Alienware

[[AK]Faxman]

I'm in the market for a new high-power gaming computer, as I am currently computer-less. Has anyone had any dealings with Alienware? They look to me like a typical style-over-functionality company, but has anyone heard good things about them or had a first hand experience? I'm scouring the 'net for configurators and searching for the perfect system from a company who will deliver a quality product. Your input is appreciated.

[[AK]Bribo]

I have one of their machines. I've been extremely happy with it. My only problem was in delivery. They said 4 weeks, but on the 4th week they said they had found a problem with the sound card that was crashing the system. This "problem" dragged on for another couple weeks <frustrating>. I'm not sure if this problem was REALLY a problem as at one point a sales tech told me they were really late with getting systems assembled.

But when I finally got the system it was all that and then some. Very fast. No setup/tech problems. I had to restore the whole thing once, but I believe this was due to a viral infection. The Restore CD that came with the system helped here.

I'd give them a 9 out of 10 and would buy again from them.

[[AK]Leonidas]

I recently got a new system and did a fair amount of shopping around. I found the best deal at www.mwave.com, which someone here pointed me to. It's like a computer components store where you can buy everything retail, and then pay them $80 to put it all together for you, install the OS, and otherwise get everything working.

The prices there are low, but there's little guidance. You have to figure out for yourself which components you want, which for me took a lot of reading. But I got about the fastest gaming system you could buy for $2000, including 19" monitor.

I used to buy computers from Dell or Quantex. I was frequently frustrated later on to discover that my system had some kind of non-standard component for which no one could give me guidance. With Mwave, I know everything about every component I've got, which makes future hardware problems much more solveable.

[NeverRetreat]

Beast could build it for you...wink!

Probably do it for beer

[Pixelsponge]

I am not very technically savvy when it comes to the hardware end of computers, and I have this bad habit of buying the first cool thing I see, so I ended up getting my latest box from Gateway. Its great, I got what I wanted, everything installed (well except for a good sound and graphics card) and it was on my door step within a week. I was pretty happy overall with their service.

[[AK]Hylander]

I do not have personal experience with Alienware, but I do know a few people who are very happy with their product. As it seems with every company in existance anymore, customer service can be suspect at times. Micron PC also builds some guide units from what I have heard.

I build my own systems, which is great as you learn a ton about computers. It SUCKS because you are bound to screw something up and 'you' are the tech support.

Pixelsponge, I have found w/Gateway when it comes time to upgrade, there can be proprietary crap to get around. Particularly in the 'generic' Intel motherboards they tend to use. I buy Gateways here at work and haven't had many problems. Well, not hardware related anyways. I had to whipe Win ME off the damn things and reinstall Win2K in order to get our Virtual Private Network working. Thankfully, the Gateway restore CD has Win2K/NT drivers on it for most of the devices.

Thanks god I'm not a techy for a living! LOL

Scott
PA-Scott

[R23]

im a firm believer in A-Open products, i built my aopen machine from the gound up, every component they make are very easy to upgrade, bios, firmware and such, no proprietery components. i worked for gateway for allmost two years, there warranty and upgrade policy suck, say you put a gf3 card in, then call tech support if you tell them you added stuff that they didnt sell you then you gotta pay $28.95 per incedent to get help.

but everyone has there own opinions, gateways are hard to upgrade.

[[AK]Hylander]

I like AOpen products as well. I have an AOpen AX6BC motherboard in my Linux box powered by an ol Celeron 450 Slot 1 CPU. However, I have become a fan of ASUS as well. My current "main" Win2K/Win98SE box has an ASUS CUSL2 motherboard and had an ASUS V7700 Pure GeForce 2 GTS card until I recently upgraded.

I tend to spread my component buys through several companies I have come familiar with based on the component. My current "main" pc has the above mentioned ASUS motherboard, Gainward GeForce 2 Pro 450 "Golden Sample" video card, IBM Dextar hard drives, Lian-Li removeable drive trays, HP CD-RW (Plextor soon!), Pioneer DVD drive, Case is a 3Dcool.com Tornado 1000, Monitor is a LG Studioworks 995E 19in, SoundBlaster LIVE sound card, Netgear NIC, LOL Well rounded PC

Scott
PA-Scott

[[AK]The Beast]

Fax! I just built you a computer back last winter! What do you do to them!

I'll build ya a new one if you want....NR's got it basically right, I work for beer =)