I can not believe that Dell has the nerve to drag Alienware inot the fiery depth of hell that Dell is. They dare think that any AMD system is even comparable to the cheap junk that Dell supplies to its "valued" customers. Dell is going to make it so I cant buy anything from Alienware anymore!

Dell's chipping away at the foundation of a house of Cards.
They should stick with what they know, Leasing.
No one does it on their scale, and they shouldn't give anyone a reason to try.
Alienware is nothing more than bleeding edge bundling.

Dell's laptops are the best and most stable I have ever used. I've been using one for years. I wouldn't touch their desktops though. They are overpriced and underpowered. That's why I build my own desktop systems.

Nelson likes it like that.

If you've ever worked for Alienware, then you saw this coming. It is nothing new and shouldn't even be news worthy. I worked there for two years in their design department and left for my own reasons. I worked directly with developing and maintaining their "image" and it wasn't easy. Nelson Gonzalez is a inconsiderate, crazy ass, hot headed, selling out, SOB. I guess some types of success come at a price. Alex Aguila is the real heart of the company and everyone knows this! Although they are both sell outs at this point and I would have liked to see them get bought out by a company with more class and appeal to their hardcore audience. They have shown their true colors. Nobody at Alienware really liked Dell, it's so sad that they would do this to everyone who had their back.

"Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed."

"According to Gonzalez, a Dell acquisition was considered the best option after it looked at offering stock in the company through an initial public offering."

In other words, screw the employees of Alienware, the true creators of their brand. Nelson didn't make it to the top on his own and couldn't if he tried. He's anything but a hardcore gamer. It all comes back to corporate BS, they only care about themselves. For quite sometime, you couldn't even buy a PC at a discounted price if you worked there, and I wouldn't be surprised if you still can't. It was sad and lame, but whatever, Alienware will always be around and that's that. Maybe some good will come of this?

DELL sux ass.

Proprietary formats, Proprietary customer service, and Proprietary stinkiness!!!

Proprietary.

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

But they're not as bad as Sony.

Hmmm...

Although getting involved in this discussion at this point may simply be begging for flames, here goes...

From personal experience, and from someof the more lucid comments in this discussion, there are, I think, three points that need to be made:

1.) Dell's Consumer product line, and support for that line is not as good as it could be. Support is outsourced, and the products are made with inferior parts...for the most part. There have been models that have excelled, and not every system in each model line will have exactly the same issues under the same conditions.

2.) Dell's Business product line and support for this line are one of the highest rated and generally accepted "best" in class. I, personally have been using Dell business products (the GX lines from the 240 up through the current 620) for several years now and on the few instances I have been forced to call Dell for support, their businesss support has been superb. Next day parts replacement, and very little hassle on the phone (It helps to have done your homework prior to calling).

3.) Just about everyone in this forum needs to relax. This isn't a schoolyard, we're not here to prove anything, and we can *all* post intelligently and maturely.

It's pretty much agreed-upon heree that the Alienware will pretty much turn to crap because of this (for those that don't believe they were crap to begin with). I believe you are right. I just *hope* you're not.

Someone needs to buy the systems I fix on the side. ;)

I've worked with the Optiplex GX lines for about 4 years now, and while I agree business support is good, I would definitely disagree about their business product lines being decent.

Really? The only problems we had that really caused an issue was with the 270 line. (Capacitors bursting on mobo)

I can't really blame that one on Dell though, it affected every manufacturer using those parts. And, in their defense, they replaced each and every system next day on the first call.

That's it. Outside of 2 dead hard drives about 2 years into the life of the PC, that's about it....and that's in 5 years.

I'm curious what you think is bad about them? Performance? Quality?

Someone needs to buy the systems I fix on the side. ;)
----------------------------------------------
I don't think so,Tool. The way you badmouth certain products, I wouldn't trust what you work on. Thanks anyway.

What have I badmouthed, other than your precious AOL, fanboy?

The way you wh*** that precious ISP of yours, I wouldn't trust you to give reasonable advice about anything...

But thanks anyway.

AOL sucks.

Come on, you know they do.

Just... admit it!

Tom is smoking something i think you can't get from your average dealer. Everything you said was right on.

What have I badmouthed, other than your precious AOL, fanboy?

The way you wh*** that precious ISP of yours, I wouldn't trust you to give reasonable advice about anything...
-----------------------------------------------
Tool, I think you have control issues. Yes, I like AOL. Heck, I may even like Dell for all you know.

Yea I personally dealt with handling the capacitor issue for my client. But before that we also had the same scale of hard-drive failures (not that this is inherently Dell's fault), but I think it shows the quality of the components they choose.

There are other factors I can not take into account with the clients I deal with versus what you have personally seen. I know that the environment these desktops get placed into also directly affects their reliability, but it just seems like the older compaqs failed a lot less than these do.

Aside from the known issues (capacitor and hard drives), I've seen a good amount of motherboard failures that were not even within that affected manufactured date range where the capacitors were bursting, yet the same problem was responsible. If Dell can step up with their motherboard quality, as well as a few other components, they should be good. I am now working with the GX620s, and I still find that I'm calling in about 7-10 DOAs a week (this would be through an average of 300 machines a week being deployed). With these figures, keep in mind that over 1% failure is typically unacceptable (including with the motherboard capacitor issue).

Like I stated earlier though, their business support is pretty good. Calling in the DOAs is actually pretty quick, and I have the option of getting the part or letting a tech install it for me.

I do have some deeper info, but the NDA would prevent me from sharing that. I think Dell has the potential to become a REAL powerhouse. Right now it just seems to me like their focus is on quantity over quality, but I think the issues that have been seen may teach them to right their ways!

Yeah I work for Dell technical support and believe me, Dell has a way of wording their warranties to where Dell has the final say and many people get screwed over every single day. There isnt a day that goes by where I do not get cussed out for something I can't do but there is nothing I can do, I work for Dell and do what they say. So if you get a Dell good luck.

Yeah i am tired of Dell getting bashed by people who don't know what they are talking about. Dell makes computers just as good if not better then anyone else. I've been working on the same Dell Demension 8250 for 3 years now. Works like a charm and is fast as hell. I just upgraded the video card, audio card and added more memory and it flies even faster. After 3 years it needed a upgrade or two. Anyways the point is that if you dont like dell cause it big and reminds you of big brother then get a life. You don't have to buy dell. You also don't have to buy Alienware. Would it be cheaper to build your own, sometimes that's true. Bottom line is Alienware is beyond overpriced. I could and have built systems that crush those glorified boxes at half the price. There is not much to building a high end pc. You can also buy a cool looking case if that's all that is important to you. You can even take a case to a paint shop(auto or motorcycle) and have it painted at a fraction of the price. Most people cry about Cheap dell pc's. And this is cause they wanna know why they don't do things as fast as they should. For that blam Microsoft. Not that they should be beaten down to much. But if since most users don't know how to set up and protect there pc from online threats and the constant clutter then slows down a pc. I think microsoft needed to automate these things years ago. I got friends that run ad-aware only when they have problems and then they find 500 items of risk. Learn how to use a pc before you dog any of them. Then learn that you get what you pay for. 600 dollars isn't gonna get you a fast pc. 1500 will, 2300 or more will get you a gaming machine. If you dont like the cost buy a gamecube or xbox and shut up. And leave the pc world to those who care about it.
And the only reason i didn't build my own system 3 years ago was price. Dell had a great deal at the time. 2.53ghz, 512rdram, 120gig HD, radeon 9700pro, audigy 2.0 sound card 200watt 5.1 THX speakers, 21inch trinitron monitor, cd-rw & dvd-rom all for 2500.00 i priced the parts and did the math. it was cheaper thru them. I didn't make a mistake. Never been sorry a day about it. My next pc will be made by me cause i want to do something crazy unique with the case and stuff.

