienware.com and www.dell.com are good places to start. www.powernotebooks.com is a great place to get a Sager.

 

I have dealt with AW's support a few times granted the only time on the phone was for customer service, but the guy I got was knowledgeable enough. I can't vouch for Dell from what I have heard from the people I know but none of them have xps's. But seriously with 3-4000 you can get whatever you want really, so just find what suits your needs the best, whether you want a 17in uber-performance thing or a 15.4 that you can actually carry around school or something without killing yourself. Once you narrow it down a bit people may have an esier time helping you.

 

Hmm... maybe, because I own one.

Some of the best computers? Theys shipped the system with ALL out of date drivers. Sounds okay, right? BUT... they didn't have the PCI-E or Bios Update on their site. When I called them, they said that it "should have came with up to date drivers". That was it. Wow... thanks tech support!

Oh, maybe about the time my computer wouldn't play games normal. I did everything... reformatted, new drivers, EVERYTHING. Called tech support, and asked them what I could do, and the first guy told me... quote "anything you want." WHAT?!

This brand is an over-hyped, over-priced joke. I guess their laptops are worth it, because you can't build one... but they are NOT worth it for desktops!

 

Hmm.. I already checked powernotebooks.. something really turns me off about that website 0.o...

I don't think I'm going for alienware. its too much money to risk getting a defective product..

 

There's always a risk of getting a defective notebook.

 

I just recieved my AW MJ-12 m7700a, and it is as good as it gets, period. I have benchmarked the crap out of it and am currently writing a review. When you buy are car do you discredit the color, the style, the lines, the windows, the tires, the interior, the dashboard or the console? This also applies to anything else. Alienware looks better than anything else and are very, very fast machines. If you are going to spend money, why not get the TOTAL package? Looks & performance?! You do with everything else in life. Hmmm...that cheeseburger looks good, i think i'll have that! Wow it even tastes good..........

 

Have no fear:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1980.html

 

Don't worry at all about PowerNotebooks, even from the little experience I've had with them (exchanging emails with Donald) I can really tell they're different from most sellers and will really take you into consideration instead of just your money.

 

I bought my current notebook from there, and its great service.. even though the website is sub-par to websites that big name companies with all the flashy effects and stuff like that.

 

dude my opinion could be biased since i have just recently settled for XPS M1710...but i really love their support man.Buy dell and buy the complete care package and there aint nothing that they would be avoiding to give u.Also remember u get a technician right on the next business day.I have experienced it first hand.

wont comment on alienwares cause have never possed one.They arent so trendy in germany.

but the XPS is a friggin rig man... dell just works just fine for me....

but again i am a rookie and new to this forum...there are some real great members here who help u in making a good choice....so be open to them and you wont end up buying and then regretting the purchase....

best of luck !

 

The biggest problem with Alienware that I have is their wierd choices. They either stick a Core 2 Duo with an ATi x1800 or an AMD chip with the 7900GS' and GTX's. The AMD chips are far superior to the Core 2 Duo, both in horsepower and power consumption. And the x1800 isn't as powerful as the 7900GTX. Not exactly the best combinations when you're looking to get a gaming machine. If you get the Core 2 Duo, the x1800 is your bottleneck. If you get dual 7900GS' or the 7900GTX, the AMD Athlon is the bottleneck. With machines such as the XPS M1710 or the Sager, you get an absolute top of the line machine all the way around... Core 2 Duo AND the 7900GTX. And right now, the Sager is at a $300 discount over at powernotebooks.com (which from what I hear is a fantastic reseller). Unfortunately, the best CPU you can get is the C2D T5x00 instead of the T7x00 until October.

 

I think you mean the other way around. I don't think that the Intels are that much better in terms of power consumption though.

 

Yeah, I meant to say inferior.
I was always under the impression that AMD chips used a lot more power, but that could be the old Athlon (or whatever they were) chips that were basically just desktop CPUs thrown into a laptop.

 

I think the problem there is what people think looks good. I hate alienwares, I'm sure when I was 5 I would have thought they were great, but not now.

As it is, I have to turn all the lights off on my m1710, because I think it is WAY too flashy with them on. Not eveyone thinks a computer with big bug eyes looks good

 

Alienware PCs are far overpriced. I wouldn't go with them unless you just want to show off that you spent too much $$$ on a notebook that isn't woth the price.

If your a gamer on ANY kind of budget, DONT BUY ALIENWARE.


Unless your buying one 4 me

 

hmm will powernotebooks give me any programs like word or excell with it? THey said most of thier notebooks don't come with os systems so.. it makes me question if I can get word with it or other programs i might need.

 

you can buy microsoft office from them, just like you would from dell.com or whatever, and you can also get an OS installed on your computer as well.

 

They have the option to have any of their systems come without an Operating System installed, a nice feature to save cash if you don't need it, but if you do they'll install it.

 

^For a reasonable price as well, I might add.