Poll: Owners-Rate your Alienware Experience - Page 2

Up until this last month, I would say Alienware is great PC. Now, I wouldn't buy another one (third and last - first two worked fine, but were desktops - they are having issues with laptops, especially the wireless). They are a great PC if they arrive working, or there is a minor issue to work out. Keep in mind they don't really check the system prior to shipment, so you may need to have a computer handy to download drivers and such to get it working. They load the image, turn it off, and ship. It's the only explanation for how it was delivered to me in the condition it was. On thier support site, there are many people having the same delivery issues.

If you have a minor issue (such as tweeks to work around known issues), thier Tech Support is great. Major issues will have you wondering why you bought from them.

If you have a hardware issue, you are looking to maybe get a fixed laptop back 2+ months after you first recieved it. They tend to drag out having you send it back until you have had it for at least 30days, then take 5 days to decide that it should be shipped back - which will be by the slowest method they have (ground). Then 3 weeks is thier standard fix time - not when they recieve it, but when they start working on it. Then slow ship back.

If you buy one and you have a major issue, get your money back (minus the 15% restock), or hit your head on the wall for buying an expensive doorstop.

Howeln

All my major issues were on the Good side of the ledger when it comes to hardware. Even the wireless network card performs like it was on the network cable directly. I play BF1942 tournaments for 12 hours a week from my deck out back. My game skill improved 100% within 24 hours of meeting the fed ex gal down the road to get my box.
Customer Service is the worst and when there is a competitive product offered by anyone else, I will change camps on the run. It can't be far off now. Dell is getting closer to it, not yet there though.

I said "Good Service, Good Product...I'm a tech geek that fixed minor issues myself." since that's about exactly right.

I'm sorry for you, Whitefire818. Hope it doesn't suck as much as my buddie's Dell.

Great!!!!

I can't be happier with my purchase. I have built all my comps in the past. This laptop is nothing less then the best. AW is a company that cares for their customers and
don't discriminate in any way. From the first time I called to inquire , to the time I received my laptop was a complete satisfactory experience. I am thinking of ordering another for my dad for his B-day. Any way I must also THANK you guys/girls for the added pleasure to
my experience.

FFYez88

NO FAIR!! You had added pleasure with your order???

Yes I did

I love the comp, Currently working on problom with bios need help:Got bios 1.5 did some thing dunno what tho now the lights in the back go crazy need help to put back to defaultcharge)yellow(battery)blue can any1 help plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

If you didn't need a BIOS flash you shouldn't have done it. AW rushed the BIOS releases to give people control over the lights on the back. Call AW and ask them to walk you through the process of flashing your BIOS to the newest version. And, Is it that much more to type "please" instead of "pl" and holding the "z" key for an hour?

Agreed. Best line ever? "If it ain't broke, then don't F with it."

I'm seriously tempted to slap this n00b after seeing how many threads he's posted in...

Does alienware read these forums??!?

After reading the last three pages of posts I think I've decided to not purchase a alienware system. I am amazed at how many people are complaining about the alienware service. Does someone from alienware read these posts? Do they know how poor their service is (according to their current customers)? I want a nice laptop - that is for sure. But I dont want something that has loose screws, bad drivers, or major hardware problems with ble to resolve the problems in a timely fashion. And at the cost of the laptops - running upwards of 3 grand.


Could someone out here give a reason to purchase one of these?

Honestly, the reason I was referred to this site is because I have been denied access the the Alienware forum. I purchased my laptop used, from a company in Texas which sold it after a year (I guess after the warranty ran out). I contacted Alienware about getting the account switched over, and was told that, because the warranty expired, the account has been deleted from their database and I can only get support from them via e-mail. Now, I understood that the warranty was gone, and that Alienware's policy is that it's non-transferable anyway, but to deny me access to the forums where I might converse with other owners and get upgates seems a bit elitist and self-serving on their part. I don't expect them to give me anything tangeable, such as free repair or anything like that just because I own one of their laptops, but every other computer manufacturer I've dealt with has an open policy toward support. The support rep. I spoke with on the phone basically told me that I might as well not exist as far as they're concerned, and am not welcome to join other owners in the Alienware forums.

The laptop itself is pretty awesome, and I'm very happy with it overall. I do have some issues I'd like to deal with, which is why I'm here...but if this is an example of what they consider product support, I may be looking for something else in the long run...

Sorry to rain on anyone's parade, but I felt it only fair to warn new buyers, and those like me who have to settle for a second hand one, what to expect from Alienware.

The warranties are non-transferable. However, with the resources you have on this forum, you should be albe to get answers to most of your issues or questions. I think you'll find you will like the results. They do have AW techs monitoring this forum, which should give you an idea of the quality of information you will find. I am in the market for an Alienware right now, I'm yet to see too many, if any issues that do not get answered on this forum in one way or another. Enjoy the ride.

I know their warranty is non-transferable...and though I think that's pretty limiting since most other manufacturers do transfer warranties, I can live with that. In truth, the warranty is expired, so I wasn't counting on anything there. My disappointment arises from the fact that they exclude non-warrantied owners from their support database...you have to either call and hope the person you talk to has a clue, or e-mail and cross your fingers.

As for this forum, it's the best find I've made in a long time, and look forward to participating more (and hopefully in a more positive note...I have a line on switching over to a new Sager). I just hope the AW techs here are better than the ones I spoke with on the phone. I already suspect I'll get far more help out of my fellow users - which is why I wanted into their forum anyway.

Druid-

As has been complained about repeatedly, the official forums are closed to all non customers. The reason is to protect Alienware's direct customers. Since you didn't buy it directly from AW...in their eyes, there is nothing that differentiates you from trolls and liars that haunted that forum in the past. It's unfortunate that such measures have to be taken, but on the other hand, it's nice that there is a place to go where flames and ignorance are not rampant.

Edit - I didn't mean to sound as if flames and ignorance are rampant here, they certainly are not. This is an excellent forum, and I enjoy the time I spend here.

see my thred

regarding my BEEF

http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=19213

JHO

Its people like S.S Mario that people end up killing themselves.

... Umm... What? I'm just saying, if you wanted it fixed you only had to have 1 thread. Someone would have gotten to it. Even though... it WASN'T a problem. Anyway.. took you kinda long to reply... I posted that a WEEK ago!

hey kournikova462 I read your thread and was curious what the current status with your Area51m is? I'm looking at pctorque now insted but there are things about the AW laptops I like. So have they got yours fixed or whats going on with it?