Anyone own an Alienware?

[BigfootKevin]

I was thinking instead of building my own comp the next time I ever need one(years down the road maybe), how good really are these things? I know their overpriced, but I could probably put together one for $2k.

Or are there any other good custom build computer sites?

 

[Mik3y]

abspc.com all the way. alienware is perfectly fine too, but hella expensive.

 

[Chaotic42]

I know a guy that has an Alienware laptop. He loves it.

 

[datamestonic]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
I know a guy that has an Alienware laptop. He loves it.

Same here. But I still think they're over priced.

 

[imported_Tick]

Great PC's. Hideous price. They could at least include phase change for the price they charge.

 

[Alexstarfire]

I got one. Love it. Great customer service. I don't know any other place that sends you a replacement item before you send the broken one back. Heck, I even got a free $150+ upgrade because they didn't have my item in stock at the time. How many places do that? All this comes at a price though. Even with the free upgrade and all it is still cheaper to go the build it yourself route. The only problem with this though is that you get warranties for every product and not the whole computer and they are mostly going to be like 30 day warranties.

If you know how to fix computer problems go with the build-it-yourself route. If not then you should look into buying a name brand computer. Not nessessarily Alienware, but something along the line. I know Cyber Powered Systems are really cheap, but I don't know about their service.

 

[V00D00]

If it wasn't a huge ripoff I'd buy one.

But it IS a huge ripoff, so I never ever will.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
I know a guy that has an Alienware laptop. He loves it.

no doubt the laptops are awesome. it's the only place i know that has the go7800gtx. but also take this into consideration: the more you spend on an item, the more you tend to care for it. if he spent $1000 less for 3/4 as good a system, he would have like only half the affection he does now

 

[DasFox]

Alienware use to be a high quality micro brew company about 5 years back, and were the elite at one time. Falcon NW is the only one I know of that has maintained the MICRO quality and is probably one of the few that have, if not the only one. Falcon NW is one of the originals.

http://www.falcon-nw.com/

Now like a micro brew beer company that expands and is no longer MICRO, is what has also happend to Alienware.

Like others say, it's just a name now with a high price tag.

Put it this way REAL PC users build their own and don't buy Detroit made machines

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: datamestonic

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
I know a guy that has an Alienware laptop. He loves it.

Same here. But I still think they're over priced.

If he bought a Sager which would be more powerful compared to buying an Alienware at the same time, he would probably be much more happier.

 

[Phluxed]

I own a Sager. The plastic is cheap and the covers for my USB pins keep breaking off. The system itself is still decent.

A good buddy of mine owns an Alienware. He is in love with it. He had his all rubberized so it sticks to surfaces and such. I must admit, I am a fan, but he has a lot of money. If I had the boatloads he has, I'd probably get an alienware too.

 

[cmaMath13]

My $0.02.

Alienware computers are expensive, but it's not just the hardware you are paying for. Think about the companies business model. If you were an owner of Alienware, you are selling the best hardware with the best support and craftmanship. The latter is what makes the premium price.

Don't get me wrong, I will always build my own rigs, but I am a computer geek. Most people don't have the experience or the desire to build a computer like Alienware sells.

They are a business...

 

[ramj70]

I used to own an alienware, nice computer but way overpriced. Service and support were terrible for me though. It seem to be hit and miss with alienware when it comes to service and support, which shouldn't be since you are paying a premium. Check out their ratings at resellersrating.com, not the best considering what people are paying. Go with falconNW or voodoo if you want to buy a premium system.

 

[MrMiyagi]

Originally posted by: Alexstarfire
I got one. Love it. Great customer service. I don't know any other place that sends you a replacement item before you send the broken one back. Heck, I even got a free $150+ upgrade because they didn't have my item in stock at the time. How many places do that? .

I've had both Dell and Gateway overnight me parts, and give me a prepaid box to ship back my broken stuff (all for free.) And, I got an upgraded vid card and power supply out of the deal. I think most places do this.

