Sager 8890 or new Alienware 51m - Page 2  

Umm Steve, I believe Hanko was talking in the present tense, while you guys are talking about the (maybe near) future.

so, is this Uniwell a good quality ODM - how do they compare to Clevo or Quanta?

Also, where are the specs of the new 51M from AW -- I know someone on these boards posted a link to a scanned in brochure from AW but does AW post that on their site somewhere ... I can't seem to find it and/or what it looks like? Just wondering.

Lastly .. and going off-topic - when will the DELLs and IBMs follow SAGER and the others in making a notebook (or maybe say 'releasing') comparable to the 8890/5680 (based on 865 chip)??

-ot

specs...

I don't know much about Uniwill. As far as Clevo goes, it would be nice if they could keep their website up.... Alienware will post the specifications when it is ready to launch. The actual specs. are listed in the Alienware section of the Sager Forum. First thread in the section.

Steve

Here's the thread with the pics of the New Area-51m brochure.

The current Area-51m is indeed the same Clevo machine as the 5670, but the New Area-51m is not a Clevo.

Major differences between the new Area-51m and the 5680:
- The New Area-51m will not support dual-channel memory.
- The AW supports a standardized form factor for graphics cards, enabling a choice between nVidia and ATI right now, and possibly improving the chances of being able to upgrade the graphics card in the future.
- The AW doesn't seem to support a second onboard optical drive, a hotswappable hard drive, or a secondary battery, all of which are media bay options in the 5680. However, the AW does seem to have an internal bay with support for a TV Tuner, fixed HD, or subwoofer. (Or these could be spread out over more than one bay, I'm guessing here.)

Regarding differences between the brochure and ssweig's post:
- I assume the Area-51m will come with procs less expensive than the 3.2.
- I assume HT will be enabled on the AW procs.
- The SIS648 chipset in the Area-51m supports 2GB DDR400 PC3200 RAM, but, as usual, that configuration will be prohibitively expensive (likely well over an extra $1000 more than 1GB) on any machine from any vendor.
- A 16.1" UXGA is the same width as a 15.4 WSXGA+, but over an inch taller. The chassis dimensions in ssweig's post are compatible with the 16.1", which means the 15.4" WSXGA+ will leave a large amount of empty space inside the lid - apparently this is used for 2 extra speakers.
- I assume the TV Tuner, 2nd HD, and Subwoofer can't all fit into the same machine - they might all be options for a single bay?
- 802.11g wireless is backwards-compatible with 802.11b, so "802.11b+g" is the same as "802.11g" and "802.11a+b+g" is the same as "802.11a+g".
- There's been a lot of talk about pricing on the New Area-51m, I think the bottom line is we won't know until AW releases the machine's configurator for pre-orders.
- I really wish AW would call the new machine something other than the "Area-51m" to reduce confusion. They could at least call it the "Area-51m Mark II" or something like that.


Any manufacturer who, at this moment, claims future support for Prescott in their existing laptops is full of hot air. While Intel has said that the i865PE chipset used in the 5680 and 8890 will support Prescott in desktops (and I don't know about the SIS648), there is no telling whether the current laptop configuations will support the increased power and, paticularly, cooling demands of the Prescott processors. The current Prescott prototypes run so hot it would be problematic in a desktop, Intel has a long ways to go to make the new chips cool enough to fit in a laptop. I've also heard that Intel has watered down their claim that the i865 and i875 chipset series will support Prescott. Bottom line is, nobody knows enough about what the Prescott will look like when it comes out to guarantee support for it right now.


As for Dell and IBM, they don't use desktop chipsets or processors in their laptops. Toshiba is the only mainstream manufacturer I know of to do so. IBM is very conservative, and Dell has become so in recent years, I wouldn't be surprised to see those two companies bank on the Pentium-M that comes with the Centrino package for their future models.


As far as I can tell, Uniwell only makes cash registers and related products, and hence would be a terrible ODM for laptops, since they don't make any...



-phubar

good post phubar....very informative as usual

Phubar ... good info & comparison. I agree - it would be nice if AW changed their name on the new model - it was confusing me as I really haven't followed AW except for getting up to speed today and reading the threads on it.

