Well, got the laptop delivered today. And so far, from the short time I've had it, everything on it seems to check out and work fine. The F6 key though was popped off the keyboard when I first opened the box. No biggy. That popped right back on. Zero dead pixels and the screen looks great. It's very clear and sharp and even seems to handle non native resolutions pretty good.

Here's my dilema though: I noticed a tiny about 1/8 inch scratch on the right side wrist rest. It's not really that noticable and depending on how the light hits it, is almost invisible. However, I do notice it. I'd think a $3300 system should have no scratches on it when it's completely brand new. The thing is though, the rest of the lappy rocks. I'm especially thankfull I have no dead pixels.

Do you guys think it's worth returning the lappy over this minor scratch and risk other damage during shipping, or AW screwing something up on it when they get it back. Who knows, I might get dead pixels or more scratches when it comes back to me. What would you guys do?

keep it...

Use some car polish anf buff the scratch out

Yea, I'm starting to think I'm being too picky. I'm sure over the years that I have the lappy that it will attain numerous battle scars from being dragged from home to grad school, work, lan parties, Starbucks, you name it. I just needed the good members of this board to slap me and tell me "don't be stupid" to risk the perils of shipping the computer back to AW's black hole headquarters over a minor scratch. Thanks gsferrari, I needed that slap in the kisser. Feel free to do it again when I again begin to spout nonsense on this board. And no I'm not a masochist!

Keep it. These things are hand built (The laptop is probably handled by at least three different people throughout the construction procedure) so I'm sure it is totally acceptable by their standards to have a minor scratch here and there. Heck, look at any new car on any given lot. There's always something wrong with them. But, I bet if you raised a stink, they would take care of it for you.

Congrats by the way...Mine has been in Phase 2 for 7 days now :-/

Enjoy!

Tried it! Didn't work. I think the scratch is too deep.

If it were me I'd keep it. Just think how long you've waited already and how much longer you'll have to wait if you return it.

Hell, if left to your own devices there's a good chance you'd put a similar scratch on it in a couple of days anyways!

It's just like a car, the first scratch is always the hardest!

Why don't you make an issue of it and demand that you have no less than a week turn around...or see if maybe you can send it in a couple of months that way you can play with it for a while and then have it renewed. The only BIG risk is getting a system back with dead pixels so I don't know if it is worth it. Maybe if they can assure that they will just cosmetically take care of the one you have...I am very anal so I would probably keep sending the unit in until I get the one I am happy with. For the $3900 I spent it better be 100%! That's just me...if you can live with it then GS is right keep it!

Besides the scratch...give us a review!

PS: post a pic of the scratch and then let people let you know what they think!

Er..., I mean show us the scratch.

Take a pic

Also - Please post the specs of your Lap -

Thx.

Im sorry to come off rude...but You should keep it because :-

1] Its hard to get an Alienware in which everything that is important is working
2] Its hard to get perfect LCD's
3] Alienware takes their own sweet time to sort out these issues...
4] A scratch is no big deal...You spend more time looking at the screen or at the case!?!? I dont even remember my laptops color until I look at it

After a few sessions with Meguiar's Polish, and my girlfriend calling me nuts for wanting to send the laptop back for such a minor scratch, I decided to keep it. The polish didn't take out the scratch completely but it did make it less noticable. I now have the shinest wrist rest area of any Area-51m (I know, we're happy for ya)! I bet anybody to show me a shiner wrist area on their Area-51.

GS, I didn't think you were rude at all. You were direct and to the point. That's what I like about you.

...all this polish and stuff...is it damaging to the finish of the lappie? I'm very curious what people use to clean their lappies with. I usually use a damp cloth and canned air, but want to know what is optimal so that when "the precious" arrives I won't do it any harm...

Well, I wouldn't recommend using car polish all the time but once in a while it seems to work well. Don't use it on the metal alloy lid though. The only reason I tried it was to try and get rid of the scratch that was on the right hand rest area, It seemed to reduce the scratch considerably and also gave the plastic a nice shine. However, here's the caveat, It does seem to lift some of the paint off if you press too hard. I Looked on the white cotten T-shirt I was using to rub the scratch and noticed some dark silver color on it. It didn't cause any discoloration on the plastic surface but it's something to keep in mind if you try it. Just don't press too hard when rubbing and don't use it to often--only when you have some light surface scratches to get out.

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3.0 P4, 16.1 saucer silver, ATI 9600 w 128 meg, 1X512 PC2700 ddr, 60GB 7200 rpm HD, 2XDVD-RW, a/b/g card, 2yr support, AlienAdrenaline