Tell that to my XPS Gen 5 that died after 1 month. Oh wait, that would require you knowing what you were talking about...nevermind.

Here's a hint, just because YOU have had good luck with Dell 3 years ago...doesn't mean the rest of the world has had the same luck on going. Try looking outside your small little world and you might notice the LARGE number of people that have significant problems with Dell's computers and customer service.

There hasn't been a manufactur yet to not have problems like dead on arrival or 1 month deaths. I can understand you're anger at the dead XPS but did they replace it? s*** happens. Mostly in shipping. Things get banged arround. The shipping industry just cares about delivery they really don't emphisize on safety of the goods. But you could have had the same thing happen to a alienware, HP, emachines or ever falcon northwest. Matter of fact i had a friend spend 6 grand on a Falcon northwest only to have it be riddled with issues. And Falcon is one of the cream of the crop pc's among gamers. Stuff happens buddy.

Yea stuff happens...to me, to my family members, to my friends...but hey it's not a trend or anything. Course you would already know all that if you had bothered to actually READ the thread instead of flaming everyone who has a problem with Dells crappy products.

Bigsexy02287 - I also have a dell 8250 with 512 megs of ram. I want to increase it to 1GIG. Where did you get the memory and how much hard to find. Appreciate it.

Sgreen

I payed a store to build mine i just specified all the parts I wanted. I would have built it myself but my work kept me too busy. if i had the time i'd definitly build my own.

Write it in your blog, not here!!!

I just hate Dell. I bought a laptop, after 6 months the CAPS Lock key has come off. The outer body is so fragile, that you really have to handle it with care!!!

rijp, what do you have to say to this?

by the way i changed it with Vaio.

Vaio? Ok that was a bad move. If you are completely deadset against Dell notebooks, I'd recommend Toshiba.

I'm almost inclined to recommend Viscom notebooks over Sony--Sony's are good when they work, but may God have mercy on your soul if you have "GigaPocket" problems. Another Vaio problem? Run msconfig.exe, click the Services tab, and check the "Hide all Microsoft Services" box. Now count the number of processes Sony runs in the background. Those Music ones? DRM software--used EXCLUSIVELY to prevent copying of copyrighted music. Video stuff? Some legit, two of them are for preventing DVD copying programs from bypassing the protection, and another is designed to prevent you from using programs that can make DVD drives change the region code only three times.

Did I forget to mention heat problems with 3 of their currently shipping models? I could go on...but I won't. In the end maybe you'll believe me, but not until you have problems. That may be in a year, or it may be tomorrow--but you will wish you had the broken CapsLock key rather than your Sony.

Who gives the crap???
I installed Fedora 4 on my Vaio and works very fast, I am not one of those guys who spends time in burning DVDs. Do you know what business is, that produce something.
If you know how to stop extra applications running in the background, you can handle it, but how are you going to fix a broken keyboard.
I don't want to waste my time just playing with msconfig.exe.
I use the hardware to the fullest extent, i dont limit my applications.

Try this, compare the outer body of any Vaio laptop with any crap Dell laptop and write the truthfull comment here. also try comparing key-boards.

Trust me, i have both right in front of me.

I have to say I have owned exactly 3 Toshiba laptops and 2 Sonys in the last 5 years. I still have my Sonys (1 laptop, 1 desktop), all 3 Toshiba's overheated and died.

6 months ago I walked into my office and there sat my Toshiba Satellite with smoke coming out of it.

Maybe I'm just unlucky though.

My point with all of that is that Sony emphasizes too much about the software these days. The old sony products--not just PC's, but everything--were the most rock-solid products on the market. My 1996 CD boombox still sounds better than any other CD player I've ever heard, and it was only $100 at the time. Compaq was rock-solid back in the mid 1990's too--but I think you see where I'm going. I've never heard of Toshiba problems like you've mentioned--maybe they've turned to $hit in the past year with the rest of them. I dunno.

I've just seen too many problems with sony notebooks personally to recommend them or even be optimistic about them. It will take alot for me to regain any trust in Sony again...the last four or five years they seem to be going down the tubes.

Bottom Line: Brand-names go up and down, it's the ones with consistently higher numbers over a three year period that you can trust. That's why I used to trust Sony...if Dell keeps heading in the "cheap PC" direction, there may not be any brand name I can recommend. Maybe IBM, but even they have had major issues with some of their Servers a year ago. Maybe they've awakened to the opportunity. We'll see.

You know now that I think about it, GOOD RIDANCE.

Lets be honest here, 99.9% of the people who buy pre built computer nowadays, are either Corporations, wanabe-techies, mom and pop or people without half a brain to build their own.

All the bell and whistles that Alienware used to promote can now be easily integrated by anyone who can read build your own walkthroughs, or who actually reads motherboard manuals.

To the people who really want top of the line, bleeding edge performance there is a much better option. BUILD YOUR OWN, with each part being picked by you.

The only reason for anyone to buy from AW anymore is the support, which lately has gone down the tubes.

That 10,000 XPS machine that dell put out yesterday, can probably be built to run better for a little over half the price if that.

Processor. 1.1k
4 Video Cards: 2.2k Geforce 7900GTX
2GB ram: 400-500 dollars
Board: 214 dollars.
Soundcard: 100 dollars
PSU: 450dollars 850watt
case: 150 pick one
HDD: 2 150gig raptors 700
DVD-RW: 50bucks
Display: 24inch samsung 1k
Physics board: 400bucks

So for around 6.5 you get a much better system with a 6 inch smaller display. Add some watercooling solution and it might run the price up a couple of hundred dollars more. Still beats the hell out of 10k for a computer

Of course you can save some $$$ building your own, but I just cant see spending the time on it myself. Maybe I am just getting old. My billing rate is higher than it used to be so I actually may lose money unless I whip it together in a hurry if I count up the lost time I would spend on something like that. It certainly is not the challenge I would miss...My 7 year old helped me build the last one I put together so it is not that I lack the ability, I just lack the desire and the time.
People buy a dell or aw because they want a nice machine with a warranty, that is already setup and tested (we hope). AW builds a premium machine at a premium price. There is value there to many people that is worth the extra margin paid. It is most definitely not an issue of ability. Most of the people I know can read instructions well enough to build a PC if they were sufficently motivated, heck you really have to try to screw this up. They just don't want to.

I could do the camshaft in my car when it goes out, but I don't care to. I pay the guy at the shop $85/hour to do it because if I spent the time, I may be losing money (will take me longer, I may break it, and I won't be billing clients while I am playing grease monkey with my car). When I was young, I always did my own work (I even built cars up from parts) but now I just don't want to. Same thing with PC's. I have literally built hundereds of these things and I just can't get excited about sticking parts into a sharp metal box anymore.
Not to mention the fact that I don't want a desktop, I want a laptop, and let me tell you these are no fun to build, even if you get the kits (like from Asus which don't contain high performance components anyway). If you can build me the laptop I want that kicks tail and has the features I want, I will pay for it. I certainly don't want to do it myself...ick, what a pain.

"Lets be honest here, 99.9% of the people who buy pre built computer nowadays, are either Corporations, wanabe-techies, mom and pop or people without half a brain to build their own."

Eh..don't think so. I really don't have the time to do it myself, I'd rather pay someone who does.

I was sad when I read this but really, it is what happens. Alienware was becoming something of a competitor (albiet a small one) to Dell's high profile, high performance line of machines. Heck, I had my eye on that dual core, laptop with the hardware raid 0 myself and was going to just take a pass on the XPS laptop...more money...less peformance...Indian Tech support.

In order to take their share of the load (and because they no longer stand as an independent competitor), I expect prices on the Alienware systems to rise, even as they institute cost cutting measures on the quality and support side. Eventually it will be Dells inside and out that come from this company but for now you can still get a decent box.

