Ex Alienware Users Unite!

[Benster]

I have had Dells, IBMs, Compacs, and others. Lets face it . . they all have their own problems. But i wasn't ready for what was to happen when my son talked me into getting him an Alienware computer.

The thing worked ok (nothing special) for about a month . . then small weird things started happening. The support was responsive . . but not all together helpful. The final solution to the problems was to wipe the machine clean and reload. . . simple right? there should be some guidance from them right? i should have all the drives etc. that were originally on the mach in the included software package right??

Guess again . . as they took me thru the process it became clear that most of the drivers were not included. It was basicly impossible to get the machine back to the Day One configuration and their support people finally just bailed out. . . .

So i asked them wht i was suppose to do with this "boat anchor" i now had purchased for a not so reasonable price. they had no answer . . they pretty much just wanted to cut me loose. .. . so i bitched loud and long until they agreed to refund my money . .

i thought . . hey these guys aren;t so bad . . at least they are doing the right thing . . i have an unusable machine they can't help me . . so they are giving me my money back . . . . well i mean i had to pay to ship the thing back . . but i figured that was my penance for being foolish enough to buy this thing.

when i got the credit i discovered that they charged me 15% restocking!!!?!!!! what a rip . . what can i say?? this is an average computer with a cool looking case and substandard support.

My advice . . when your kid asks for one of these things . . get them a Dell and some Neon light sticks . . . :disgust:

 

[Nebor]

You think you got it bad? A friend of mine dropped 6k on an Alienware server box w/ 2 gigs of ram, dual processors, the works.... Died within a month... The heck kinda server is that? Anyways, when he called tech support, they said, "That computer can't be broken, it's top of the line!" Eventually he shipped it back to them, and they sent it back, 4 months later.... During that time, they called him and told him there would be service charges... during a warranty period, he asked why, they said that he "intentionally damaged this machine." They ended up dropping that line, he got his computer back in 4 months... it was pretty much crippled though. Became a doorstop.

 

[codehack2]

Originally posted by: Benster
I have had Dells, IBMs, Compacs, and others. Lets face it . . they all have their own problems. But i wasn't ready for what was to happen when my son talked me into getting him an Alienware computer.

The thing worked ok (nothing special)....... *SNIP*

Computers are no different than anyother consumer product... There are 2 groups of people; those that understand, maintain and support them on their own, and those that can't and are forced to throw themselves at the mercy of company XYZ.

By no means am I standing up for Alienware, but you could insert just about any Consumer PC vendor's name into your story and it would hold true.

If your fedup, I'd advise you to take on the task of building your own PC, hanging around forums such as these, and reading as much as possible on the subject.

CH2

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: codehack2

Originally posted by: Benster
I have had Dells, IBMs, Compacs, and others. Lets face it . . they all have their own problems. But i wasn't ready for what was to happen when my son talked me into getting him an Alienware computer.

The thing worked ok (nothing special)....... *SNIP*

Computers are no different than anyother consumer product... There are 2 groups of people; those that understand, maintain and support them on their own, and those that can't and are forced to throw themselves at the mercy of company XYZ.

By no means am I standing up for Alienware, but you could insert just about any Consumer PC vendor's name into your story and it would hold true.

You're missing the point. For $6K, you could get a Dell server with 4 Hour On-site Service. They come to you in 4 hours and fix it. If you're paying that much for a computer, you expect exemplary service. You have to remember not all of the money goes to the hardware, but the support and warranty as well, especially when you're talking about servers and high end machines.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: dexvx

Originally posted by: codehack2

Originally posted by: Benster
I have had Dells, IBMs, Compacs, and others. Lets face it . . they all have their own problems. But i wasn't ready for what was to happen when my son talked me into getting him an Alienware computer.

The thing worked ok (nothing special)....... *SNIP*

Computers are no different than anyother consumer product... There are 2 groups of people; those that understand, maintain and support them on their own, and those that can't and are forced to throw themselves at the mercy of company XYZ.

By no means am I standing up for Alienware, but you could insert just about any Consumer PC vendor's name into your story and it would hold true.

You're missing the point. For $6K, you could get a Dell server with 4 Hour On-site Service. They come to you in 4 hours and fix it. If you're paying that much for a computer, you expect exemplary service. You have to remember not all of the money goes to the hardware, but the support and warranty as well, especially when you're talking about servers and high end machines.

The origional poster bought Alienware... not a $6,000 Dell server.

 

[Compddd]

Alienware blows, build yer own, its the only way to go!

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Compddd
Alienware blows, build yer own, its the only way to go!

I don't agree entirely with that. I'm sure there's satisfied Alienware users, otherwise they wouldn't still be in business... or they'd just be selling their empty cases.

The whole purpose of buying a pre-assembled system is so the end user doesn't have to figure out if his power supply will be beefy enough... and if his RAM will have compatability problems with his motherboard... and if his video card will have compatability problems with his motherboard.

One of two things happened with the origional post...

A. The Alienware computer was not properly tested, and was sold in a faulty condition

B. The computer is just fine, and the user keeps screwing it up beyond Alienware's ability to help them over the phone

Sounds more like scenario A to me though...

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Compddd
Alienware blows, build yer own, its the only way to go!

 

[owensdj]

Hardware failures can happen to any computer no matter how much you paid for it.

On the other hand, Alienware should have provided everything you needed to get your OS reinstalled. No excuse for that.

dexvx, you don't have any way to know that. You don't know what the specs of the $6K Alienware server were, so how do you know that you could get a Dell server with the same specs for $6K?

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: owensdj

dexvx, you don't have any way to know that. You don't know what the specs of the $6K Alienware server were, so how do you know that you could get a Dell server with the same specs for $6K?

