Are Alienware laptops good?

[Gruuberhans]

Well, I was thinking, since i'm probably gonna have to buy a new computer after the summer break, i'd ask for advice here. The alienware computers seem great, but i'd love if someone who has an alienware laptop (the LAPTOP-part is very important) could tell me what's good/bad about it.

btw:
My current computer is a Dell XPS M1710.


EDIT: I forgot something, do the alienware computers use windows by default, or is it some sort of built in system like the MAC has?

 

[Necrile]

My friend has an alienware laptop, and he says they break very easily; so first off make sure you have a long warranty. Second off, they are good for RAM, so you can finally play Crysis and shit. I really don't know what more to say about them, except they look cool; but otherwise no better than Dell, other than for handling large games.

 

[tensuke]

Generally Alienware computers are very high-performance(compared to the average, or in some cases high-end, Dell). My friend had an Alienware PC(not a laptop, I know), but it was pretty good.
They can be a bit expensive though, so if you you're not playing really high-end games or 3D applications, you can probably go for just a higher-end Dell or other brand laptop, which will probably run you a bit less cash than the Alienware. At the same time, Alienware products generally just look cool, and they are very powerful, so you can't go wrong with getting one.

 

[arcthemonkey]

Dell makes pretty darned good quality computers with very high specs, but they are moronically expensive. If you can afford it, go for it.

 

[___]

My personal experience as a professional technician is that Alienware is the same garbage in a prettier package.  They used to be a very high quality niche manufacturer before they got bought by Dell; Dell gutted them.  If you buy Alienware you are buying a Dell with a goofy looking alien face slapped on the cover and an even more ridiculous price tag. 

If you want a gaming machine that you can take around with you, don't buy a laptop anyway, get a small desktop PC, a flat panel monitor, some 3d surround headphones, and a nice case to carry them around in.  You will always pay twice as much for half the machine if you insist on cramming high-performance hardware into a laptop size, and you'll get a really bigass unwieldy laptop in the bargain.  Just don't do it.  You can get (or build) a PC half the size of a normal tower in all dimensions (about the size of an xbox) and still get really good quality performance parts in it, a much better screen, and about the same portability as the gigantic slab of a gaming "laptop" you'll end up with.

Personal preference of course, but I know a lot of people who buy big gigantic laptops and either find they loathe to unhook them from their spot on the desk (shoulda bought a desktop) or find the thing is so big it's not practical to use in many situations (shoulda bought a small notebook and forgot about 1337 gaming power), or find the thing cost a fortune and didn't really deliver the promised performance (shoulda bought a desktop).  You can't take it back, and it's a big chunk of money. 

Try this, go buy or borrow a really big, really cheap briefcase, about 18x14x4, and put around 10 pounds of bricks in it, and carry that around for a month; sit with it on your lap in various tight places like airplane seats or folding chairs or tables in coffee shops and pretend you're typing on it; leave it out in the sun during the summer and let it get nice and hot, then plop it down on your legs (because the thing will get really fucking hot when you're playing a game).  Oh yeah also bring a mouse and try to figure out where the hell you plan to put it while the laptop is on your lap and you're having a grand ol' time playing Crysis on the bus.  If you find all these things quite tolerable for a long period of time in exchange for being able to play great games on the go, definitely buy that laptop.  Otherwise, buy a nice small laptop and play games in ugly mode, or a gaming desktop and a DS/PSP :D

 

[Ellie]

Just wanna point out, an Alienware is a "high-end Dell". They're made by Dell, just under a different name.

 

[Venetia]

And for the record, Alienware doesn't MAKE PCs and laptops, they simply assemble them. You can buy all the components of an Alienware anything and a different case and it's the same damn machine with a different case (and about $6-700 in your pocket from savings).

Dell MAKES some hardware, but 9 times out of 10 it is another company's technology which they have altered just JUUUST slightly enough so that you can only buy replacements/supplies from them. Their printers, for example, are LexMark printers, with the ink/toner cartridge slots assembled differently so you HAVE to buy Dell ink. THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, a hunk of plastic molding!! DX

 

[___]

Another example of Dell's dickery is the power supplies they use in desktops, which are arranged slightly differently in such a fashion that you can't replace them with third-party PSUs without some serious case modding with a dremel tool (which I've done for people in the past when their shitty ass Dell PSUs die, turns out paying me for the PSU and 2 hours labor is still cheaper than the insane prices Dell asks for replacement PSUs).

Anyway point being, fuck Dell, fuck Alienware for selling to Dell, doublefuck Dell for gutting Alienware, and avoid both at all costs.