Alienware vs Dell/Alienware

[LinkRS]

What I am about to say next is not really relevant to us Alienware laptop users. Anyway, why did Dell/Alienware choose to discontinue Alienware Area-51 ALX desktop and "replace" it with much inferior Alienware X51 Desktop? After all, the Area-51 ALX desktop is designed to be more powerful than the Aurora ALX desktop.

Thanks for the clarification, guys.

Hello alvinkhorfire,

Since the difference between an 'Aurora' and an 'Area-51' has traditionally been that 'Aurora' was AMD based, and 'Area-51' was Intel based, the distinction went away when they stopped selling AMD systems. From that viewpoint, the 'Aurora' of today is technically similar tot he 'Area-51' of yore. The current Area-51 is a new product, that (in my opinion) is of the same pedgree as the Falcon NW Fragbox, a small-and light portable desktop, not a new version of the classic Area-51.

Thanks!

Rich S.

[pauldm44]

I was a bit skeptical when Dell purchased Alienware but by all indications things have worked out very well.

[lukee1987]

The only bad thing out of the switch over was the loss of Dell's XPS laptops i had a M1730 before my M17x R2. Man was that thing a plastic powerhouse 8800M GTX SLI also pretty sure it still had a 1200p screen nice keyboard and pad.

Other than that its good times all round (except for our wallets)

[SkittlesXD]

I've got a pre-Dell AW and a post Dell AW system both sitting in front of me. Same rubber finish, similar layout, but the R4's design is actually worthy enough to be called Alien also has better hardware and flashier lights that have more than 3 colors. Honestly the R4 is just as much of an Alienware product as the M17-R1 I'd been using the past four years. I do miss the 16:10 screen though :\

[Prasad]

I've got a pre-Dell AW and a post Dell AW system both sitting in front of me. Same rubber finish, similar layout, but the R4's design is actually worthy enough to be called Alien also has better hardware and flashier lights that have more than 3 colors. Honestly the R4 is just as much of an Alienware product as the M17-R1 I'd been using the past four years. I do miss the 16:10 screen though :\

I always wondered why they even switched to the new 16:9 aspect ratio standard, when the general consumer consensus always seemed to point to a preference of the 16:10 standard.

[Voodooi]

I've never owned a legacy system, but I think Dell's acquisition of AW has made the brand much, much stronger.

- Significantly better prices
- Top of the line warranty service (best in the industry)

What I miss about the legacy systems are the blue/green colours of the laptop body.

[bvbz]

I've never owned a legacy system, but I think Dell's acquisition of AW has made the brand much, much stronger.

- Significantly better prices
- Top of the line warranty service (best in the industry)

What I miss about the legacy systems are the blue/green colours of the laptop body.

Both valid points.

I have owned 3 Alienware computers. 1 Desktops and 1 laptop.

Pre-Dell
-Area-51 WAY back when. I saw one of Alienware's first press releases in a magazine (we're talking pentium, yo *sideways og hat*). 2001 maybe? Geeze I'm getting old. (I think this old thing is still at my Dad's house lol.
-Area-51 some years later. Replaced after some time with my first personally build desktop.
Post-Dell
-Current M14x. Mixed emotions. Has been a good workhorse and can play games pretty well.

-I never needed support on my desktops so I can't speak to the difference in tech support, but as someone who generally tinkers with things until they are fixed, I hate all tech support that I have encountered. Having qualified that, my experience with tech support on my M14x has been nothing short of an extreme exercise in patience.

-I will say that far and away it was a "cooler" process to buy an AW way back when. It was new and novel and while most people would just grab something at the local store or slap together something from frys or pricewatch.com, the Alienwares were quirky and unique. You really could get some crazy colors. It was sort of like buying from Origin was when I got my E-17. I had a marketing lady ask me all excitedly how and where I heard of them and tell me how glad they were to have my custom. (If only the E-15s weren't so bloody thick!)

-Jeebus they were expensive.

On the whole I think people that talk about legacy Alienware are more in a "good ol' days" mindset rather than anything bitter or spiteful. It's the same way old guys talk about old American Muscle, when, while cool, numerically do not stack up to modern examples. It's an emotional thing; nostalgia can be a tempting mistress.

[alvinkhorfire]

@ejohnson and LinkRS

Thank you for the explanation, guys. It is a pity that we may not get to see the all-powerful Alienware Area-51 ALX desktop again.

Hello alvinkhorfire,

Since the difference between an 'Aurora' and an 'Area-51' has traditionally been that 'Aurora' was AMD based, and 'Area-51' was Intel based, the distinction went away when they stopped selling AMD systems. From that viewpoint, the 'Aurora' of today is technically similar tot he 'Area-51' of yore.

I understand your point. If I am not mistaken, the highest wattage of the Alienware Aurora R4 Desktop PSU is 875 Watt. On the other hand, Alienware Area-51 ALX desktop can be configurated to have an 1100 watt Power Supply Unit. So, there is a possibility to install 3 video cards in Area-51 ALX. Having said that, Aurora R4 is not the exact successor of Area-51 ALX.

Anyway, I should stop the discussion of the discrepancy between the aforementioned desktops, as it is inappropriate to be discussed in this laptop forum.

[4golife]

Just had a look at the AW mALX.... Honestly, it looks like three pairs of shoes are on the back. Seriously, check it out.



Yea, I like the design they have now personally.

[Shodai100]

LOL I see the shoes. IMO, Alienware's current design looks great, but is a little bulky. If you look at the Razer Blade, Razer managed to fit similar specs of the current Alienware m17x into something the size of a macbook pro... Couldn't Alienware make the cases a tad thinner to improve the looks? >.<