I have experience with both and would not buy either for my business, but would buy the Alienware for my home.
I usually always built my own pc's but any more my time is worth much more than the money I would save so we will see what happens here.

For some reason all I can keep thinking is,

"Dude, you're getting an Alienware."

Oh great...inferior Indian customer service for superior $4000 dollar machines? It will be interesting to see how customers react to that one!

Do you have any specs to prove they are superior, pc pain in the ass?

Wouldn't make any difference. I got one spec for you, though, your IQ = 0.

you guys are funny

We aim to entertain! ;o)

This is unfortunate. It's sad to see a good high-end computer company swallowed up by a large, but increasingly mediocre company on who's quality and service are in fast decline.

Nooooooooo....say it ain't so.

Oh wow. The Most expensive amazing machines in the world merges with a company with the cheapest junk computers in the world. Great...I hope dell doesn't interfere with AW. Increasing AW's sales would be great! But I hope Dell doesn't interfere with the way the systems are built, parts used, etc.

I saw this posted below, Alienware is a huge AMD Supporter, I wonder how this purchase by Dell is going to change the Dell/Intel relationship, or even the Alienware/AMD Relationship...

Wow. You must be really stupid to think Dell makes junk computers. that's why they are the world's largest retailer of Computers, and they have the best support. Yeah, that's why every major company in America uses Dell machines, because they suck.

Its a good thing you are not too bright, otherwise people might take you serious.

Are you saying thet you think a Dell is better than an AW?
I admit, Dell makes the best generic computers out there, they even have a kicka$$ gaming computer, but AW computers are unique in both style and performance.
I just hope Dell doesn't change that.

Wow. You must really be an idiot if you think Dell makes quality computers and has top notch support. Either that or you've never actually OWNED a Dell and had to put up with their crap. Yeah, that's why the $10b company I work for doesn't use Dell's.

It's a good thing your an obnoxious twit, otherwise people might think your a moron.

People tend to buy dells cause they're cheap... but let's just say you get what you pay for...

Hey, jackass, unless you've presonally bought a Dell conmputer AND dealt with their customer support people lately, you have no clue what you're talking about (as usual).

Just because a company has a large market share does not mean their products are still of the same high quality that got them that market share.

Well said!

I think you are the idiot. Do you even pay attention to the corporate computers? I have been using Dell for years, maybe you are the problem.

I have owned a couple of dells, I have a laptop at Work that is also a Dell, and Fine you had to put up with their crap, because maybe you don't know what you are doing.

I am not even going to ask what you are using, because I really don't care.

That's a funny line, did you steal it from a southpark episode? You should be in entertainment, because you are a funny dork.

This from a person that spouts lame BS about how badly Dell sucks.

Tell me, o remarkable wizard, can you even cite specific examples of what Dell did to make you so angry? I bet you have never even touched a Dell have you?

You are like everyone else, you are a sheep, you are just following the herd.

No, I am saying that for the money, you can get the SAME quality machine, but spending 6 grand on a machine is not only retarded, its just not even prudent.

I can do better with less, by building my own. The only reason I don't have a Dell now, is because I change out my parts once every 2 to 3 months, and I like to try different things.

So buying a computer, than throwing out used parts would be a waste. So I just piece my own computer together.

Do you even OWN an Alienware machine? I seriously doubt it, so how do you know they are sooo much better?

naw, i don't own one, but they sure look pretty, lol.
I just don't want to see such a unique computer company get swallowed up.

I can tell you why I don't like them... I've replaced countless bad/dead hard drives, atleast 20 bad PSUs, and a handful of burnt out processors... more so than I should have to for a company that has about 100 Dell machines... getting replacement parts is a pain too because you can't just run to the local computer store and pick up a PSU, you have to get a special one from dell because they've made it a non standard format, etc...

Okay, you asked for it.

Two friends bought Dell laptops. These same two people ordered power adapters so they could operate their computers in their cars. Both got confirmation from Dell that they were ordering the part to match their machines. Both received the adapters and found that they could not use them. You see, the adapter had a square end that needed to be plugged into the round connection on the machine. That's right...square peg - round hole. Turns out Dell sent out hundreds of these before realizing they were sending the wrong adapter.

Of course, anyone who has been a Dell customer over the years knows all about power supplies that couldn't be upgraded without replacing the motherboard (something about being wired backwards) and the non-standard usb ports they used that made it difficult to use some hardware with their machines.

I stopped ordering anything from Dell after twice ordering accessories (a logitech joystick and some blank dvds) only to be told weeks later that they were on back order and later having the order cancelled due to Dell not having the product in stock.

Then, there's the current level of tech support. What was once the best support in the industry is now rated as less than average by most tech reviewers.

That enough for you? Okay, now wipe the egg off your face and crawl back into your hole.

I do own one, and TheMan is absolutely correct in his assessment. Since you don't own one, you have no clue.

You really just come here to get your a$$ whipped, right?

I personally work with Dell and bought and yes I deal with Customer Support on a daily basis, you jerk off. So I think I know better than you, since you work in the shoe department at sears, punk.

They have a high market share, because they built a good company and people like them, dumb ass. What did you sleep through economics class?

Oh wait, that would assume you even graduated high school, you probably flunked out of 3rd grade.

-Okay, you asked for it. -

Oh this should be good.. pc is going to actually do some work. Wait, I need to write this down.

-Two friends bought Dell laptops-

You actually have 2 friends? Do they know this? -giggle-

-These same two people ordered power adapters so they could operate their computers in their cars-

Uh huh, first you dont' need Dell for this, they are called -power inverters-. You can buy them from any computer store, so that says it all about your level of knowledge right there.

-Both got confirmation from Dell that they were ordering the part to match their machines. Both received the adapters and found that they could not use them. You see, the adapter had a square end that needed to be plugged into the round connection on the machine. That's right...square peg - round hole. Turns out Dell sent out hundreds of these before realizing they were sending the wrong adapter-

Yeah, sure, blame Dell. Good one loser, nice try. Yeah, well they could have easily confirmed this when they were talking to tell, ever heard of asking questions? So its Dells fault your so called friends were too stupid, like you, to do some investigation on their own, to find the right part.. Yeah. Good job. I think an etch a sketch would be too much for you 3 amigos. . .

-Of course, anyone who has been a Dell customer over the years knows all about power supplies that couldn't be upgraded without replacing the motherboard (something about being wired backwards) and the non-standard usb ports they used that made it difficult to use some hardware with their machines.-

They don't use non-standard USB ports, you dumb ass, they are standard ports. Are you sure you aren't looking at the back of an HP? Mr. Wizard, your research skills can use some fine tuning. So far, you just sound like a complete idiot.

-I stopped ordering anything from Dell after twice ordering accessories (a logitech joystick and some blank dvds) only to be told weeks later that they were on back order and later having the order cancelled due to Dell not having the product in stock.-

I think Dell will really miss your 40 dollar purchase =rolling eyes=.

-Then, there's the current level of tech support. What was once the best support in the industry is now rated as less than average by most tech reviewers.-

Documentation. Again, you are missing the fact that many companys outsource, this has NOTHING to do with product. WE are talkinga bout Dell vs Alienware, not the fact that Dell uses overseas people to do their customer support. Can you even find 10,000 good techs? If they are anything like you, some twirp with a resume that says they can spell computer, thinks they have technical ability, now we see why we have so much problem. I have a problem with your technical ability from this post alone..

If you are so good, why didn't they consult you, hmmm? Eh.. it doesn't matter. You are some wannabe with an attitude. Isn't it past your bedtime?

-That enough for you? Okay, now wipe the egg off your face and crawl back into your hole.-

Yeah, like I am taking this as statement of truth. I am not confused with your inbred family of rednecks, so don't get me confused with your uncle fester, ok?