Regarding DELL, is this one not a desktop or mobile CPU?? . I'm not sure and just wondering ...

As far as Uniwell, I thought the same thing when I went to search them out too... saw the cash registers and stuff and thought ... hmmm .. notebooks?? Weird. Maybe wrong site!!

It looks like the 5680 should be a nice system and I am seeing why so many people are wanting it as well as the 8890. Man... these decisions.

thanks. -ot

some corrections...

Interesting assumption about Uniwill. You know nothing about them and make the assumption that they don't make or can't make laptops. They usually sell in Asia; not in the U.S.

Second: the new Area-51m is the same spindle design as the Sager 5680 and will support exactly what the 5680 does. It can have dual hard drive capability or dual-battery capability.

Third: Of course you can get a lower ghz intel processor and as far as DDR 400 memory. Most people will get 2 X 512 mb chips for a total of 1 gig; just like most are doing with the Sagers so it is not PROHIBITIVELY any more or less expensive than the Sagers.

Fourth: I listed from the official spec sheet: It will come with 802.11g. Marketing is marketing.

Fifth: It will have a built-in TV tuner which the 5680 does not.

Sixth: sorry you don't like what Alienware is calling their new laptop. Actually, they will be phasing out their current laptop which will leave one; which is the new Area-51m. Not confusing at all.

It really is sad to see you make all these assumptions when you really have no clue. Although Clevo may be a "bigger" maufacturer than Uniwill does not make them better. Hell, Alienware dropped them because they are still stuck in the stone age when it comes to new designs.. look at the 5660,5670 and now the 5680... no difference.. same boring chassis... Alienware has come up with new and innovative features and will come in at a price point that will easily match what Clevo does with the 5680.. if Clevo can get their site back up.... The specs. I listed are accurate. When it launches everyone here can see for themselves.... I like how you come across as "authoritative", when in reality it is just your opinions... Yes this is a Sager Forum, but the world does not revolve around them...

Steve

Re: some corrections...

Hmm... No I don't think so. Everything else you said I wont argue with, but there is no proof of this. You speak of assumptions I'd like to see your proof that Alienware will be priced similarily to the 5680. Especially when priceing for the 5680 is not out.

Steve,

When I asked you a few questions about the the spec uniwill released on their N766 on the Alienware page, you decided to give me a nasty reply. So, I returned fire, then you decided to deleted my reply and edit your reply leaving my first post there. So, I have decided not to read the Alienware threads anymore. But since you are here posting in this area I would like to point some stuff out.

Based on the uniwill.com spec the N766 is 2 spindle design. It doesn't have a floppy drive or a free bay. None of the emails I have send to uniwill regarding questions for the N766(What the new Area-51m is base on) were answered.

But after a few phone calls to Alienware they sent me the spec sheet.

Which it gives me the same question I have from the Uniwll spec.


PROGRAM CODE: AREA-51m
Area-51m Specs1 REV4


From the spec sheet:


Memory


DDR SDRAM


200 pins DDR SO-DIMM socket * 2

2.5V DDR SDRAM module to compliant PC2700

128/256/512 per DIMM


Core Logic
SiS 648FX


Supports Intel P4 series CPU with data transfer rate up to 800MHz

Supports DDR333/DDR266 SDRAM, up to PC2700

Supports AGP 8X/4X interface w/Fast Write Transaction

High throughput SiS MUTIOL 1G connect to SiS 963 MUTIOL 1G media I/O

I asked them if PC3200 DDR400 will be enabled why doesn't the spec sheet i received on 8/13/03 list them? No answer yet.

TV tuner
Prolink
Can accept analog NTSC/PAL TV signals, DVD or VCR; having AV in, S-Video in.

Having remote controller (Option).

I/O Port

1 Multimedia in (Through TV box, with AV in, S-video in and TV RF)


No matter how I read that it sounds like the TV-Tuner will be external like the Nvidia geforce2 MX TV-Tuners. So I also asked them if it's built-in or external -- I got no answer.


