Dell Buys Alienware?

[bapenguin]

According to CNet (http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6464030.html), it just may be true.

While no word has been officially released from either Dell or Alienware, we heard from a reliable source this morning that the purchase has indeed gone down. Speculation began on March 5 after a blog post by Voodoo PC CEO Rahul Sood. The new source, a contact at a high-end vendor who requested anonymity, claims that two of his company's suppliers confirmed that the deal has been done, and he also claims that his company has received an influx of resumes from Alienware employees.
Hmm...good for Dell...bad for Alienware? I wonder if Dell is going to keep the Alienware name.

[Rakael]

I could care less about either one really, although I will say that it's a very smart move on Dell's part. They both overprice their gaming machines astronomically. I remember one time when my old roomie and I decided to build the most ubar gaming laptop we could on Dell's website. Fucker totalled out at around $10k. I only spent $500 more on my truck.

[UnderHero5]

Dellienware?

[Atorak]

Maybe this is a good thing?

Frankly, I couldn't see myself EVER paying $5,000-$7,000 for a computer, so I traditionally stayed away from Alienware. But who knows, this merger might give Dell a step-up from their XPS gaming rigs, while still keeping prices (relatively) in line?

Heh, I'd love to see a 40% Coupon on SlickDeals.net for a Dell Alienware Edition PC in the near future. :)

[Hg-203]

Like Rakel this would probably be a great move for Dell, as they have been trying to get into the gaming market for a while. Now they can drop their XPS line and get fully behind the alienware brand.

I think it would be a really bad move for Dell to remove the Alienware brand. This way the consumers would see that Dell sells affordable user level computers, while Alienware focuses on the high end overpriced gaming rig. Also if they do it right it this won't dilute the Alienware brand so that owning an alienware would still a big thing.

[drakkarim]

personally i'd never buy either (unless i won the powerball, MAYBE).

[Stoke_Ydral]

I just hope this doesn't have any negative effects on Alienware's customer service, it is by far the best CS I have ever had from any company.

[hideouslywrinkled]

I have an Alienware laptop... bought it a few months before I converted to being a Mac user. That may or may not be a coincidence.

[MasterEvilAce]

This would be very good as long as Dell makes AW cheaper. You know they can.

[Klade]

I doubt dell will get rid of their XPS line. The only question is if they make Alienware a part of the dell computers or leave it totally seperate as a subsidary. I mean they will probably bring the making of the computers to their same plants. But will alienware continue to have their own website and sales support seperate from dell?

The XPS fills a good void thats between the casual gaming computer and the silly expensive alienware. Personally I would not buy either. It seems to me that making your own computer is still the best option. Choosing your own case alone is worth it.

[Heretic Machine]

Dell is great for stuff that isn't meant for gaming. Like laptops, for example. Alienware makes overpriced gaming rigs for people too lazy or uninformed to build their own. Out of the two companies, I think Dell is better, especially considering my friend's experience with Alienware over the past few years.

Still, if you're a gamer, build your own damn rig.

[GrinR]

I bought their top-of-the-line XPS last September. I love it to pieces. It's rock solid, runs all modern games (FEAR, HL2) with top settings no problem. It's hot as blazes unless you have it on a nice flat desk, but I have ZERO complaints. It cost 3500, but with a coupon I got it for 2500. Worth every penny.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

The Dell website is a mess. I went there the other day just to look around and was amazed at how convulted it has become.

[Smoof]

I certainly would never buy either as well. Why piss away shitloads of money on something loaded with rootkits that you can get for much, much cheaper?

Just yesturday, I assembled my brand new PC
4200GHZ Athlon X2
Abit SLI mobo
80Gig Maxtor IDE HD (Had this)
80gig SATA 7200RPM HD
GeForce 6800GS
DVD-RW (had)
CD-RW (had)
1Gig Pc3200 Ram (Had)
Fortron 450W PSU

Beyond the cost of the stuff I had originally, the new parts cost me $700. It runs FEAR on max settings with no problems at all. Hell, I could have gone with a GeForce 7800GTX for only $200 more for a total of $900.

Just seems pointless to blow money on something as expensive as a Dell gaming rig or Alienware. A similar system from Alienware, the only difference being a 7600GT videocard and a 4GHZ Athlon XP is going to cost you $2500+ without a monitor.

[ÜberJumper]

Read this article for some interesting insight.