I think you can produce some REAL documentation to prove any of this, and MAYBE I will let you go with some level of competence. You can say anything, it doesn't mean I will believe you.

I can gurantee, most problems, like users such as yourself, dimwitted, lack of planning, and trying to use computers in their vehicles.. ever heard of batteries? Maybe they were trying to run desktops in theirs, cars, I don't know.. but the whole story is retarded.

Try again, pain boy.

All that space for a few weak insults? Grow up.

I finally figured out why you're so bitter. You owned Enron stock, didn't you. And lots of it, right to the end.

ouch.

Good post!

Tell us why do you deal with Customer Service every day?

may be, your DELL is keep breaking!!!

By the way, I work for $25b company, we don't even prefer dell keyboard.

"The Most expensive amazing machines in the world merges with a company with the cheapest junk computers in the world."

As a former Dell employee, it is safe for me to say that you have no f**king idea what you're talking about. Dell parts, HP parts, AlienWare parts--all come from the same vendors. Only difference is the specific configurations and the design/engineering of the system case.

Not that anyone here will listen or give a Rat's ___, but I think this is the absolute best thing for Dell. XPS systems just could not compete with Alienware, Dell obviously (whether they admit it or not) has an exclusivity contract with Intel--this way they found a sneaky way to use AMD chips while remaining on Intel's "good side". I can't see any problems with this.

"I think you are the idiot. Do you even pay attention to the corporate computers? I have been using Dell for years, maybe you are the problem."

nope, just your completely unbacked up claims and lame attempts at using flames to justify your attacks are the problem. Sitting here right now, I have three computers at my desk...non of them are Dells pieces of crap. Nope, nobody else has a Dell here either, we don't allow their junk into the company.

"Fine you had to put up with their crap, because maybe you don't know what you are doing."

I know exactly what i'm doing, doesn't change the fact that I still need to call customer support when their proprietary PS bites the dust 1 month after purchase and I need them to send me a new one.

"That's a funny line, did you steal it from a southpark episode? You should be in entertainment, because you are a funny dork."

Actually, if you had half a brain you ould have recognized your own words paraphrased back at you, so I guess that makes you a funny dork to.

Maybe he is a PC support guy like me who actually supports several computers. You have no idea, do you?

If his Dell "is keep braking" all the time he wouldn't be a fan of dell, right?

insults are all he has, he's incapable of actually forming a real argument. I have this mental picture of him sticking his fingers in his ears and shouting "nah nah!"

Dell became #1 because of their warrenty service--so buying their cheap PC's with only a 90-day warrenty negates the whole point. My recommendation: If it is less than $800, don't buy Dell--heck get an Emachine, as bad as they are, at least the hardware is stable!

hheck, for about 400 bucks I can build you a better machine than the cheepest dell...

Wish he'd post a "comeback" to my post directly below this one... oh wait... he can't...

OK, rjjp said some self-incriminating words because of his anger--but his main point remains valid. What Dell model did you lose the power supply in during the first month?

I've owned 4 Dells personally, but work for a company with OVER 500 Dells. Hurricane Rita ripped the wall and roof off of this building, dirty water was in most of the dell PCs here. We dried them, waited two weeks, and guess what? We lost 4 of them...out of 500.

We had 3 Mac PCs here--all three died. Had only a couple of HP's--one of em died, the other one lost the hard drive.

B.S., you say? Let me show you the numbers:

Dell models: Optiplex GX100 SFF's: 110. Failed: 1. Reason: Hard drive failure.

GX260 SFF's: 395. Failed: 2. Reason: motherboard failure on one, PSU failure on the other.

GX270's SMT's: 8. Failed: 0.

GX270 Towers: 1. Failed: 0.

GX280 Towers: 35. Failed: 1. Reason: Power supply, motherboard, and memory soaked in drainage (this one fell over and soaked in water for a week and a half).

There you go.

"So its Dells fault your so called friends were too stupid, like you, to do some investigation on their own, to find the right part.."

Perhaps your dumb a** missed the part where he said Dell confirmed it was the right part...so much for your contention of Dell's stellar service.

"Yeah, like I am taking this as statement of truth. I am not confused with your inbred family of rednecks, so don't get me confused with your uncle fester, ok?

I think you can produce some REAL documentation to prove any of this, and MAYBE I will let you go with some level of competence. You can say anything, it doesn't mean I will believe you."

This is just too much, are you sure you aren't talking about yourself here? Let's see, lack of any documentation to support your arguments? yep thats you, Tries to say *anything* he wants and expects people to believe him, yep thats you. Uses insults as his arguments? Yep thats you.

There really is only one word to describe someone as immensely stupid as you...

Troll

I am a programmer at $25b corporate, we only have IBM here... so you keep it shup pc support boy.

"What Dell model did you lose the power supply in during the first month?"

XPS Gen 5. Bought it mid August and in mid September it completely shut down dead. Had to get a relpacement because of course it isn't a standard ATX or standard *anything* for that matter, it was custom designed for the case. A case which of course is made of cheap plastic that doesnt fit together properly.

It's funny really, I got suckered into the XPS instead of upgrading my custom box because I bought the hype that they were great gaming machines...I should have just upgraded.

Oh and let's not forget the lack of details they supply on their computers. Such as the fact that unless you remove your optical drive altogether you cannot install ANY ide hard drives into the machine. So much for my 2 older 120gig hard drives getting brought over.

I am a programmer at $25b corporate, we only have IBM here... so you keep it shup pc support boy.

Sadley, the IDE controller thing is happening with all major vendors. They think SATA is all people want so the only PATA left is used for CD-ROMS.

I must be honest with you. The XPS systems were handled by a special team--and I wasn't on that team. Dimension XPS systems may be the most unstable peices of @#$! in existence. Or maybe you got one of the million that did not work...I don't know.

Sorry for your bad experience. The XPS Gen 4 and Gen 5 seemed to be lesser-quality than the previous model XPS systems if I recall (I could see the specs and pictures). I think Dell made the mistake of trying to lower the prices of the XPS's at that time to remain competitive with Alienware. They produced cheaper systems--and apparently it shows.

Dell is known to build systems that want only Dell PSU's, that's part of business. They don't want some idiot installing a 350W power supply from "Bob's Computer Store" and ruin the Dell mobo, hdd, and memory--then they decide that dell needs to replace those parts cause they were stupid.

That's business. Try Sony, they are the worst about that sort of thing.

My point exactly. Only buy Dell for the warrenty support--and $300 systems don't need to have a $200 warrenty, so only higher-end systems are worth buying from Dell at all.

IBM is the only other *PC* manufacturer I can recommend as well. HP/Compaq has bad tech support all the time (vs. Dell some of the time), Acer--need I even speakabout THOSE people! Viscom is the worst support on the planet w/1 tech who actually cares about fixing the problems, and Gateway is losing market share because of their "top rated" customer service there. IBM has pretty good support and stable PCs. My only complaint is that they rush new technologies and all too often the new stuff is buggie. IBM is the first to discover problems with new Intel chipsets for a good reason, no?

Still, if you buy IBM PCs that aren't brand-spanking new products, I can't bash you for it. It's the Compaq and HP lovers that annoy me the most!

Yeah Sony computers are god aweful when it comes to propritary crap... but that doesn't really make dell better... hehe sorry

Can't agree more!

dells customer service is some of the worst i have ever delt with in my life. Your better of dealing with it your self. I feel sorry for those who have to deal with them and dont know much about computers.

good points

so basically you work at a $25 billion company and all you managed to get to in your rank is a programmer?

Consumer tech support has deteriorated considerably, agreed. I'm assuming that people using home PCs know to build their own rather than buying from a brand-name unless it is a specialty system. Buy through an Employee Purchase Program and support will be 10X better.

