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Out with the M18x, and in with the M17x

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Well, if you followed my posts, you are aware that I returned my M18x due to a few issues. Nothing major or game changing – just some minor things.

I was reading on the forums, and someone came across the same issue as myself with the warranty. They actually granted him the warranty at the POS price as a one time courtesy. That is really annoying considering I fought as well, and they didn’t do anything to help me out.

On another note, after thinking things through and looking at my budget, I was torn between a M14x, M17x and the XPS 17. You are saying, wait hold on – didn’t you return the XPS 17 cause you ran into issues? Yes, I did return it. However based on my new needs now – it will fit a lot better.

Anyway, I compared them all and my findings were a bit interesting. I was really thinking about getting the M14x, however one thing really turned me off – the screen. After reading and reading the forums, the screen doesn’t hold up to its big brother, the M17x or even its cousin – the XPS 17. It wasn’t the size – it was the color gamut. For the M14x, it was a 45% vs the other @ 72%. So that turned me off from that model since I really don’t want to play this returning game any longer.

So after comparing more – I leaned to the M17x due to the raw power it has.

Here are my specs:

Alienware M17x Soft-Touch, Stealth Black
Intel Core i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (4DIMMS)
Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
17.3-inch WideFHD1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
1.5GB GDDR5 Nvidia GTX 460
320GB 7,200RPM HD
Custom Nameplate
Personalized Nameplate Trigger
AlienFX Color, Mars Red
Alienware Command Center Software, M17X
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
DataSafe Local BackUp
PC Restore
DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 Multi-Language
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Roxio Creator Starter,No Media
Power DVD 9.6, 3D
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3×3 MIMO
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty, Extended Year
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty, Initial Year
Dell Limited Hardware Warranty Plus In-Home Service After Remote Diagnosis, 3 Year Extended
Dell Limited Hardware Warranty Plus In-Home Service After Remote Diagnosis, Initial Year
4 Year Limited Warranty
Accidental Damage Service, 4 Years
Soft Contracts Consumer Accidental Damage Agreement for Alienware
Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for Alienware
Warranty Support, 3 Year Extended
Warranty Support, Initial Year
Thank you for choosing Dell
Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter
Alienhead Chrome Red
Alienhead Chrome Red
Steam and Portal Factory Installed
World of Warcraft Preinstall Edition
EVE-Online, English, German, Russian
Thank You for Purchasing AlienWare
Plant A Tree – Notebook, Netbook, Laser and Inkjet Printers, LCD Monitor Offset
Thank you for choosing Dell

Alienware, Computers, dell

Alienware m18x – we should part…

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Ok, well, long story short – I am returning the Alienware m18x. I am not returning it cause of performance, nor am I returning it over looks (although it did have a nice little paint chip on the top lid).

The reason, in short, was the warranty. Normally when you buy things you can buy a warranty for it within a certain time. In this case, until your other warranty expires. Even then you can buy another one. However its not the fact I couldn’t buy it – it was the price of it.

To max out the warranty on Dell’s point of sale price it would have been around $500. I said to myself, I don’t have the money right now so I will upgrade later. When I received the laptop, I priced it out and boy was I shocked… To max out the warranty on the Alienware m18x would have been $1500 for the same protection.

I called up customer care and tried to ask them to lower the price, but they couldn’t give me the POS (point of sale) price. So they recommended I send the laptop back and order another one. Not only do I find this dumb (IMHO), but its a good way to loose a customer since you have to wait nearly 30 days to get your money back and then you can reorder.

Alienware, Computers, dell

*Update* My new baby – computer wise anyway… Alienware M18x

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Current Production Status:
SHIPPED!!

EDD: 6/01/2011

Current Status:
5/9/2011 – Ordered/In Production
…
5/20/2011 – In Production – Build Stage
…
5/21/2011 – In Production – Boxing Stage
…
5/24/2011 – Shipped!!!!

Dell Order Time:
12 days (used to be 15 days)

Forums I Follow:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/

Quick update(s):

5/18/2011…
Emailed Rep and he stated everything is a-ok so far – no concerns.

5/19/2011…
Emailed Corp Rep and he stated its likely to ship in a few days +/-. However nothing is certain…

5/21/2011…
Emailed reps, but no reply. Guess they could be busy so no worries. Called and found out that its in the boxing stage right now and it should hopefully ship soon!

5/21/2011…
It shipped!!!

Alienware, Computers, dell

My new baby – computer wise anyway… Alienware M18x

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Well, as you can see I tried the XPS 17, however being a gamer I needed something more powerful. So after talking to my Dell account rep, I was convinced to go with the Alienware M18x. Yes it was more expensive, however I believe it was worth it in the end.

EDD: 6/1/2011 with Next Business Day Shipping

225-0887 Alienware M18x Space Black Anodized Aluminum
317-6854 Intel Core i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
317-6851 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS)
331-2428 Alienware M18x 330W A/C Adapter
320-2269 18.4-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 WLED
320-2271 Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6970M – AMD CrossFireX
342-2626 320GB 7,200RPM HDD
330-6106 Personalized Nameplate Trigger
331-2426 Custom Nameplate
313-8791 AlienFX Color, Mars Red
421-5099 Alienware Command Center, M18X
421-1400 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp
420-9956 Vista PC Restore
421-0092 DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
410-0548 Adobe Acrobat Reader
318-0843 Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader, BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW
421-1305 Roxio Creator Starter
318-0770 Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
430-4150 Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 a/b/g/n 3×3 MIMO Technology
469-0549 Bluetooth 3.0
330-6350 Automatic Updates: Critical Updates Only
953-9080 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
953-9100 Third Party At Home Service, 24×7 Technical Support, Initial Year
994-3700 Accidental Damage Service, 1 Year
950-9797 No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
421-1719 Soft Contracts Consumer Accidental Damage Agreement for Alienware
421-1723 Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for Alienware
994-3730 Warranty Support, Initial Year
421-1586 Alienhead Chrome Red
421-1596 Alienhead Chrome Red
421-1360 Steam and Portal Factory Installed
421-2965 EVE-Online, English, German, Russian
330-5090 Thank You for Purchasing AlienWare
466-8200 Plant A Tree – Notebook, Netbook, Laser and Inkjet Printers, LCD Monitor Offset
462-3235 Thank you for choosing Dell

Computers, dell

XPS 17…sad good bye

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Well, I had the XPS 17 for a few weeks, however I must say good bye to a very nice performing laptop.

Why am I returning it? Well here are few reasons:

1) Being a gamer, I wanted something nice, fast, but cheap. The XPS 17 fit the bill nicely, so I tried it. It played well, but when it came to FPS, I felt it was lacking. Granted there are ways to overclock it, but stock wise IMHO it didn’t do well.

2) I didn’t like the screen too much. Granted you will have different opinions all over, but to me I felt like it was a bit washed out. I possibly could of corrected it via a ICC profile, but I didn’t have experience making them nor could I find any for the 3D screen at the time.

So there are my reasons. The main reason, for gaming, was the biggest overall reason.

Other than that, it was solid built laptop and it would work well for many people. However, sadly, it wasn’t for me.

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