I spotted it this morning, it's about Alienware and talks about Dell's non-reaction to Alienware doing so well.


Alienware's success has drawn the attention of the computer market's big players. Dell revamped its XPS line in 2001 to feature high-powered, high-priced computers to better compete with companies like Alienware and Voodoo.

Gartenberg said that Dell's immense size and greater financial resources could eventually mean trouble for Alienware. But Gonzalez and Aguila welcome the challenge and see Dell's move as validation of their belief in the gaming niche. Dell declined to comment.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/fun.games/03/13/alienware.ap/index.html

[BleedTheFreak]

I just built a new PC for myself as well and the machine I built looks like this:

AMD 64 3800+ dual core
2GB (1GBx2) PC3200
GeForce 7800GT
WD Raptor 10k RPM 74GB
Xion case w/450W PSU

Now, this is going to be a nice system (hell, I already built one just like it last week for my cousin, I *know* it's awesome) and it only cost about $1,000. For fun, when I first saw this news bit, I built a like Alienware system. The only difference between what I'm getting and the one I crafted with these same specs? A 650W PSU, probably over-kill there, the board will have SLI capability (I'm going with the A8N-E), and a 90 day phone support warrenty. The extra price? $1,250 MORE than what I'm paying. Cripes. No wonder someone bought them out.

[Taco]

Can only be a good thing. People can hate on Dell all they want, for such a huge company with their fingers in so many pies they do a good job.

Alienware had 2 fists in 1 pie and they still sucked all around.

Still going to keep building my own of course.

[Taco]

I just hope this doesn't have any negative effects on Alienware's customer service, it is by far the best CS I have ever had from any company.

Extreme minority on that one, from what I can tell.

[BleedTheFreak]

Still going to keep building my own of course.

Of course! I firmly believe if you aren't building your own machines you're missing out on 70% of the PC experience!

[DeadPixel]

I just hope this doesn't have any negative effects on Alienware's customer service, it is by far the best CS I have ever had from any company.
<indian voice> Welcome to Dell Alienware Technical support, my name is Steve, how can I be of service? Most importantly, do not worry friend, we take care of your problem.</voice>

[Taco]

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/32248.html

I remember reading about that when it happened, not sure where they are at now. I've only called Dell for server support and I've only gotten English speaking reps.

[defcon311]

I happen to like my Alienware very much and I have enough certifications to build my own, too. Don't call me lazy because I didn't build it. Quick! Everyone that feels smarter than all other people that don't/can't build their own jump on this band wagon and bash happy owners.

I don't like Dell because they use crappy parts (I've worked there) but hey, to someone else those parts work really well and apparently he got a coupon to get them at a decent price. Good on you GrinR, and for those that build, good on you, too. As long as you are happy, you are in the right place.

[Taco]

Well if you're not lazy or unintelligent what are you? Honestly, I'm trying really hard here, but I don't see any other options.

Thanks for the chuckle on the cert bit though ;). For what it's worth I worked with a guy who has a CCNA and he doesn't understand how a host file works and I had to setup his linksys router for him. My experience with other guys who tout their certs don't vary.

[The Continental]

I happen to like my Alienware very much and I have enough certifications to build my own, too. Don't call me lazy because I didn't build it. Quick! Everyone that feels smarter than all other people that don't/can't build their own jump on this band wagon and bash happy owners.

I don't like Dell because they use crappy parts (I've worked there) but hey, to someone else those parts work really well and apparently he got a coupon to get them at a decent price. Good on you GrinR, and for those that build, good on you, too. As long as you are happy, you are in the right place.

Well said. After building several machines throughout the years I got a bit tired of it and ended up buying a gaming rig from a boutique builder two years ago. Not every builder is as expensive as Falcon and Alienware, and if you look at some of the offers they run, you can usually end up saving money in other areas. For instance the machine I assembled complete with a new sound system and 21" CRT cost me just around $2000. When I bought it, it was damn near bleeding edge. Having priced all those parts seperately I could've saved probably $500 or so not counting having to pay shipping from various different retailers in order to get the absolute best price on every part.

The boutique builder gave me free shipping, which in itself saved well over a hundred dollars considering I was shipping a massive CRT And a 7.1 surround system. Add to that the warranty which came in handy after a nasty ligtning strike, I'd say the extra $500 was money well spent.

Yes, the boutique builders are more expensive, but they're not all obscenely expensive, and you'd be surprised at how good of a deal you can actually get if you don't need the absolute most brand new components in certain areas.