I dont. I'm mentally comparing it to the servers our company bought around the same time period frmo Dell .... Dual procs, 2GB ram, "the works". It probably isnt close to the specs of that computer, but our warranty was pinned down so that Dell would come within the next business day. The best option (albeit expensive) was having a dell technician coming in within 4 hours. That is the type of service you expect.

The origional poster bought Alienware... not a $6,000 Dell server.

Reread my post.

 

[galt]

Originally posted by: Benster
My advice . . when your kid asks for one of these things . . get them a Dell and some Neon light sticks . . . :disgust:

My friend spent 2500$ on his alienware system. I looked at its specs ... I could have built him an identical one and taken him to a strip club with the remaining money.

 

[Corporate Thug]

alienware is waaaaaaaay overpriced. i dont care if i can get the 4 hour on site with them, i would never pay that much

 

[Jeff7181]

Reread my post.

I don't see what your post has to do with the origional post.

 

[carpenter]

I walked in to a Best But and the computer dept. manager was just putting a price card on an empty Alienware case that they had for a display, so I bought it. Now I have the best of both worlds, I built my own and all the young guys at Best Buy are jealous. Maybe the problem this guy is having is the reason all the new Alienwares suddenly disappeared off the shelves. I thought it was kind of strange that the computer was gone but all the accessories(speakers, kb, mouse etc) were still there.

 

[mosco]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Reread my post.

I don't see what your post has to do with the origional post.

Check the post right below the original post. Someone mentioned spending 6K on an alienware server and how they had to send it in and didn't get it back for 4 months. Then dexvx mentioned for 6k, dell would come to your place to fix it. Now do you see how his post was relevant to the topic about how bad alienware is?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

If I won the lottery... I'd buy an Alienware just for the case and then build my own system inside of it...

 

[santaclaus]

Benster, no offense, but aren't you perfectly capable of downloading drivers from the internet? I mean, come on, it is not rocket science. If you really think Dells are that nice, fine. Dells are made for people that can't fix their own computers, or are new to computers, and are incredibly overpriced. That's why they have award-winning support, but for people like me, that support that you are paying for is useless, I can fix my own stuff.

 

[santaclaus]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
If I won the lottery... I'd buy an Alienware just for the case and then build my own system inside of it...

Isn't that all they're good for? The looks, right?

 

[Dug]

I find it hard to believe that tech support couldn't show you how to download a driver.
It's right on their front page. Did you bother to click the Driver and Resource Downloads link, or Manufacturer Links, Customer Support Forums, System Recovery Process, etc., etc.

There's plenty of help there. The fact that two highly regarded web sites gave them 5 stars for customer support, it sounds like there's more to this then he's willing to admit.

Not to mention that "small weird things started happening" isn't explained at all. I usually find that kind of response is due to user error.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: santaclaus

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
If I won the lottery... I'd buy an Alienware just for the case and then build my own system inside of it...

Isn't that all they're good for? The looks, right?

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Alienware Buyer = PC Riceboy

- M4H

 

[wacki]

I never understood why people smart enough to read this forum are dumb enough to drop G's on alienware. Computers are so easy to build, and mods/moding kits are everywhere why let people con you out of your money.


Anyway, i agree with codehack2, if your dumb enough to spend anymore than a grand on a box... let alone 6K, after visiting this website, then you deserve to get ripped off.


If it makes you feel anybetter, I've made similar mistakes in the past, but never made them twice! And even more important I now try my best not to make a mistake once!


As Eleanor Roosevelt once said:
"You can't live long enough to make every mistake yourself, so learn from the mistakes of others."


But if your just filthy rich and you don't have time to learn about computers, then try out these:

http://voodoopc.com/

there is another one oc systems or something like that. I forget the url. But they are both good. Voodoo pc has some of the best laptops made!

 

[Slammy1]

Originally posted by: wacki
if your dumb enough to spend anymore than a grand on a box... let alone 6K, after visiting this website, then you deserve to get ripped off.

D:

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: santaclaus
Benster, no offense, but aren't you perfectly capable of downloading drivers from the internet? I mean, come on, it is not rocket science. If you really think Dells are that nice, fine. Dells are made for people that can't fix their own computers, or are new to computers, and are incredibly overpriced. That's why they have award-winning support, but for people like me, that support that you are paying for is useless, I can fix my own stuff.

Dells are cheaper on the P4 than building your own, check any hotdeals forum see if you can build the exact same system with legit software compared to a Dell Pent 4 HT series for under 500 dollars.

Dells are for people who can't fix their own computers? Dells biggest customers are government sector, schools, etc. They want their replacement part ASAP, not waiting for RMA turn around that can take up 30 days.

There are IT and programmers guys I know who've been in the business longer than you've been alive probably and don't compare FPS scores, that play CS all day that recommend Dell. These guys know nothing right?

I think building your own systems is cool, its great hobby for gamers, hardware tweakers, etc.

But sometimes you need to get work done and the most effiecent matter.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Dells are cheaper on the P4 than building your own, check any hotdeals forum see if you can build the exact same system with legit software compared to a Dell Pent 4 HT series for under 500 dollars.

only sometimes, with the right mix of stacked coupons and discount codes.

The "everyday" pricing (even with a $150 off special) was about $200 higher than newegg parts the last few times I've priced a 2.8C, 1 GB, XP OS, 9800 Pro, DVD burner system, and the Dell DVD burner is just "+" instead of the dual-format I'd get. Dell is a total ripoff on things like going from 512 MB to 1 GB unless they happen to be offering it as a free upgrade.

Sure, I can buy a stripped Dell and add a bunch of my own parts, but that's almost as much work as building from scratch.

 

[Acanthus]

yeah you should definately get Dell instead of Alienware for tech support.