Getting mixed opinions on Alienware; need advice

[TakeyB0y2]

So I've been saving up money to replace my current laptop which has just about had the boot. I've been looking into Alienware's gaming laptops, and I've been reading reviews but... Argh!

Well, from what I've gathered, it is one of the more (or most) popular gaming PC manufacturers out there. I'm, however, only assuming that because I hear about them the most. Despite it's popularity, I get people practically saying that Alienware makes PCs from hell ( http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Alienware ).

I save up money pretty fast so money is really no object to me, although I'd like to stay under $2000. I'm currently looking at their M14x, which seems pretty damn good to me.

Buuuuut anyways, I'm asking two things I guess.

1) If you've ever owned an Alienware PC, would you recommend it to someone else?
2) Do you know of any good, trustworthy alternatives to Alienware?

 

[Jerubbaal]

I'm writing this on my M17x R3. Cost me about $2000. It's been a very nice computer, though the RAM did come loose in my first month of owning it (took me 5 minutes to fix once I looked up how). Also, the light-up keyboard is awesome, and certain games (like League of Legends) are designed to work with the keyboard. For example, the keys all turn red when I'm at critical health.

My only significat complaint (and you'll run into this with any computer manufacturer) is lack of driver support. Standard Nvidia drivers won't work, so I have to wait until Dell comes out with a version of the Nvidia driver that will work with their systems. But, like I mentioned, that's a problem with just about any hardware manufacturer.

The best alternatives that come to mind are Asus and Falcon Northwest. Check them out.

 

[dyre]

It's definitely not one of the more or most popular gaming PC manufacturers, thanks to its ridiculous price tag.

I've never owned one, so I can't say anything from experience (though I'm shocked at how many 1 out of 5 reviews there were...), but I've never had any problems with the Dell StudioXP laptop I have, gaming related or otherwise.

Honestly, I'd just go with any trusted, major manufacturer, like Dell, HP, etc, over the flashy, overpriced Alienware (which is owned by Dell anyway)

 

[Azure Sky]

Alienware are one of the highest end, in laptops at least.
However, you are paying for the name.

The logic around a lot of PC enthusiasts is that when you're buying from Alienware, you're paying a premium for the name and a tacky exterior. I wouldn't buy one, even if money was no object. Indeed, I wouldn't buy a gaming laptop full stop, but judging that you'll probably say that you have some good reason for paying out of the nose for compromised hardware, ASUS has a line of specialist gaming laptops which look fairly nice.

I would pick a Dell personally.
That said, I believe Dell bought Alienware. /shrug

 

[AnarchyUK]

I used to owe a sweet little Alienware M11x.

I had a large amount of problems with it. Struggled with Starcraft and Many steam games.
However it does "look" cool. But all in all its not really cost effective, especially the amount of times I had to send it back for them to "repair" it (they never did, In fact at one point, all they did was turn it on, and send it back to me telling me it worked, ignoring that I told them it turn on OK, but whenever it did anything more stressful that go on the internet it would slow down and crash). But that's more a problem with there repair services than them.

Finally the local neighborhood thief deciding to break into my house and take the laptop, so its all out of my hands now really.

For the replacement laptop I am not getting an Alienware, so that's the best advice I can give.

 

[jobu59749]

Here's the skinny, if you can, find someone that can build you a laptop for half the cost as the alienware your looking at. They are decent quality, but as many others have said...your paying for the name. I learned a long time ago, you want something just as impressive and half the cost, build it yourself or find someone that knows how to build one and will charge you a nominal fee for their time.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

ASUS has a line of specialist gaming laptops which look fairly nice.

Asus G series. Those and Sager laptops are the only ones even coming within shouting distance of being useful for gaming.

I learned a long time ago, you want something just as impressive and half the cost, build it yourself or find someone that knows how to build one and will charge you a nominal fee for their time.

Doesn't apply to laptops. Even if you can find someone who will build them (and they're a massive pain in the arse to build) and can source the parts (not the easiest things to track down), laptops are massively expensive to build because the parts so frigging expensive. Laptops are, in general, more more as parts than they are assembled because the spare parts market for them is tiny compared to that of desktops... It's also why techs who work on laptops will often give you a few dollars for any dead laptop as long as the parts aren't too obsolete or fucked.