I purchased my Area-51m 766 (3.2GHz P-4, 1GB RAM, 128mb ATI Mobility Radeon 9600/9700 [yes, thats what they call it], 60GB HDD @7200RPM, 16.1" LCD @1600x1200) 3 years ago in September. I did not receive it until November 11 (a total of 3weeks 4days). It was perfect when I took it out of the box. That lasted about 2 days. The LCD panel was not properly connected to the motherboard, and the connections were lose. This caused the LCD to not display anything, unless I was very lucky and a connection was made between the LCD cables, and the MOBO (By gently opening and closing the Clam shell). I had it repaired in Depot, and issue was resolved (after formating my HDD).
But a new issue appeared. My brand new over $3000 notebook had a huge gash in the LCD clam shell that scratched deep into the metal of the shell. To me it looked like a slipped screwdriver. Also they returned it with a CD-ROM drive instead of the DVD-RAM/CD-RW drive which I ordered. Again, I sent it back to the depot. They replaced the LCD Clam shell, CD/DVD burner drive, and shipped it back to me.
As soon as I turned it back on, I noticed a new problem. Apparently instead of just replacing/repairing the LCD Clam Shell housing, they replaced the entire thing including the screen. Which the new screen had 4 dead pixels directly to center. I'm not kidding literally millimeters from the exact center of the screen (2 of them) and a couple off to the right. Also the notebook did something new. It started overheating when I was playing a video game. So back to depot to get the LCD replaced (which the original one was flawless, pixel wise), and to have the overheating issue addressed.
They said since it was the third (Depot-able) issue they where going to do a complete rebuilt and UBER testing. Which they did. In fact it was a whole new notebook. I can tell because the stickers were peeling right out of the box (like they had been moved to a different system), and this one had the rubber feet missing (which mine had all 4). So I assumed it was a refurb/used machine. And a new LCD with only 2 stuck pixels (one of which is white...very annoying). I sent me the new rubber feet in the mail. which I installed. The cheap glue the used caused them to promptly fall off, and I had to crazy glue them back into place.
About 3 months later, the notebook had the same overheating issues again. Again I called the India tech support. All they ever do is run you around in circles. It's an art to say the same thing differently hundred times in a row. SOOO FRUSTRATING. With the last depot mishaps, I oped for the in-home service. The guy came and opened her up on my kitchen table. And when he removed the heat sync we both gasped in utter disbelive. THE ALUMINUM FOIL AND PLASTIC SEALING THE ARTIC SILVER TO THE HEAT SYNC DURING SHIPPING/STORAGE WAS MELTED AND FLAKED ALL OVER THE CPU!!!!!!! THEY HAD FORGOT TO TAKE OFF TTHE PROTECTIVE COVER BEFORE INSTALING THE HEAT SYNC IN THE CPU!!!!!!!! They could have irreparably damaged the cpu and the mobo + components. Which they probably did.
So in the first 15months of its life, my $3000 notebook spent in total about 3weeks in depot X 3, and one time at home service. So thats a total of 2months and 2 weeks in repair. In between all of these repairs I moved, and in December they sent the notebook to my old home 550 miles away. The new resident was kind enough to return to sender. (I HAVE THEM MY UPDATED ADDRESS 3X TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD IT. CUSTOMER SERVICE, TECH SUPPORT, AND THE PERSON THAT SCEDULED THE ACTUAL DEPOT REPAIR ALL VERIFIED IT CORRECTLY, THEN SENT IT TO MY OLD ADDRESS ANYWAY).
So a week ago is year three. I still have constant overheating issues. I have a fan blowing on it at full speed just to keep it on. (If I don't, it just shuts down after about 7min. @ idle!!, and YES ALIENWARE IT IS FREE OF DUST IN THE AIR INTAKE) Plus the Graphics card drivers had always been awful. ALSO THE INTERNAL A/B/G WIRELESS CARD GETS 50% reception 2 feet away from the wireless router!? WTF?, It's worthless beyond a range of 12 feet. And forget about walls.