[Taco]

So that would be lazy...right? Nothing wrong with it, but come on :).

[Rakael]

Yes, the boutique builders are more expensive, but they're not all obscenely expensive, and you'd be surprised at how good of a deal you can actually get if you don't need the absolute most brand new components in certain areas.


Dude, I hope you don't mean refurbished parts. I hope you mean that they are just not cutting edge when you say "brand new". Also, why not just buy those less than cutting edge parts yourself and save even more money?

Also, the cert thing gave me a laugh too. I don't have a cert to my name and can run circles around the "network techs" here at the school district; each all but wearing their god damned CCNA's pinned to their shirt. I swear to all that is holy, if one of them throws that shit around like it means something one more time, I'm gonna go get my CCNA, wrap it around a baseball bat, and beat the living hell out of him with it.

[Sloth]

Customer Service is a non issue to me. Your experience with it is based entirely on the nature of your problem. If the minimum wage workers are authorized to help you they will, if not they won't. And your experience positive or negative is based on that binary result.

[The Continental]

So that would be lazy...right? Nothing wrong with it, but come on :).

It's more a matter of oppurtunity cost. Lets use that age old example of why rich people hire household help. In the time it would take them to micro manage their own home, be it cleaning the house, taking care of the kids, cooking their own meals, they could be working at whatever their high paying job is, making more money than it would cost to pay for their help.

For many people, it's the same way. In order to build a PC on my own to save the absolute max amount of money possible. I'd have to check numerous retailers, sign up for an account for said retailers, and micro manage the delivery process which involves not being at work seeing as how most delivery companies won't leave expensive items on your front step. In the end, I'd lose more money in the end by having to be home to manage the delivery process rather than being at work. Not to mention the free time spent assembling and doing burn in testing to ensure everything is working.

For many, it's just plain makes more sense economically to purchase a pre-built machine. It has nothing to do with laziness.

[Taco]

I guess I'm one of the few who don't make money 18 hours a day. I'm speaking of strictly a home use system here.

[GrinR]

I used to build my own. I still may for my next desktop...

I think the biggest thing for me is not having to deal with the ??? WTF ??? that occurs with homegrowns. There are lots of people who claim their homegrown never had any problems, but they are either liars or they don't consider problems problems (like people who have their refresh at 60Hz and complain about their videocard causing flickering). I've built my own computers since 1989, and I can tell you there is no way to build your own computer and have zero problems. It's a question of degree-of-problem.

At any rate, I'm going with the Dell XPS series now for two big reasons:

1. XPS machines have their own, American, dedicated support center. When you call them, they are intimately aware of the problems and solutions for your exact model. It's nice.

2. CompleteCare warranty. I can take my computer, throw it out the fucking window, go get the pieces and they'll send me a new one. Cost me about $150 a year, worth every penny.

[The Continental]

I used to build my own. I still may for my next desktop...

I think the biggest thing for me is not having to deal with the ??? WTF ??? that occurs with homegrowns. There are lots of people who claim their homegrown never had any problems, but they are either liars or they don't consider problems problems (like people who have their refresh at 60Hz and complain about their videocard causing flickering). I've built my own computers since 1989, and I can tell you there is no way to build your own computer and have zero problems. It's a question of degree-of-problem.

At any rate, I'm going with the Dell XPS series now for two big reasons:

1. XPS machines have their own, American, dedicated support center. When you call them, they are intimately aware of the problems and solutions for your exact model. It's nice.

2. CompleteCare warranty. I can take my computer, throw it out the fucking window, go get the pieces and they'll send me a new one. Cost me about $150 a year, worth every penny.

While I agree with you on the degree of problem with the home built systems, I can honestly say I usually had a much easier time diagnosing any problems with my home built PC than with the boutique PC seeing as how I had a hand in the installation and configuration of every part.

However, what I'm missing in ease of diagnosis, I have replaced with a warranty much like your own and in the end I'm definitely liking the all encompassing warranty more seeing as how I've made use of it twice already.

[Spigot]

Every so often I price out the most cutting edge gaming rig on Dell & Alienware and they tend to tip the scales somewhere around the $7-8000 mark (I don't bother with the twin 60" LCD TV's).

