Dell Alienware laptop range, any experience/views?

[Bright Spark]

I've had a dell lattitude for about 6years and use it heavily, only problem I've had is with it is
the overheating when I put on my lap to use on the train, apart from that very good.

last year I upgraded to lenovo thinkpad no problems with the overheating also It looks
more expensive than having the cheap dell, a lot of consultants (Accenture) go for lenovo so doesn't look out of place on the clients site.

[VectraMan]

I thought Alienware were the gaming laptops. Going for what's effectively a high end desktop in a laptop case and you can't really be suprised if it runs hot and the batteries don't last.

My Latitude laptop is still going strong with no problems whatsoever in 2 years, and those are meant to be the cheaper of the business range. I'd definitely buy another Dell.

[Jeebo72]

I've had Alienware pre-Dell and XPS in the last few years. They work well, initially, but just don't last. Constantly had problems with fans blowing, overheating and graphics cards giving up.

Batteries are poitless as you'll be lucky to get an hours use, they are really desktop machines.

Back with Sony VAIO, and there i will stay!

[Scrag Meister]

It's time I updated my laptop.
Currently running a ten year old Inspiron.
I was looking at the Alienware 17 inch jobbies from Dell.
Anyone any good/bad experiences?

I've had a Dell XPS M1730, and a Dell XPS 1330 for 2.5 years now.

The 1730 is the Alien equivalent and is a main workhorse, desktop replacement laptop, i.e heavy, hot and cumbersome, but works well, database server etc... Gets moved around when it has to.

The 1330 is a quite powerful but very mobile laptop.

[Spacecadet]

Alienware laptops always struck me as huge heavy behemoths. Add that to their reputation for breaking, I'd be reluctant to get one.

The dell laptops at clientco seem to keep on going - I had a hardrive failure two months ago, it was 7 years old.

Difference between consumer and business/professional hardware.
Dell's are great if you've got the cash and want something serious for work

[quackhandle]

Bought my first ever laptop in Feb, a Dell Studio 1555. They're not shown in Dell's business laptop page but one call to them managed to sort it out so I could purchase through the company cost was about 420 notes all in - I like the bit where you can configure it as well (hardware, not the lid colour )

Used for 3/4 months now and very happy with it, upgraded wireless card is excellent feel like I have proper broadband now.

Wish I'd gotten the backlit keyboard though.

qh

[SuperZ]

My view is Alienware is for laptop gaming types and a bit overpriced with the 'alien' design. I've never owned one, just an opinion formed on seeing a few around and some of the kids who have bought one.

Personally I use a Dell XPS 1330. Don't think they sell them anymore and the screen is probably too small for you(as it is for me when coding), but I would recommmend the XPS range over the Alienware gaming orientated machines.

Best laptops I have owned have been Dell machines. First one had a few issues over the 3 years I had it but was easy to fix under warranty - they mailed me the parts and I fitted (2 keyboards and one hard disk). Saved me from sending it to them and potentially losing my machine for 4-5 weeks as was the case with the Compaq I owned years ago.

[Moscow Mule]

Alienware laptops always struck me as huge heavy behemoths. Add that to their reputation for breaking, I'd be reluctant to get one.

The dell laptops at clientco seem to keep on going - I had a hardrive failure two months ago, it was 7 years old.

If you want shiny, get one of the new mac pros & dual boot it (very easy). They are also very sturdy, being milled from a single block of aluminium.

If bang for buck was my key criteria, I think I'd go for the Lenovo range.

[chef]

The precisions from Dell are worth having a look at... they are very well built and highly speced. Had mine just under 3 years and it's still running sweet, although it might be time to get a bigger hard drive for it.
Only downside is that the graphics card is more aimed at CAD than games which puts a stop to playing any of the newer games in the evenings.

One thing which seems to be forgotten is the importance of decent hardware support. I've had to deal with Dell twice. Once after a keyboard + liquid accident and another time when my laptop suffered some heat damage (self inflicted). Both times parts were replaced without any hassle, second time the mother board and graphics card being replaced by one of their engineers whilst I grabbed some lunch.
IMO The ability to get someone on site within 24hours to fix any hardware issues makes me reluctant to get anything other than a Dell

WHS, I got my Dell Precision M4400 Core2Duo Extreme after Spaceman recommended them so much. Glad I did, completely hassle free, I've had no issues with it at all.

[FarmerPalmer]

My son's girlfriend had an alienware laptop, which died within a couple of weeks, and had to be returned to be repaired. She never got it back from them despite various promises. This went on for months of hassle with constant emails and phone calls, and eventually she was given a refund.

I am on my second Lenovo, and don't know what their support is like because I have never (yet) had to use it.

[Spacecadet]

The precisions from Dell are worth having a look at... they are very well built and highly speced. Had mine just under 3 years and it's still running sweet, although it might be time to get a bigger hard drive for it.
Only downside is that the graphics card is more aimed at CAD than games which puts a stop to playing any of the newer games in the evenings.

One thing which seems to be forgotten is the importance of decent hardware support. I've had to deal with Dell twice. Once after a keyboard + liquid accident and another time when my laptop suffered some heat damage (self inflicted). Both times parts were replaced without any hassle, second time the mother board and graphics card being replaced by one of their engineers whilst I grabbed some lunch.
IMO The ability to get someone on site within 24hours to fix any hardware issues makes me reluctant to get anything other than a Dell

[Ardesco]

I have had an Alienware for the past 3 and a bit years and although initially I was quite happy cracks started to appear quicker than I expected. The CPU fan finally gave out yesterday and I won't be buying another one, I'm currently looking at this as a potential replacement:

HP TM2-1010ea early review: Table to tablet in a touchscreen twist - Crave at CNET UK

[RSoles]

It's time I updated my laptop.
Currently running a ten year old Inspiron.
I was looking at the Alienware 17 inch jobbies from Dell.
Anyone any good/bad experiences?