Ordered a Sentia m3450 today!!!

Well, after reading a slew of reviews including the opinions of many here, I took the plunge and ordered my first Alienware system today! Heres the skinny: I know I know...its not the uber-leet system that many people here have ordered...but Im using it for class and not as a gaming rig. Besides, I can always upgrade it if I need to. Why Alienware then, you ask? Well, I had a Gateway before. I got it at the time because Gateway had local stores that you could walk in to an talk to a real live person. After they closed those, their customer service went in the shitter and my laptop (which SHOULD have qualified for the lemon policy) spend about 1/3 of its time being fixed. I swore I would never get another Gateway product. For about a year I have had nothing but my desktop. I built it...I maintain it...and its as solid as a rock. Now I have to have a laptop for class (a requirement for my major), and it cant be some $400 junker from Best Buy (requirements). After pricing laptops from several companies (including dell, toshiba, and Gateway for shits and giggles), I chose Alienware. The funny thing to me was that it was actually a bit cheaper for the AW than the Dell (similarly configured) because Dell is based here in TN and I would have to pay 9.25% sales tax on it !!1! The only thing I dont have is ADP, which would be nice, but AW doesnt offer. So yeah...its in phase three as of right now, and my expected ship date is the 14th! I cant wait for everyone to be jealous of my glowing alien head when I take it to class! Im stoked!

Ya know skrotum, I dont know. Ive never used Media Center before. Judging how every laptop seller Ive seen offers it as a free 'upgrade' from home, its probably just a marketing ploy from Microsoft and has a few extra programs that no-one will ever use.

Anyway, I think im finally starting to understand eveyones frustration with the phase game. I only ordered it yesterday and I catch myself checking the alienware website 2-3x a day to see if Ive moved up a phase...

I hate paitence!!

Well....I really want to change my order and use that $100 to upgrade my system memory, but when I called I was third in line for production...so its probably going to start today...and I would hate to loose my place in line since I have to have it by a certain date

well, its upgraded now. Went with the 120gb hard-drive due to everything else being out of stock!

Nope, as far as I know everything else should be good to go. My customer service lady said that they have a new inventory report coming out today, and that the alienware website should be updated by monday afternoon.

I canceled me order monday morning. I called to check on the changed hard-drive only to find that the battery was backordered...

The person on the phone was doubtful about me getting my laptop on time so I decided to just can the order entirely. I had the unfortunate experence of finding out the hard way that Alienware had billed me at the moment my order was placed, and not when it was filled. Now Im not getting my laptop or my money until sometime next week...



Its bad business practice to bill an order before you fill it, its a sign of financial instability.

However, all is not lost! My roommate heard my story with Alienware and was upset enough for me to front me the money until I get my refund. I went to retail hell and came out with a gem. I found an Acer Aspire 5102 for $749(+TN's 9.5% sales tax!!!!) at the local Circuit City.

Vital Stats:
-AMD Turion 64 x2 Mobile TL-50 (1.6ghz)
-2x512 DDR2 667mhz (PC5300) ram
-120gig 5400rmp hdd
-ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 with 128mb dedicated memory
-DVD writer
-integrated Wifi, bluetooth, and webcam
-VERY bright 15.4" widescreen

Its not what I wanted...but I think Ill survive with what I got! I miss the glowing head...and its bigger than I wanted. One thing it does have going for it tho is that its quiet. I actually was concerned that the fan wasnt running, but I can feel air flowing from the exhaust port and can hear it with my head next to it. I also have a ful size keyboard for typing, and thats a major plus cause Ill probably end up typing alot for school on it.

It does have a fair amount of shovel-ware on it, but after tonight that will all be gone, and it will be totally squared away!