While I'm somewhat tempted to let someone else build my machine when I get around to upgrading/buying a new one, I know that I'll end up assembling it out of parts that I bought myself. I just wish I wasn't cursed by the computer gods. I always seem to end up with a bad motherboard or faulty videocard. Ah well...

As for this, I am sure that Dell could keep the Alienware brand and just charge a higher price for the same rig as you'd get from Dell. Only the case would be funkier.

[GrinR]

The smart move is to get a relatively barebones Dell XPS, then deck it out with the moneymakers on your own. That way you get support AND save money on parts.

(moneymakers for Dell = memory, video card, HD space, OS)

[GrinR]

I just speced out a nearly top-of-the-line gaming PC for $2500 (including 4 year Premium Warranty - the works). It'll be ~2700 after tax, but that doesn't seem like an outrageous price to pay for a top-mark gaming rig.

[defcon311]

Well, Taco, I'm not a griefer, now you don't have to grasp anymore...

Certifications count, jerks don't (like the school network people that the other chuckler mentioned). Some people with certifications use them and are better for it. Some of you are just in different positions and don't need them to prove yourself. I wish I was in your position where I could insult others freely.

But my opinion on the Alienware/Dell item is that I just hope that they don't dull the Alienware line down. I like that they offer the newest stuff where Dell does not. Dell is great for the productivity needs of the computer illiterate or challenged, and the basic needs of some gamers. Stay separate, stay profitable on both sides.

[Taco]

Certs count for money and some job offers, if you are flaunting it to non-HR or manager people as a way to justify your skills people are not going to take it to seriously. I've found talented people with certs rarely mention them outside of review time and job hunting.

In any case, I haven't said anything about you personally, just what I've run into several times in my professional life. In fact, as an added anecdote, a couple hours ago a MCSE (NT4 though, so expired) called me and I had to walk him through checking the system log for errors on a 2K machine. I'm not a manager, guess how I knew he had that cert.

But yeah, no doubt when I'm asking for more money I want a cert to justify it to HR.

[A Lusty Alien]

I wonder if this is Dell's way of getting into the AMD processor line of gaming computers? They had to be getting worried about the mass migration of hard core gamers moving from Intel products to AMD. By acquiring Alienware, they completely avoid any exclusive use contract agreements they may have had with Intel.

[A Lusty Alien]

Oh, Pook...

I probably should have read the full article before posting.

But I still think this is Dell's way of entering the AMD marketplace for gaming computers.

[Crabby]

Thank god, maybe we'll see some better customer service policies arise on Alienware's side.

[31 Flavas]

Of course! I firmly believe if you aren't building your own machines you're missing out on 70% of the PC experience!Eh.. I went through that phase. Built a P2 266mhz, a Pentigram 666, and an Athlon Thunderbird 1.4ghz. Even tricked out the Thunderbird with a cold cathod, and 800 gram copper heatsink, lapped smooth and applied Arcticsilver. They all had problems though. None of them worked on a consistant reliable basis.

So I picked up an XPS Gen2 laptop and never looked back. Cool to the touch, and to look at, never disfuctional or out of comission like my "home built" pc, and quite!

[Herald42]

Honestly, this would make sense.

Also, there are a few Alienware features that I would like, especially in the notebook realm, on run-of-the-mill notebooks. The full-size keyboard and num-pad are nice. The ability to plug it in while off and have it act as a DVD or CD player on a TV is also nice. It also actually has a usable number of USB ports -- so that my full-size keyboard and mouse don't keep me from using my external hard drive on my freaking Dell laptop.

I just hope Dell does take a page out of Alienware's book.

Nope. Definately not jealous of the person down the hall with the Alienware notebook. Not at all.

[Evil Avatar]

To be honest, this is kind of a shame since it obvously spells the end of the Alienware brand name as we know it. Dell will still use the Alienware name, sticking shoddy second rate parts in their "Alienware" cases and taking advantage of what little good will with gamers that Alienware still has.

[gloogan]

I just got my Alienware yesterday. Im glad I got in under the wire. I think I got a fair price for what I got:

(2x)AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
2 gigs of PC3200 ram
Asus Sli deluxe mobo
Nvidia Geforce 7800GT 256mb/ liquid cooled
250 gig HD
DVD drive
DVD burner

$2098

Side note it runs Doom 3 at 96.8fps, and scored on 3d Mark o5 6,696 for GPU and 5,153 on CPU tests.