Even with Dell's recent decline in support, their contract covers more than almost any other brand does. Only Toshiba offers accidental coverage contracts, and that's because Dell started that idea.

I keep forgeting that most people who despise Dell are the one's who buy the consumer products and/OR the consumer warrenty options. Get Platinum support for Poweredge Servers. Get 4 hour onsite just for kicks. Anyone else know of a computer company that offers 4 hour parts and labor contract on Desktop Workstation PCs? Or onsite service for Laptops?

Yeah I'm starting to sound like a biased fanboy now, so I'll try to lay low for a while.

nor english I presume

Thats my passion. I am one of those geeks. What do you do for a living?

I fire people who gloat.

Sometimes I break their thumbs and force them to use a Dell keyboard.

So you use English as a programming language!!!

so you are one of those ppl who says Dell is the best.

i thought so...

I wish...

On the other hand I'd be out of a job

Actually no, I've never owned a Dell so I can't say either way about them. I do know that most state agencies (in the US), my clients, have large contracts with Dell and they have been happy with it.

I prefer Sony.

me too! I have a Vaio. Its just great!

That's the thing. It's not just my one experience. If I was just a one off I could accept that I have bad luck and move on. But friends and family have all had problems with Dell.

Two more examlpes:

My sister got hung up on by a supervisor when she called up to correct an order that dell messed up (sent it to her twice) -- hanging up on customers generally isn't considered good customer service even if the customer is abusive (which she wasnt)

One of my best friends had to send his notebook back 3 times because of an overheating problem that they couldn't solve. Got a replacement notebook the second time, and that one overheated as well. By the third time Dell had finally figured out what they had done wrong and were actually able to correct it.

I refuse to recommend Dell to anyone anymore. Build your own if you can, talk to "Joe's Computer" down the street and have him build you one if you can't.

I still have my first Vaio from a few years ago (Desktop). It's never let me down. I also have a Vaio laptop which is about 6 months old, I love it.

So far I'm happiest with them over HP and Toshiba, which I've had bad experiences with.

I have to disagree on HP. I still have a p3 HP laptop, which I kept for r & d. I love it. It is very rugged. Never used Toshiba.

HP's P3 systems (and their P3 Celerons--but they're CELERONS) were solid, no doubts here. Today, they seem unreliable. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe HP will sell a PC that is more stable than any other brand tomorrow, but not likely. Everybody has their bad systems--it's the company that deals with problems in the most effective and efficient way that wins in my book.

Dangit, all this talk has me wondering who has what, etc. Some of it is just plain luck of the draw, some is price of the system, some is based on what chipset the mobo uses, and some depends on what brand you get. Brand is only one of the many factors, I guess I am guilty of over-emphasizing one brand PC, when that's only one peice of the puzzle.

Yeah, you are, but at least you didn't feel the need to call everyone an idiot. ;o)

huh?

My only complaint with HP was horrible, horrible customer support. Mechanically my experiences have been good with HP.

Holy jesus! Sorry BN! I did not mean to start a 140 Reply thread to my comment!

Ok dude...You must be a complete idiot to think dell makes quality machines.

Did you know that the company "Emmerson" out sells companies like Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi etc.

Want to know why? because you can buy a 20" Emmerson TV for $80 VS the Sony at $150. BUT we all know Emmerson is crap.

Now I saw another post saying that all companies use the same vendors, parts, etc. That is NOT true. They all use Different Motherboards (NOT ALL MOTHERBOARDS ARE THE SAME! DON"T BE FOOLED!), Different brand Video cards (yes they all use either the nvidia or ati GPU's, but different card manufacturers) They all use different quality hard drives and so on. The only things about these computers that are the same no matter what computer you buy are the processors.

Dell uses nothing but Intel Motherboards that are built speciffically for Dell. Dell uses cheap no name memory, Maxtor Value line hard drives. No name 250Watt PSU's. Yeah it's all Junk.

Alienware on the other hand uses top quality parts and products, such as DFI Motherboards. Seagate Baracuda or WD Raptor Hard drives, nVidia/ATi Brand video cards, Alienware(Thermaltake) PSU's and more.

Dell's popularity is due to their ability to sell a computer for $299

I can reply though. You had GX270 optiplexes I bet. It was the same order number, and you bought them between August of 2003 and January 2004. Am I right?

40GB Maxtor 6E040L0's existed in IBM's, HP's, and Compaq's too--they suck completely. Dell corrected this issue and after so many replacements Dell sets up a "Special Project" where they replace the remaining PC parts PROACTIVELY.

You had a bad case of bad batch, just bad luck is all.

actually 3 orders placed between May 04 and August 04... dell was "good" about replacing the PSU's (being that they shipped us new ones after about a week of "troubleshooting")... HDD's were a little more of a problem, they kept trying to get us to reformat, etc... I do understand that the people in the Dell call center have a checklist to run customers through... but believe me, we knew what the problem was before we called lol... In any case, we were averaging 5 to 6 machines down at any given time and getting them back up was taking a 3 or 4 day turn around because of delays getting parts from Dell... not the best when your company relies on it's computers as vital parts of it's infostructure (yes we had backups, but that's still not an excuse for the computer hardware failing... heh) oh well... We've since switched to HP machines - we still have some Dell's running, but they're being phased out.

Also, my comment was more aimed at how is rijp going to flame me on something that's fact as opposed to opinion :)

It sounds more to me like you are talking about E-Machines. If Dell sold crap, they wouldn't stay in business for very long. I've owned many Dells over the years, some of which were outstanding (420 Workstation), some decent (4700) and some ho-hum (3000). They all do what they were designed to do, and they all do it pretty well.

By the way, I don't mean to flame but but someone posted about their Dell laptop going up in smoke. I have one question! Who in their right mind leaves a laptop running on their desk overnight. No laptop was ever designed for that kind of abuse. First off, dust will build up and it will eventually overheat and go up in smoke. It's not Dells fault, it's the person (I won't say idiot) who left it run overnight. I have a C-610 P-III 1Ghz and the only way I would give it up is if you pry it out of my cold dead hands. I also build my own home Desktop machines. At present I have a P4 3.0/800 overclocked to 3.60 (20%). It benchmarks better than the P4 3.8 so I know a little bit about what I am talking about.

Alienware/Dell and FalconNW are now selling the Aegis Physics Processing Unit (PPU) with their systems.

(It's a ~$200 upgrade)

Support in-game is virtually non-existant now, though so it's one of those "looking to the bright future" add-ons.

No reason no0t to take a look at them, but I'd forego buying one until a game or two is released with support.

Spending 5-6 grand on a PC is just rediculous. I can build a machine WAY better than anything Alienware has to offer for that price.. That's just nuts.

Its an exclusive machine.. Dell's own XPS line is better than those Alienware products. I wouldn't waste your money.

Besides.. the Apple G5 is the BEST gaming machine anyway.. now there is a machine you should spend your money on.

"Its an exclusive machine.. Dell's own XPS line is better than those Alienware products. I wouldn't waste your money."

Unfortunatly I actually got suckered into buying an XPS...They are cheaply made crap just like the rest of their line.

Yeah, right.. you bought one..

Hahaha! Now you're arguing that he didn't buy one??? You live with your Mom, right? Have her spank you for being a silly boy.

Yeah right I did...XPS Gen 5. Thanks for playing you twit. Do you actually HAVE any real arguments or do you just enjoy throwing around insults an innuendo?

???

What does this have to do with the Aegis PhysX PPU?

Seriously, That's what my post above was about. did you read it?