Would I buy Alienware Notebook again...No. I will buy a sager instead. My friend has one, and never had a single issue. Plus it was cheaper than mine (with better specs too).
The only thing I like about this computer is the 1600x1200 display (Lots of room to work on), and the color cyborg green.
But a new issue appeared. My brand new over $3000 notebook had a huge gash in the LCD clam shell that scratched deep into the metal of the shell. To me it looked like a slipped screwdriver. Also they returned it with a CD-ROM drive instead of the DVD-RAM/CD-RW drive which I ordered. Again, I sent it back to the depot. They replaced the LCD Clam shell, CD/DVD burner drive, and shipped it back to me.
As soon as I turned it back on, I noticed a new problem. Apparently instead of just replacing/repairing the LCD Clam Shell housing, they replaced the entire thing including the screen. Which the new screen had 4 dead pixels directly to center. I'm not kidding literally millimeters from the exact center of the screen (2 of them) and a couple off to the right. Also the notebook did something new. It started overheating when I was playing a video game. So back to depot to get the LCD replaced (which the original one was flawless, pixel wise), and to have the overheating issue addressed.
They said since it was the third (Depot-able) issue they where going to do a complete rebuilt and UBER testing. Which they did. In fact it was a whole new notebook. I can tell because the stickers were peeling right out of the box (like they had been moved to a different system), and this one had the rubber feet missing (which mine had all 4). So I assumed it was a refurb/used machine. And a new LCD with only 2 stuck pixels (one of which is white...very annoying). I sent me the new rubber feet in the mail. which I installed. The cheap glue the used caused them to promptly fall off, and I had to crazy glue them back into place.
About 3 months later, the notebook had the same overheating issues again. Again I called the India tech support. All they ever do is run you around in circles. It's an art to say the same thing differently hundred times in a row. SOOO FRUSTRATING. With the last depot mishaps, I oped for the in-home service. The guy came and opened her up on my kitchen table. And when he removed the heat sync we both gasped in utter disbelive. THE ALUMINUM FOIL AND PLASTIC SEALING THE ARTIC SILVER TO THE HEAT SYNC DURING SHIPPING/STORAGE WAS MELTED AND FLAKED ALL OVER THE CPU!!!!!!! THEY HAD FORGOT TO TAKE OFF TTHE PROTECTIVE COVER BEFORE INSTALING THE HEAT SYNC IN THE CPU!!!!!!!! They could have irreparably damaged the cpu and the mobo + components. Which they probably did.
So in the first 15months of its life, my $3000 notebook spent in total about 3weeks in depot X 3, and one time at home service. So thats a total of 2months and 2 weeks in repair. In between all of these repairs I moved, and in December they sent the notebook to my old home 550 miles away. The new resident was kind enough to return to sender. (I HAVE THEM MY UPDATED ADDRESS 3X TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD IT. CUSTOMER SERVICE, TECH SUPPORT, AND THE PERSON THAT SCEDULED THE ACTUAL DEPOT REPAIR ALL VERIFIED IT CORRECTLY, THEN SENT IT TO MY OLD ADDRESS ANYWAY).
So a week ago is year three. I still have constant overheating issues. I have a fan blowing on it at full speed just to keep it on. (If I don't, it just shuts down after about 7min. @ idle!!, and YES ALIENWARE IT IS FREE OF DUST IN THE AIR INTAKE) Plus the Graphics card drivers had always been awful. ALSO THE INTERNAL A/B/G WIRELESS CARD GETS 50% reception 2 feet away from the wireless router!? WTF?, It's worthless beyond a range of 12 feet. And forget about walls.
Would I buy Alienware Notebook again...No. I will buy a sager instead. My friend has one, and never had a single issue. Plus it was cheaper than mine (with better specs too).
The only thing I like about this computer is the 1600x1200 display (Lots of room to work on), and the color cyborg green.
