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My beef with alienware....

post #1 of 67
7/11/04 at 12:21am
Thread Starter 
Ok, now I hear that this laptop is supposed to be the bomb, the problem is it is expensive. So I want to try one out, buy a used cheaper one just to see how fast or how good it really is before I roll out 4 grand on the one I really want. (I won my own business and i need the write off, but I want to get the right laptop for me) I go to the alienware website to get drivers after I load windows xp pro- no such thing. I need a login ID and password. So I buy a hat- thinking that will get me an account so I can get into the forums, drivers and whatnot. No such luck. Now this gets me thinking- Why would a company require a username and password just to get drivers for their own products? This screws over their own customers who want to sell their laptops in the future- no support whatsoever. So if i do buy this laptop (I am the type that wants the fastest latest greatest every year) and next year I want to sell it and buy the fastest latest greatest, I am pretty much selling a laptop with no way for them to get drivers or any support- even FAQ's. This little thing has me wondering what kind of company Alienware really is. Who else requires a username and password just to get drivers or simple questions answered???? To me this is just poor business, and unless I see some changes, I guess I'll have to stick to good ole Dell and steer clear of Alienware. Anyone have any ideas as to how I can get drivers or FAQ's let me know!! Thanks

Les
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post #2 of 67
7/11/04 at 1:03am
I got a good question to all the people buying used Alienware stuff... WHY WON'T YOU ASK THE PREVIOUS OWNER FOR THEIR LOGIN DATA???... Its not like they are going to need it once they sell the top...
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post #3 of 67
7/11/04 at 1:53am
If you can't get access to them, maybe somebody could download them and host them for you to download.
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post #4 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RESOVIA
I got a good question to all the people buying used Alienware stuff... WHY WON'T YOU ASK THE PREVIOUS OWNER FOR THEIR LOGIN DATA???... Its not like they are going to need it once they sell the top...

Maybe they will want to use that login information in the future. Its probably linked to that persons name and information and I wouldn't want to give it out. Of course I don't own an AW, so I really wouldn't know that exact answer.
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post #5 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:22am
Privalage of ownership?
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post #6 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:24am
Thread Starter 

why tho?

But my problem is WHY? Why would a company not want everyone to have access to their drivers, support and FAQ's? It's just mind boggling. The only reason I can possibly come up with is that they don't want you to resell your computer, but that seems dumb too. If i like the laptop, and I'm going to buy a new one, why shouldn't the new owner have access to the info? I can't really figure this one out, it just seems like a gimmick to me. I went and looked at other companies websites, and they all have access to any drivers you want. I don't know, I guess it bugs me to no end. Maybe an Alienware rep will post and give me an answer to change my mind, but right now i'm thinking Dell XPS...at least I can upgrade and the new owner will get the warranty, drivers, faqs, system information, etc. Plus be able to buy parts, as Alienware will only sell to you if you are the original owner. It's almost as if they are thinking of short term, rather than trying to get repeat business down the road. I don't know, it just seems shady to me....
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post #7 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:26am
Unfair CodeMonkey I wanted my 51m in Stealth too and they dunn gotem
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post #8 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:37am
Everytime you buy an alienware, you get an order number so you can track your order. When creating your account name and password, you need an order number. So basically when you have an order number, you are free to create an account. I really think you are blowing it out of proportion, when you sell it you can just give up the account, and create a new one if you buy another Alienware.

As for your comments about this making Alienware a poor business, and how you shouldnt deal with them... most companies have something similar. I know with my gateway, i need the computer ID code to log on and get support and drivers. Companies put these things in place so that they can serve their customers on a better scale and more personal scale. I hope you kind of get what im saying.

Not going with Alienware because of this though, is a poor excuse. You shouldnt need the personal support and drivers if you dont have an Alienware. When you buy an Alienware, it comes with that, and if you buy a second hand Alienware, it should come with that.
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post #9 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:39am
I agree with LWBRUCK I think alienware is trying to create monopoly on their PCs (not to be confused with Microsoft) I think they are afraid that if somebody buys one used after a year they might think it sucks compared to the newer ones and spread bad opinion about them while if you got no connection to them aka AgentCard you never became a true part of the family so youre not a "real owner" of it so you can't really say you experienced it and it sucked cuz you never truly had IT. Another thing to consider is that if you do stay with your AW top long past the warranty expires and you buy another and another and you start collecting them (not a bad idea!) youre going to be a life long customer... and then again I have to agree with CodeMonkey just like my MontBlanc 149 the pleasure derived from the experience is one half excellent craftsmanship and the other the exclusivity of being the sole owner for life...
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post #10 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:42am
True True Fenix
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post #11 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:43am
Quote:
Plus be able to buy parts, as Alienware will only sell to you if you are the original owner.
Alienware doesnt make their parts proprietary like other brand name comp sellers, so you could get your parts from anywhere.... it would actually be much cheaper to get your parts from elsewhere.

I can see where your guys points are coming from, maybe their system isnt the best with the logging in for the drivers, but i think the scale your taking it too is too big. I mean bashing them for it seems unreasonable to me.
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post #12 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:45am
like a top of the line processor you can't afford today will sell for $200 bucks on a computershow in the next 6 months
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post #13 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:49am
I think the red font makes me love you even more
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post #14 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:52am
UHMMM aren't the drivers the property of the subcontractors that built the parts... like dosen't ati own their drivers which it probably has available on their sites indefinitely just like all the other hardware parts? besides alienware just compiles them for you so there easier to access with less looking... in addition isnt there a disk with drivers that work attached to the system?
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post #15 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:53am
I just hope youre a chic
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post #16 of 67
7/11/04 at 2:59am
Even if you aint its nice to finally find someone who don't bitch at the red cheers
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post #17 of 67
7/11/04 at 5:46am
Second hand users have access to AW's drivers through the ftp site. AW does not allow any one but original owners to log into the support section because that is where the forums can be accessed. In the past, AW had public forums that were constantly trolled by outsiders(non-original owner) that would spread lies and rumors throughout the forums...so AW took the only action it could to stop it...they locked it down and made it owner only territory. The knowledge base is also open to the public...the only things that require a password are the Support Forum, the live chat, and the personal account info pages. If you need drivers, I believe the ftp is ftp://alienware.com/
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post #18 of 67
7/11/04 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 
Well...I guess- I still think Alienware is being to clannish. Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion, but support your products. If they aren't good enough or you're getting too much bad run in the forums, fix your products. One thing I've learned, if a company is getting some flak, usually there is a problem. Some companies expand their service dept., some companies ignore it and just let people talk, and some companies make usernames and passwords so that new customers can't hear the complaints before they buy their new $4,000 laptop. I think I've hit the nail on the head with the last statement...Well- until that day the box arrives- we all know the feeling- even if it is a dell- Thanks guys and laters...
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post #19 of 67
7/11/04 at 11:23am
correct me if I'm wrong but isnt the a51m2 built by uniwill? I'm thinking it is model n766SAx and the drivers can be found here http://uniwill.com/download/Download.htm . They should work just as good as drivers from clevo's site worked with the old a51m.
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post #20 of 67
7/11/04 at 11:55am
I think Alienware is a joke, the way the handle things and how you cannot get any of your money back if the price drops $1000 the day after you get your notebook. But I love this notebook even if it is way overpriced. At least it has a good resale value.
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