Well, this explains why Alienware turned into anti-body mods when I was working there.. Anyone with tattoos or piercings was harrassed unmercifully, and if you didn't take them out or cover your tattoos, you were fired. I left there because I got sick of being chewed out for wearing my plugs at work, (Mind you, I worked in the WAREHOUSE building machines and never really saw any corporation people) but hey, I guess me having plugs in my ears affected my performance..
I also had a buddy that worked their for 3 years that had a tattoo on his forearm that he had when he got hired there, and they ended up firing him because he wouldn't wear a long-sleeved s*** in a warehouse that temperatures usually reached about 90+ degrees.

I've never really said anything about this before, but now that Dell has bought Alienware, now all the corporate BS makes a bit of sense. I guess they were making sure that the Dell execs were "offended" by non-mainstream people building their machines.

haha me too. Besides it takes all the fun out of making a machine, that's half the fun.

If someone builds one for you, you miss out on the tweaks and the REAL knowledge it takes to make a GOOD machine.

Grow up, you chose to "express yourself." Now employers are "expressing themselves," about you expressing yourself on their time and dime, and you have the audacity to whine about it?

If you want to be a contributing member of an employer’s workforce, you must realize that on their time and dime you represent them, and they have the right to control how their representatives, represent them. Because...well...the're paying you to be there!

You were not being discriminated against because of a disability, being a minority, color, creed, sex, sexual preference or any other factor beyond your own control.

YOU made the choice, now YOU must deal with possible consequences of your choice.....quit your sniveling...it's Cliche.

First off, I wasn't "sniveling"..
Secondly, Alienware is all about being a company that markets toward people that are considered not the norm. That's the whole marketing of most of Alienware's systems..

I just find it assinine that they are firing people/chewing people out for something that they seem to love in their customers.
Do you really think that it was fair that my friend was hired with a visible tattoo and then (even though he was always getting great reviews) given crap about it? I didn't get fired from them, I left because I didn't feel like putting up with it anymore.. And don't know if you know this or not, Mr.Smarty Pants, but some of us have religious reasons for our tattoos and piercings. But WTF-ever, I don't whine about that, I just think it's really lame that Alienware would portray this alternative visage, and then bust on all the "alternative people" that they have at work..

S'funny because now I have a job as a contractor in a government county job, and no one has a problem with my ears or tattoos, and I'm much more in the eyes of people now.

"First off, I wasn't "sniveling".."

Yes you were, you were crying how the man brought you and your buddy down.

"...firing people/chewing people out for something that they seem to love in their customers"

See, here is the thing with that...they give you money, the're taking their money. Completely different cash flow directions. Employeers chew out employees for worse reasons than your's ALL THE TIME. (Try taking a beating from a manager about something he f'd up, but publicly chewed you in front of HIS manager to save his own face.)

"Alienware is all about being a company that markets toward people that are considered not the norm."

No, Alienware is a corporation to make money. Marketing is just an image to get more money. When did 18-35 yo, males, who like to game, and have a good eye for quality, with 2-4k of disposible income become "not the norm?" I fit that demographic and I think I'm fairly normal. (and I even have a nipple piercing, but you know what...no one at work has ever seen it!)

"...Mr.Smarty Pants, but some of us have religious reasons for our tattoos and piercing."

Could you tell me what religion this is please? and give me the secular symbolism behind a 2" diam. hole in your head or facial tattoo?

"Here’s how society brought me down. Look they did it to my friend too. But now look, I stuck it back to them with this new sweet job." Until you have some reason for "leaving," your current job, then you'll b**** about how they were hold'n you down too.

I'm just curious as to who took a leak in your cheerios this morning?

Facial tattoos (which I don't have) = Maori tribes people or Polynesian decent

And I'm buddhist thank you very much..
"There are 32 marks (lakshanas) of Buddhahood, of which some of the usual ones are: elongated ear-lobes, indicating how Buddha's ears were stretched from wearing jewels when he was Prince Siddartha; the monastic robe (sanghati), often with a high roll collar; the whorl of hair between the eyebrows (urna), indicating the third eye of spiritual vision; and the cranial bump (ushnisha) representing Buddha's special wisdom or superhuman knowledge. The ushnisha is often shown as a flame. The finest Buddha images were made in the Gupta period (320-650 AD) and these classical images, either standing or in a sitting meditative pose, have an air of calm immobility, displaying peace and humanity. After the classical Gupta period the quality of Buddhist images declined in most of India and lost much of their vitality."

Oh for pete's sake, society hasn't held me down, I just wanted the people who had the incorrect thought that Alienware was so extreme and different than other corps to know that guess what, it's not..

I honestly don't know how this turned into your personal vendetta against me, but honestly I'm ammused. When I leave a job, I don't go back and complain about how they were "holding me down," mostly I was trying to get Alienware customers to know that AW could give a crap about who you are, as long as you're spending the all-mighty dollar.

If you're going to spend $2 grand plus on a machine, build your own, (or go to school and learn how to do it) it'll be worth it in the end.

"See, here is the thing with that...they give you money, the're taking their money. Completely different cash flow directions. Employeers chew out employees for worse reasons than your's ALL THE TIME. (Try taking a beating from a manager about something he f'd up, but publicly chewed you in front of HIS manager to save his own face.)"

Uh, yeah, welcome to the IT Field?

You pissed in my Cheerios.

You took an article about one computer company purchacing another and had turned it into a personal expression on how one of them wronged you, your buddy and your group of society because of choices you made in your life.

Who said anything about IT? It happens in all fields, to all levels of employees.

Is it fair? Who cares? Fair is not a part of the business world.

Good response TakethisBottle...way to keep your cool and more power to you man. As for Intrusive_Rogue, stop trolling, your inflammatory language simply makes you look like a punk...in fact you seem to have missed the point in this post even when it was explained in small words. That point is that Alienware has established themselves as a counterculture alterternative with high quality, high performance hardware that is packaged in a creative way. They (in order to be consistent with their image) should not bat an eye at tatoos or piercings. TakethisBottle noting the fact that they are persecuting those that don't fit the norm is a type of speech called "irony" and made his initial post here very pithy and relevant. I saw a little ranting but no whining or sniveling.

It is unfortunate that you are ill equipped to appreciate this, but feel free to continue to display your intellectual shortcomings...at least it is entertaining. Sooner or later we will stop bothering to try to explain things to you.

Reap_r:
Thanks man, you got what I meant.. (At least I got my point across to someone!)

Although I'm not a "he".. (I was the only girl to last on the assembly line..) :-D

lol at criticizing my inflammatory language, and accusations of trolling.

Hello pot, it's the kettle calling.

"It is unfortunate that you are ill equipped to appreciate this, but feel free to continue to display your intellectual shortcomings...at least it is entertaining. Sooner or later we will stop bothering to try to explain things to you."

Touche`

Thought that would get by you. You may be sharper than you let on...why are you acting like like an adolescent then?

my hat's off to you then. IT is a tough place for women to work. They have to constantly prove themselves and also put up with no-life nerds trying to get into their pants everyday. As if females in IT automatically find smart nerdy guys (who live in their mother's basement) suddenly less vile because they know a simm from a rom or something.

Well this is an interesting development. I bought an Alienware PC back in the day when hardly anyone knew about them, it was a very well built PC with quality parts, and their service used to be top notch. I know i should have built my own but i was pressed for time back then to get a PC.

Anyhow, I wouldnt buy a PC from them even if I got paid to do it. Their service has gone down hill the past 3 years.

What I find interesting is that well Alienware is a well known AMD PC maker. Dell has been on the fence on wether to make the jump to AMD, pretty much saying maybe then no(apparently to put some pressure on Intel).

So the question is, will Alienware go Intel only, or will Dell now have an in with Alienware to the AMD supply chain and if they do how will this affect their relationship with Intel.