Optical Device/

Second HDD


2.5" / 9.5mm
Combo is removable.

Ultra DMA33/66/100 support (Option)


Again, no matter how I read the spec sheet with Optical Device/Second HDD in the same line it sounds like the Optical Drive and 2nd HDD share the same bay so they can't co-exist. So, it is one spindle less then the Sager 5680, there is also no 2nd Battery option listed on the spec sheet.

I asked Alienware how can the 2nd HDD option co exist with the optical drive and what about the 2nd Battery? I still have received no reply after 2 emails on the 14th and 15th. I might call them tomorrow if I get a chance and if I dont get put on hold too long like on the 13th when I asked for the spec.

Hmm... I'm not really sure who is stuck with the stone age. If you look at the Sager 5860 spec. It does support Dual Channel DDR 400 which is the future of the new technology while new Area51-m is still stuck with the stone age DDR 400.
True that Sager didn't change their chassis design, but that turn out to be a good new for all old Sager owner. The same chassis mean they will be able to upgrade to the new motherboard without any problem at all(if Sager decide to do so).

Just my opinion...

Re: some corrections...

Hey Steve,

just fyi ... I had gone to UNIWELL.com ... and I'm *pretty sure* Phubar did the same thing b/c these guys DO sell POS systems etc... So, when going to UNIWILL.com then I see computers .

Anyway, on the 1st or 2nd page of this thread, I *think* the first mention of "Uniwell" was mentioned so that is what I based my search on.

Just thought I'd clear up where *I* got the "cash registers" from ... and before making any judgement on the AW notebook, I'm still on a wait & see attitude. Depending on price and features .. it might be really nice.

-ot

Re: some corrections...

What official spec sheet. Nothing is official until its out, for all you know they could change it, like they did the chipset, or like they did the release dates. His assumptions are just as good as yours.

5680 PRICE

Hey ...

New to this forum, I have been looking for a notebook for work to run video editing and video conferencing, and I stumbled upon Sager, Alienware, Voodoo, etc. in my quest for a FAST computer...as opposed to Gateway, Dell, etc. who don't offer near the specs these companies do.

Sorry, back on topic............

Powernotebooks has the list price of the NP5680 starting at

Cash Discounted Price
From $1,779.00
HERE

Is this the price point PCTorque will be at?

Thanks

Good find snowman. Roughly speaking an equally equipped 5680 should be around 150-200 dollars cheaper than that of 8890.

the purpose of this forum is not to start a price war, so i'll respond, but do so vaguely. pctorque and powernotebooks are both good companies to buy from that have similar pricing. according to adam, pricing is not supposed to be officially released until the 20th. however, i'm sure powernotebooks has a good reason to believe the price listed is going to be their base price. this is good news since it's just over 200 more than the 5670.

Have to agree with ryanniedz. Phubar's post seemed reasonable to me, he did make the uniwell / uniwill mistake and given that his view that uniwell wouldnt be a good laptop ODM is perfectly valid. He didnt deserve flaming for it. The clevo stuck in the stone age argument seems unfounded, if this only concerns the chassis then it really depends on whether you buy a laptop just for its looks. As for the 2gb of RAM, phubar again clearly stated that this would be rediculously priced for any machine, not just the 51m.

I dont have anything against ssweig but I really dont think phubar's post deserved a response like that.

<edited by myrkat to clean this damn thread up... a little>

My big thing is the number of people who give a toss about how their laptop looks - honestly does it matter - the only thing that I want to look good is the screen - the rest of the laptop could look like a rusty tin can for all I care as long as the insides arent

WOOTAGE on the 5680 info - as a rule powernotebooks tends to be a tad more expensive than pctorque so it may even be slightly cheaper

Re: just to let you know..

But .... I love you :P.
Actually sorry about that Steve. Even though I know I havent flamed etc you I would have liked an intelligent debate. We can agree to disagree about sager V Alienware and then debate the points.

I'll either buy the SAger 5680 or the Area 51m, depends on which is released first

How about some moderation on this post ^^^^^^^^^^^^^