 

[CalamitySymphony]

The 7800GTX GO is available from Dell, Sager, and many other places as well. (Hypersonic, Falcon etc)

 

[GamerExpress]

Alienware makes some nice machines, but they are WAAAYYYYYY to overpriced!!!

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Alexstarfire
I got one. Love it. Great customer service. I don't know any other place that sends you a replacement item before you send the broken one back. Heck, I even got a free $150+ upgrade because they didn't have my item in stock at the time. How many places do that? All this comes at a price though. Even with the free upgrade and all it is still cheaper to go the build it yourself route. The only problem with this though is that you get warranties for every product and not the whole computer and they are mostly going to be like 30 day warranties.

If you know how to fix computer problems go with the build-it-yourself route. If not then you should look into buying a name brand computer. Not nessessarily Alienware, but something along the line. I know Cyber Powered Systems are really cheap, but I don't know about their service.

i don't know what kind of parts you buy, but 30 days? stop buying your ****** out of the back of a van on the street corner.

most parts come with several year warranties. Western Digital drives come with what, 3 or 5 year warranties. BFG and EVGA offer lifetime warranties on their stuff.

but, yes, alienware is way overpriced.

 

[phantom404]

Originally posted by: BigfootKevin
I was thinking instead of building my own comp the next time I ever need one(years down the road maybe), how good really are these things? I know their overpriced, but I could probably put together one for $2k.

Or are there any other good custom build computer sites?

I currently own an Alienware. I love building my own computers but now I just dont have the time but i had the money so i figured alienware ftw. I also priced at other places and came to about the same price i paid for mine maybe alittle cheeper but thats because they didnt offer some of the highest stuff. love mine and their customer service is great IMO.

Ohh yea if your into BF2 multiplayer, Im always the first one loaded and on the map so I'm usually at a flag before most of the people get loaded

 

[BigfootKevin]

After looking at falcon-nw and voodoo prices, Alienware seems cheap now haha

 

[thescreensavers]

I bought a computer from NVM( http://www.newvisionsmedia.net ) It is good and comes with some good warrenty and I liked the company so far no problems wat so ever. Good quality stuff. But right now ther undergoing a update to there site. They also repair laptops they dont say that yet scince there chaging there site.

I Had an alienware It was over expencive and kept braking and having problems got a comp at nvm for 1500 and it is like 30 times better then my 2,500 alienware

 

[imported_squire]

Is the CPU in alienware overclockable/upgradeable or are the components attached and locked on to the mobo just like DELL?

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: squire
Is the CPU in alienware overclockable/upgradeable or are the components attached and locked on to the mobo just like DELL?

I believe they use all normal components like ASUS, BFG etc.
However, if you can only swing out $2k... build you own!!
Alienware give you the best of best components and some of them you can't even buy separently and they are for people who spend $5k-$6k on one pc.

 

[Malak]

I have an Alienware desktop. It was, by far, the cheapest solution on the market. I priced everywhere, nobody could do it cheaper than Alienware. I would never have purchased from them otherwise, I was very surprised.

However, post-purchase, I'd have to say for a few reasons I won't do it again. My reasoning:

1. I didn't build it because the parts weren't available. Next time I'll just wait, no reason to be impatient.
2. The Alienware tower is HUGE. I mean MASSIVE. And it's mostly empty. So next time, I'm getting a tower that is either small or actually uses the space.
3. I got a bad video card and my case fan was unplugged. I didn't even realize why I was having heat issues for the longest time until I was cleaning up behind my computer and noticed the fan wasn't spinning. My video card was terrible, artifacts in the BIOS. So much for their QA testing.

In a year or so, when I decide to build a new computer, I will make sure I know what I want, and I will wait till it's available... it's not really worth it to pay the premium to get it now.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Malak, was it cheaper than Monarch? You can put together a sweet rig there for something like a $90 build fee.

 

[Sysbuilder05]

Alienware used to have about the worst customer service record in the land--don't know if thats changed. They were experts at charging your CC for $$4-5 GRAND and then taking forever to finally deliver. Many just finally canceled their order and moved on. Now I see where their opening retail stores,they won't last long with that type of service.

I'd check reseller ratings before I bought.