"Dell chairman Michael Dell said Alienware's target audience and computer lineup complements Dell's more traditional computers. "In addition to offering high-quality, high-performance products, Alienware has tremendous brand appeal with consumers and creative business professionals," he said."

Finally Dell Admits their PC's are not high quality or high performance! lol

not really, you think they are going to say they bought crap? I don't think so, its political.

Dell line of XPS machines are excellent. You can buy whatever you like, I will take a Dell machine, XPS and put it up against a falcon or whatever machine you like.

We have our entire company on Dell machines, the ONLY problem we suffer, is users!

Users are very abusive and they don't take care of their machines. I bet any user can destroy an Alienware product just as quickly.

A little known fact, for all you people that trash talk Dell, NO Computer manufacturer *NONE* make their drives, motherboards, chips, video cards, or cases. EVERYTHING is outsourced.

So Alienware may design the case, and put the components in, and even hand pick (Dell does the same thing believe it or not) the memory, but that's about all they can select.

so all the hard drives, motherboards, memory chips, cpu, all of it is major brand components.

Open up an Alienware box. Open up a Dell box. Look at the hard drive, same specs, same hardware, same part number. Look at the memory, DDR2, its either Corsair, Crucial, or Kingston.

The hard drive is Western Digital, Seagate, or Fujitsu.

The CPU, obviously, is either Intel or AMD.

So where does Alienware become soo much better?

They aren't. What's the difference? Perception.

This is the same argument for FF vs IE. More people use IE than FF. Smaller segment equals smaller number of complaints. That's *ALL* this is.

Dell is a huge company, 5% failure rate. 10,000 million machines a month. 50,000 machines, that's alot. but its *ONLY* 5%.

As the machines get larger and more of them, the failure rate increases. Same with cars, clothes, electronics.. its nominal.

so when you see 50,000 people complaining they got "a bad machine from Dell" (which one fact of the matter is, half of them can't afford the machine in the first place, so they complain, so they can get their money back - that's a fact) it looks like Dell sucks, when in reality, look at the industry, DELL has a much LOWER failure rate than the rest of the industry.

Alienware makes a few thousand machines. Maybe they hand build each and every one, so what. They have the same failure rate (its the law of averages, argue all you want, but you would be WRONG!) and they have the same rate of return.

You don't hear about them, because they are much smaller.. only 5,000 machines, depending on how many they send out.

You can bash, Sony, Dell, and Intel all you want, but PEOPLE are the problem, not products.

"...DELL has a much LOWER failure rate than the rest of the industry.
..."

Have you ever worked in corporate IT? Dell is horrible! My company tried Dell's (against my urging) and 80% (That's not a typo, 80 percent) of the Optiplexes that they thought were a good choice, had hard drive failures inside of 2 years. The cooling on these is just indadequate, and they burn up the thin form factor hard drives.

Since then, we've ordered all HP desktops, and have only had 1 or 2 issues from the factory.

Out of the box, HP's have a much lower failure rate. As far as support, HP's corporate support is a TON better than Dell's. Try keeping calm when you call up dell for the 400th time and the tech (that you just talked to every day the week before) requires you to boot to the diagnostics disk and run it and then report the errors BEFORE they'll ship out a replacement. I can call HP's support and tell them I have a bad modem, and one will show up the next day.

Buggy

I couldn't agree more with everything you said. I work IT and it's the exact same thing within my company... Also don't seem to realize that there is a discrepency in the different HDD manufactureres, etc... sure they're all "big name" and used by many different companies, but that doesn't mean they all make the same product... Seagate hard drives, for example, far out value anything from Maxtor, Wesern Digital, etc...

Did you read the article? I work in Corporate IT, have worked for large companies, all using Dell. I am very familiar with Dell, I also know its you people, not the machines, that is the problem.

We could buy Alienware and switch tomorrow, everyone would STILL complain. Its not the machine that crashes, I can take a Dell or Sony, or whatever, take it out of the box, you are telling me, that without touching, the machine will crash on its own? Get real, dweeb.

It requires interaction from USERS. Get the picture? People did something to the machine to make it crash, the machine just doesn't crash for NO reason.

HP? HA! they are a joke! Please, lower failure rate, where are you getting that info? Do some research boy, look it up on the net.. Look up Customer Satisfaction PC on Google. You know where that's at, I hope, then post me some real world stats.. HP is among the LOWEST in customer service, Dell is consistently at the top.. go ahead, google it, bughead!

that is very true. What is the difference among Companies like Dell, they buy in lots. Maybe they buy 100,000 hard drives this week, and this week maybe the cheapest is Western Digital. Next week, its Fujitsu..

Alienware they buy their hard drives from the same place, so eventually they will have the same issues, that's what people don't realize.

i belive there just going to sell them and thats it. there not goignto make them.

Oh man.

So much for Alienware being good anymore.

This sucks.

To be honest i dont care. So what if Dell Buy's a even higher priced PC company. 5000-10000 for a pc is retarded anyways. Dell now sells a qaud SLI rig for $10,000.00. It's new and overpriced and if you buy one you're nuts or loaded. I have a dell, but i only payed 2600.00 for it. Not alot of money considering what i got. It's a rock solid gaming pc without the huge price tag.

That's my point. I have the same as you, 2600 invested in my machine, that I built piece by piece myself, upgrades here and there and its solid.

So what, some punk gamer gets 3 more fps than me, big whoop. That same gamer will be on a board later, asking how they can remove a program. They have the big machines, doesn't mean they know how to use them..

I laugh at people when they spend this amount of money on a computer. Its rediculous, especially when you look at the REAL difference in performance. Their machine boots a whole second quicker, gets 3 more FPS in Doom, and they can do SLI for a game and run it at 1600x100 whereas I only run at 1280x1024.

Lets go toe to toe in a game, when I wipe your a** all over the field, you can cry on your 10,000 machine.

"Ah, ****, there goes the neighborhood!"

So does this mean Alienware will FINALLY offer dual core intel chips, like every other company is offering? Is it their supply chain that revented this up until now?

No its that fact that AMD processors perform better. Want Intel? Buy a Dell.

Fact, or old news?

http://www.anandtech.com...doc.aspx?i=2713&p=2

Seem the new Intel Conroe core trounces AMD even at lower clockspeeds.. You even get Intel stability thrown in..

"You even get Intel stability thrown in"

Nice oxymoron!

You think Intel CPU and chipsets are unstable, then your obviously a fool. This is why Intel have such a big marketshare, buisness crititcal systems run Intel, for it's proven track record on stability.

Choosing AMD, is a hit and miss affair, with chipsets of varying quaility (Nforce4 being OK, NForce3 a bag of crap, SiS being crap Via8000 being good).

I notice you also don't mention the meat of the post, which is the 30% speed advantage the Intel chips have, at a lower clockspeed, compared to the AMD chip.

30% speed advantage WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?!?!?!

The AMD chips run at lower clock speeds(by over 1ghz) and they beat the pants of anything that Intel has to offer.

Dude really, if you are going to talk do some research. The big numbers like Athlon XP 4000 does not mean that the Processor is clocked at 4ghz, it is clocked if im not mistaken at 2.3ghz if im not mistaken.

I would hope it isnt 2.3ghz, my 3400 is 2.4. If you are going to insult someone for "not doing research", why not do some of your OWN before posting what you THINK is a clock speed.

Woops that was a typo, its 2.4ghz on the 4000

I'm not smoking anything, just reporting about the anadtech article, but then we all know you know more than them..

In summary, for those incapable of clicking a link..

AMD X2 (Dual Core)64 running at 2.8Ghz (FX60) verses the Intel chip running at 2.2Ghz, the Intel chip totally thrashed the AMD chip by at least 20%, the best being 31% faster in the HL2 benchmark.

So, I ask, what are YOU smoking...