[Thenetcase]

I don't give a shit as long as they don't buy www.cyberpowersystem.com --- which overs the same exact systems as Alienware, only at half the price (same damn warrenty company handles their warrenties, so the same great coverage is there too).
Not to mention, of course, you don't have to speak Hindi or Malayasian to get support.

Go figure, eh?

-TNC-

[Thenetcase]

I just got my Alienware yesterday. Im glad I got in under the wire. I think I got a fair price for what I got:

(2x)AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
2 gigs of PC3200 ram
Asus Sli deluxe mobo
Nvidia Geforce 7800GT 256mb/ liquid cooled
250 gig HD
DVD drive
DVD burner

$2098

Side note it runs Doom 3 at 96.8fps, and scored on 3d Mark o5 6,696 for GPU and 5,153 on CPU tests.

You were ripped off horribly.
I could build that same PC for almost half that price. Oh, and it would be completely customized the way I want it.
CompUSA stopped selling Alienware computers out of their store because they had a VERY, VERY high return rate due to problems and the fact they broke constantly. I was a tech there during that time and we had probably 1 in 4 come back for repairs with in weeks of sale.
Not too hot. Fitting for Dell to buy them. You know... smearing crap on a turd always works well. You still have crap.

Sorry if this sounds harsh... I just think Alienware is severely overrated crap.

-TNC-

[GrinR]

I don't give a shit as long as they don't buy www.cyberpowersystem.com --- which overs the same exact systems as Alienware, only at half the price (same damn warrenty company handles their warrenties, so the same great coverage is there too).
Not to mention, of course, you don't have to speak Hindi or Malayasian to get support.

Go figure, eh?

-TNC-

Can I throw it out the window and get a new one free? No? Oh.

[31 Flavas]

To be honest, this is kind of a shame since it obvously spells the end of the Alienware brand name as we know it. Dell will still use the Alienware name, sticking shoddy second rate parts in their "Alienware" cases and taking advantage of what little good will with gamers that Alienware still has.ok i've got to play Devil's Advocate, here. What are the "shoddy second rate" parts used in Dell's own gaming PCs? The processors and motherboards are Intel, the video cards are from ATI and nVidia, the hdd are from top makers such as Hitachi and Segate, the sound cards are from Creative.

Those are hardly "shoddy second rate" parts... What in particular are you refering to?

[gloogan]

The pc my AW replaced was one from cyberpowerinc and it sucked. My friend bought one around the same time, and with about the same set up and his didnt even work when he got it. He had to spend like $90 just to get it to work. So I guess its personal experience. Besides cyberpowerinc has all asian speaking people that you cant understand and youre put on hold for like a half an hour just to talk to someone. They shipped my pc 2 weeks late, it was a mess. So I'll pay the money to have someone put it together for me and correctly. Also that AW pc is customized the way I want.

[Steve_Erhardt]

I just hope this doesn't have any negative effects on Alienware's customer service, it is by far the best CS I have ever had from any company.
Maybe, but their tech support will drive you to drink. It took, quite literally, DAYS to convince their staff we needed to ship my Dad's laptop back for fixing when it got a bug up it's ass and rebooted randomly several times a day. Now, Dad not being a pc technical type (but he will put your F-16 back together, so he's no dummy), I did all the interaction with Alienware tech support. I must have talked to no less than 10 different people (all Cuban, so that was fun getting through the accents), and each time they'd say "try this then call back with the results". They finally agreed after the 3rd day of this bullshit that THEY needed to take a look at it and fix whatever was wrong with it. What a pain in the ass.

[Steve_Erhardt]

I just got my Alienware yesterday. Im glad I got in under the wire. I think I got a fair price for what I got:

(2x)AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
2 gigs of PC3200 ram
Asus Sli deluxe mobo
Nvidia Geforce 7800GT 256mb/ liquid cooled
250 gig HD
DVD drive
DVD burner

$2098

Side note it runs Doom 3 at 96.8fps, and scored on 3d Mark o5 6,696 for GPU and 5,153 on CPU tests.


I'm gonna have to agree with Thenetcase on this one. I put together my new box a couple weeks ago with a similar setup, only with an AMD 4800 and two 7800GTs running in SLI for less than that.

Of course if you're not into building your own computer, there's nothing wrong with Alienware, aside from the expense. And there IS the nice point of if it doesn't work, you can make them do it over on their own dime (for at least as far as your warranty will take you, anyhow). But yeah... ouch on the $$$.