Why would you purchase an Alienware PC ?
- Thread starter mzkhadir
- Start date
Your question is kind of like asking why one would go to a small boutique and pay 2x what you would pay for the same exact product at WalMart.
Where else would you go to buy a very highend prebuilt pc? If I was buying prebuilt, I'd get an alienware. I don't buy prebuilt because I have the knowledge to build it myself and thus save myself money.
- Pre-built (If you don't know/don't want to learn how to build yourself)
- Case styling (if you like it)
- Warranty (Warranty for the whole PC > Warranty for individual parts)
- The little things you get (don't you get the documentation in a silver briefcase or something?)
That's a couple reasons off the top of my head.
/put his box together
- Case styling (if you like it)
- Warranty (Warranty for the whole PC > Warranty for individual parts)
- The little things you get (don't you get the documentation in a silver briefcase or something?)
That's a couple reasons off the top of my head.
/put his box together
From previous threads I have read about Alienware, people complain that alienware is expensive, I just wanted to find out if there are any positives.
Right now, most of my computers at home are Dell.
I own an alienware..and to be honest, I've never had a problem with it. I bought it more for status than anything else. (I did a group buy w/ coworkers so I got a bit off).
But in all honesty, an alienware PC is a PC you can build w/ a nice case.
My Alienware has the following specs:
Asus MB
P4xxx
3GB RAM (same as u can buy anywhere)
Seagate HD's
ATI Vid Card
Sound Blaster Audio
So really, it's nothing different except the case and warranty.
If you have the cash, get it...there's nothing better than your friends drooling over dual or 4 flat panels and an alien case.
But in all honesty, an alienware PC is a PC you can build w/ a nice case.
My Alienware has the following specs:
Asus MB
P4xxx
3GB RAM (same as u can buy anywhere)
Seagate HD's
ATI Vid Card
Sound Blaster Audio
So really, it's nothing different except the case and warranty.
If you have the cash, get it...there's nothing better than your friends drooling over dual or 4 flat panels and an alien case.
Alienware's cases isn't that attractive to me to begin with.. but I have to admit the paint job is pretty nice..
funboy6942
Lifer
- Nov 13, 2001
- 15,362
- 416
- 126
Originally posted by: batmang
that would be the ONLY way id buy one.
but even then, id rather spend 1/2 the money and build one myself. cause... ego boost's kickass.
But if you built it yourself everthing you bought (if u bought new) would have a warranty on it plus you learned something.
AMDZen
Lifer
- Apr 15, 2004
- 12,589
- 0
- 76
I can't really think of any positives, at all actually. At least for anyone knowledgeable.
For one, you only get a 1 year warranty with an Alienware, if you want a 3 year you have to pay more. When you build a PC, every component on it will have a 3 year warranty and it doesn't cost you any extra. If/when you haev a problem with the Alienware, your mailing in the whole computer. So wouldn't you rather diagnose the issue, find out its the motherboard and RMA just the board? I usually go and buy a new motherboard any way, RMA the old one and once I get it back I use it as a space board or sell it on eBay. Turn around time is also much better with any PC component manufacturer then it will be with Alienware which you can expect huge wait times with. So that negates that.
Next, your paying for a nice case? Taste is all relative, but I think their cases are atrocious. Falcon has much better looking cases and will paint a lot of cooler looking designs, not just one color on an alien looking case. So that negates that as well.
Next, you say if you were lazy and just had a lot of money? Like you won the lotto or something and had to have a computer right now. Well, in case you didn't know or have never known anyone who has bought Alienware, the build process is very slow. I've heard of people waiting 3 months for their computer, and I've never heard of a single case where someone got it in less then a 3-4 weeks. Which is the norm, granted - Dell will a lot of times take just as long. But you can do all your research (1-2 days) order it all on NewEgg and ZZF (shipping usually takes 2 days with newegg and 2nd day is always free with ZZF) and then even if you were lazy and took your time, 1-2 days to build it. So thats 6 days maximum that you would go through, versus up to 6 weeks. So that negates that too.
I've also heard people argue. Alienware tests various components with other components and use benchmarks to decide which is the best memory to use in convunction with whatever processor, and so on. This is true to a certain extent, they do do this. But a lot of times they get it wrong too. Reading Anandtech as much as I do, as well as various other Hardware sites, I know the OCZ memory is pretty much the best when used with an Athlon 64 processor. They just pull off the best speed and timings. Now I don't know if AW provides OCZ or not, but a coworker that just bought one has Corsair XMS and he said that was the best they offered at the time. The XMS is good, but not the best. So AW didn't do that much testing did they?? Now even if AW does offer OCZ and provides you with all the specs they came up with as to what was the best when used with whatever, what is to stop someone from going out and buying those exact same components for half the price (or less) and building it to the exact specifications that AW does. Nothing.