AMD doesn't run better than Intel, when you consider APP aren't optimized for AMD... I have had several AMD machines, I got tired of the incompatibilities.

Ever since I got Intel, NO problems. Not 1. The only difference, other than motherboard, is CPU.

What you can't read? Its all over any group, AMD once had the avantage, you must still be live in 2002. Intel has long since fixed their problems, and they are better at it than AMD.

OK, maybe its not 30%, but Intel is the BETTEr choice. AMD also run very hot..

And yes, you would be wrong. 4000 means 4Ghz. Maybe AMD it doesn't mean that, but Intel is what it is.

The proof is in the pudding--but likely these results are correct, as AMD even admits it beats their current cpu performance. BTW Intel has NEVER admitted that they have had slower cpu's than AMD. That says something about Intel and AMD's differing attitudes.

Anyway, Intel looks to regain the speed crown, but AMD now has the market share to speed production and move forward faster than before.

no MAYBE *YOU* should do some research, buddy boy!

If you have AMD, a 3400 does NOT run at 3.4 ghz. Its more like 2.0 ghz. Look it up on the AMD site..

Intel numbers match, AMD does NOT. So if you have an Athlon 3400 its a 2.0 ghz clock (or whatever) but the speed EQUIVALENT is SUPPOSED to match a similar Intel chip, that's the deal.

That's why they say "rated" at 3400, but it truly is somewhat less, its around 2.0 ghz, not 3.4 as the number would imply

And offcourse Anadtech is basing their article on the Slides that Intel provided at their Conference. Thats a lot of smoke but we got no fire until those chips can be tested by indipendent techs.

These are real-world results, using Intel provided demos (31% in HL2), and independent verification in a non Intel demo (20% in F.E.A.R).

Please at least read the article before posting BS.

Indie results on an INTEL show. Come on how can you accept those results?

AMD a few months back offered Intel to have a showdown done by an Indie tech company they both agreed upon and intel refused.

Again, read the article... It's in plain black and white, that some of the benchmarks showing the performance gains were done by Anadtech. (their tests in FEAR shows 20% faster), this lays creedance to Intels HL2 demos with 30% performance scores.

It's a sad day, when the AMD fanboys cannot even see the facts, and have to make up lame excuses like "Indie results on an INTEL show. "

and "Indie results on an INTEL show. "..

So, does this mean Alienware will FINALLY offer Intel dual core chips, that every other company now offers?

Not to start a flame war or anything... but AMD Chips still out preform Intel chips and have less heat issues (isn't that a flip from 5 years ago? lol)... that and the pricepoint is better - you get more for your money with an AMD...

amd bought the dec alpha designs from compaq before hp took over. the performance gap won't survive next five years. only hope for amd is serious r&d dollar spending. with their pricing and use of older wafers. i can't see it. they've been saving money while intel has been investing in the newer wafers. i'm seeing intel chips running a lot cooler and with better battery life in laptops. i can't recommend an amd laptop. amd is currently the better value. hope it lasts, but i don't see it lasting...

Do you believe the crap that is coming from you?

Indeed, Intel have recently shown the Conroe core, and it totally thrashes a AMD chip running at a faster clockspeed. (see link in post above).

Whilst Intel may have been caught off-guard for the AMD K8, they simply have that much more money to develop better chips.

Lets also not forget, Intel's CPU marketshare is still over 80%. AMD are pretty small-fry.

You know what Mark? That is the first post I've read from you that I actually agree with! Yeah I sometimes root for the underdog just out of habit, so I am more "saddend" when AMD loses to Intel than vice versa--but Intel has the financial backing to walk all over AMD.

They made big mistakes, and AMD bested them. They (Intel) are not FOOLS though--they aren't ignoring the numbers (and the numbers show AMD is gaining share while Intel is losing it). AMD will have to book it double time to play catchup to Intel's technology now.

In the end, the consumer wins. AMD cannot simply bask in their successes, but they must move quickley to maintain their current market share. Everyone wins.

Another good company is ThunderboxPC here:
www.thunderboxpc.com

There goes Alienware!

"Alienware fans should not fear that their favorite PCs will soon bear the Dell logo -- the company would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell, yet operate separately. The move is merely mainly aimed at bettering the company's supply chain, says Dell and Alienware."
Bullsh@t the next line says that.

""We believe that Alienware will realize significant advantages from Dell's world-class supply chain and operational efficiencies," Alienware CEO Nelson Gonzalez said."
Cutting corners everywhere to drop cost and quality.

Check the key words here, "operational efficiencies". So they are going to screw it up.

deleted

That means that now when you call Tech Support (or ANYTHING for that matter) you get some US Job Stealer in India who doesn't kknow a mouse from a floppy drive!!!

s***!

Will Alienware PC's become Intel only from this move or are Dell going to start using AMD cpus via the new subsidiary I wonder.

I always wanted an Alienware desktop until a few months ago when my friend got one. Man, he's had nothing but trouble out of that machine. Not to mention support which he claims has been very horrible and not willing to work with him (major overheating problems, shipping box was open when it arrived, etc).

I heard these guys are quite good:
http://www.falcon-nw.com/

Falcon North West is a good custom builder too, but Alienware always did a better job in the past... however at this point, I'd probably point my friends at FalconNW just because I'm not sure I'd trust Alienware any more...

That or just build your own =P

lmao...

Great! Requires Flash to even get intot he site. Talk about crap web-designing. At least include a "skip-intro" or at least basic comptibility for users who choose not to use flash.

As one of the 3 "major" manufacturers offering the PhysX PPU card, you'd think they'd do everything they can to bring their customers in.

Ahh well, building your own is the best way to go. Then you can be 1337 with the Hynix. ;)

Would be interesting to see Dell selling something of quality, even if the price is still insane.

You can get quality things from dell the only problem is they like to put everything in a small case with only one weak fan to keep everything cool needless to say something gets fried after a while.

Recently went to friends house to help with some problems here the hard drive was fried stuck my hand in the case and it was like a toaster and i can breath harder than that pityfull fan they put in there was blowing.

For some reason it seems like most people think if you want good air cooling you have to have a noisy computer. Just use SilenX brand fans. I've yet to see a quiter fan (and Zalman doesn't even come close to the cooling performance and quietness of SilenX). The best SilenX fans never put out more than 11db of noise.

Alienware is overpriced garbage. I don't know why anyone would want them.

Well I used to be a huge Alienware fan (back before anyone even knew who they were)... the best thing about them was the use of QUALITY parts (seagate HDDs, Corsair RAM, etc) and service. Dell on the other hand, I've disliked since they went mainstream. They lost focus on quality and instead went for cheap mass market. I've replaced so many Dell Hard Drives/Motherboards/etc in my line of work that it's disgusting... I hope that this aquisition doesn't mean Alienware will be switching to Dells part supply line - that will really wreck what Alienware has built.

I agree.

"world-class supply chain and operational efficiencies" does not equate automatically to world-class quality parts.

Yea, I bought an alienware back in 2001, its been a good machine. But I wouldnt buy one today. I think they've gotten too big now, and alot of people say bad things about them.Ill probably just pay someone to build me a pc whenever I finally get a new one.

man. just try and build your own. you are going to have alot of fun and you will know what it really has.

If I want a laptop or a TabletPC these days... I'd buy Toshiba. If I want a desktop or a server... I build my own, absolutely.

It's like the old saying goes-- if you want it done right, do it yourself.

It's also really easy. I'd say the hardest part would be putting the CPU on the mobo, but even that is easy these days.

That's exactly what I tell my friends :) I've even helped most of them learn how to build their own computers... it's really quite simple now days - picking out compatible parts is the "hardest" part... but e-tailers like newegg have made it much easier to determine compatibility for people who'd know the difference between Socket A and 939 pin, DDR2 and RDRAM, etc.