Well guys, I received an email today from Alienware and this is what it said:
I have been asked to remove portions of my post due to confidentiality reasons...I apologize to my friend and hope I did not cause him any trouble...
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So I called the critical issues guy back and well I have been enlightened as to what is going on. First off, he admitted that they knew there was a compatibility issue with the 9700. He stated that when they first received the 9700 from their manufacturers that it ran fine but after extended use it had problems. The mobo needed a capacitor so it was added. Since then they have been working with ATI and their manufacturer for a solution. Here is the GOOD NEWS...he told me that there are 2 solutions coming soon (hopefully Sept he said): 1)a low voltage version of the 9700 will be released to support all mobo's 2)a package costing approx $150-$165 including shipping and labor will get you a new mobo that supports the regular 9700...these are the 2 options for the 9700 upgrade. As for the 9800, he states that they were kept in the dark about because of Dell's exclusivity on it. He did state that Alienware and ATI are currently working on and have been working on a 9800 for the Area-51m as a future gpu and upgrade. As for the go6800, there is nothing about that currently but they are working with nvidia to deliver there next card. I asked about the go6800 in an Area-51m and how a tech told that to someone on this board (Time-Pilot I think?)...he laughed and said that is impossible. Anything with nvidia is still in development and not even close to being in a laptop. He actually was very upset and said that he would love to have the name of the idiot who is spreading rumors (so PM Time-Pilot if you have his name). He also laughed and said those regular techs don't even see or know anything regarding R&D.
PCI-E Issue and the Area-51m
He said that yes they are going to be adding pci-e in the future (no set date) to the Area-51m. As it stands now he said that there are no plans to change the 766 chassis. So one of the action points in development and being seriously looked at is a mobo upgrade to pci-e for all of us!
He said that that was a priority at one of their engineering meetings. They really want to keep everyone as a customer and from a business standpoint he said it made sense and I couldn't agree anymore.
SPOILERS (Not Really) FOR THE FUTURE:
When I asked about chassis changes...he did reveal a bombshell...He said that they will be offering other notebooks with different chassis' and looks and he would get in trouble if he told me but he did say he could tell me that one new notebook coming soon is the ALIENWARE ALXm...in his words the most advanced notebook in the computing industry's history. He said technology in that notebook will be beyond anyone else and never before seen, but don't expect the video array he said...but he did say it would be aluminum based.
IN CONCLUSION:
It would seem that I and others overreacted on this board and were out of line. As I told my new friend on the critical issues team, I apologize to Alienware for jumping the gun. BUT, none of this wonderful news would not have been possible without us making a stink. I also told him that if Alienware did not keep us in the dark and were upfront about the 9700 and mobo revisions, I for one would have not overreacted. It was because I felt misled as did others we erupted with anger. He agreed and said he is not in the PR biz, but just in the making bada$$ computers biz! Also, did the CEO really read my comments? Wow...that is pretty kick a$$! I have a new found love for Alienware again!!! I have to go round at the hospital but will be checking in to answer questions on breaks in the lounge...it was hard to sum up an hour long conversation...
PS: I need a little help taking my foot out of my mouth...Craig can you give me a hand?
I have been asked to remove portions of my post due to confidentiality reasons...I apologize to my friend and hope I did not cause him any trouble...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So I called the critical issues guy back and well I have been enlightened as to what is going on. First off, he admitted that they knew there was a compatibility issue with the 9700. He stated that when they first received the 9700 from their manufacturers that it ran fine but after extended use it had problems. The mobo needed a capacitor so it was added. Since then they have been working with ATI and their manufacturer for a solution. Here is the GOOD NEWS...he told me that there are 2 solutions coming soon (hopefully Sept he said): 1)a low voltage version of the 9700 will be released to support all mobo's 2)a package costing approx $150-$165 including shipping and labor will get you a new mobo that supports the regular 9700...these are the 2 options for the 9700 upgrade. As for the 9800, he states that they were kept in the dark about because of Dell's exclusivity on it. He did state that Alienware and ATI are currently working on and have been working on a 9800 for the Area-51m as a future gpu and upgrade. As for the go6800, there is nothing about that currently but they are working with nvidia to deliver there next card. I asked about the go6800 in an Area-51m and how a tech told that to someone on this board (Time-Pilot I think?)...he laughed and said that is impossible. Anything with nvidia is still in development and not even close to being in a laptop. He actually was very upset and said that he would love to have the name of the idiot who is spreading rumors (so PM Time-Pilot if you have his name). He also laughed and said those regular techs don't even see or know anything regarding R&D.
PCI-E Issue and the Area-51m
He said that yes they are going to be adding pci-e in the future (no set date) to the Area-51m. As it stands now he said that there are no plans to change the 766 chassis. So one of the action points in development and being seriously looked at is a mobo upgrade to pci-e for all of us!
He said that that was a priority at one of their engineering meetings. They really want to keep everyone as a customer and from a business standpoint he said it made sense and I couldn't agree anymore.
SPOILERS (Not Really) FOR THE FUTURE:
When I asked about chassis changes...he did reveal a bombshell...He said that they will be offering other notebooks with different chassis' and looks and he would get in trouble if he told me but he did say he could tell me that one new notebook coming soon is the ALIENWARE ALXm...in his words the most advanced notebook in the computing industry's history. He said technology in that notebook will be beyond anyone else and never before seen, but don't expect the video array he said...but he did say it would be aluminum based.
IN CONCLUSION:
It would seem that I and others overreacted on this board and were out of line. As I told my new friend on the critical issues team, I apologize to Alienware for jumping the gun. BUT, none of this wonderful news would not have been possible without us making a stink. I also told him that if Alienware did not keep us in the dark and were upfront about the 9700 and mobo revisions, I for one would have not overreacted. It was because I felt misled as did others we erupted with anger. He agreed and said he is not in the PR biz, but just in the making bada$$ computers biz! Also, did the CEO really read my comments? Wow...that is pretty kick a$$! I have a new found love for Alienware again!!! I have to go round at the hospital but will be checking in to answer questions on breaks in the lounge...it was hard to sum up an hour long conversation...
PS: I need a little help taking my foot out of my mouth...Craig can you give me a hand?
I don't see a point in an ALXm without the best features of the ALX: dual CPUS and dual GPUs
but i think your confusing yur arse and your mouth.
.