Alienware is good but your paying for a name and nothing else. Desktops can always be built for less, and their laptops are way overpriced too, you can get a Sager - which is built on the exact same platform (Clevo) as the Alienware and Dell, and buy it for half the price. Even if you have to have a painted Sager, you can find other places on the net that do it for less then Alienware, and get a better looking laptop too, IMO. But if you liked the design, at least I can see buying a Laptop, a Desktop would be really stupid IMO.
Unless you can't build your own which is a different story.
For one, you only get a 1 year warranty with an Alienware, if you want a 3 year you have to pay more. When you build a PC, every component on it will have a 3 year warranty and it doesn't cost you any extra. If/when you haev a problem with the Alienware, your mailing in the whole computer. So wouldn't you rather diagnose the issue, find out its the motherboard and RMA just the board? I usually go and buy a new motherboard any way, RMA the old one and once I get it back I use it as a space board or sell it on eBay. Turn around time is also much better with any PC component manufacturer then it will be with Alienware which you can expect huge wait times with. So that negates that.
Next, your paying for a nice case? Taste is all relative, but I think their cases are atrocious. Falcon has much better looking cases and will paint a lot of cooler looking designs, not just one color on an alien looking case. So that negates that as well.
Next, you say if you were lazy and just had a lot of money? Like you won the lotto or something and had to have a computer right now. Well, in case you didn't know or have never known anyone who has bought Alienware, the build process is very slow. I've heard of people waiting 3 months for their computer, and I've never heard of a single case where someone got it in less then a 3-4 weeks. Which is the norm, granted - Dell will a lot of times take just as long. But you can do all your research (1-2 days) order it all on NewEgg and ZZF (shipping usually takes 2 days with newegg and 2nd day is always free with ZZF) and then even if you were lazy and took your time, 1-2 days to build it. So thats 6 days maximum that you would go through, versus up to 6 weeks. So that negates that too.
I've also heard people argue. Alienware tests various components with other components and use benchmarks to decide which is the best memory to use in convunction with whatever processor, and so on. This is true to a certain extent, they do do this. But a lot of times they get it wrong too. Reading Anandtech as much as I do, as well as various other Hardware sites, I know the OCZ memory is pretty much the best when used with an Athlon 64 processor. They just pull off the best speed and timings. Now I don't know if AW provides OCZ or not, but a coworker that just bought one has Corsair XMS and he said that was the best they offered at the time. The XMS is good, but not the best. So AW didn't do that much testing did they?? Now even if AW does offer OCZ and provides you with all the specs they came up with as to what was the best when used with whatever, what is to stop someone from going out and buying those exact same components for half the price (or less) and building it to the exact specifications that AW does. Nothing.
Alienware is good but your paying for a name and nothing else. Desktops can always be built for less, and their laptops are way overpriced too, you can get a Sager - which is built on the exact same platform (Clevo) as the Alienware and Dell, and buy it for half the price. Even if you have to have a painted Sager, you can find other places on the net that do it for less then Alienware, and get a better looking laptop too, IMO. But if you liked the design, at least I can see buying a Laptop, a Desktop would be really stupid IMO.
Unless you can't build your own which is a different story.
olds
Elite Member
- Mar 3, 2000
- 50,120
- 776
- 126
Originally posted by: funboy42
Originally posted by: batmang
that would be the ONLY way id buy one.
but even then, id rather spend 1/2 the money and build one myself. cause... ego boost's kickass.
But if you built it yourself everthing you bought (if u bought new) would have a warranty on it plus you learned something.
I build my own.
Yes you would have a warranty. But, if 3 items went bad you would be sending out 3 packages.
I'd probably get a Falcon, GamePc, or ABS before Alienware.
I just really hate their cases, and I know some people have been less than pleased with Alienware's service.
It doesn't much matter though, I build my computers anyways.
I just really hate their cases, and I know some people have been less than pleased with Alienware's service.
It doesn't much matter though, I build my computers anyways.
drrr... that's a load of crock. Not EVERY component has a 3yr warranty on it...
isn't that the whole point? I know one or two that have AW PC's... mainly because they can't do it themselves/don't want to learn.
I almost purchased one of their laptops. I wanted a laptop that was game capable. I realized later that I could not get one that would give decent gaming performance and also have long battery life, be reasonably portable, et cetera. I decided not to get one after all.
A friend explained it as feelings of guilt over plunking down that much money on an x86 based machine and not being able to play games on it, and I think he was right.
A friend explained it as feelings of guilt over plunking down that much money on an x86 based machine and not being able to play games on it, and I think he was right.
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