New Alienware Stuff

well most high end computer company will have the same prices as alienware... and falcon is even more expensive, but if you want the most try voodoopc... as long as people buy them they can charge whatever they want. just like almost any product in the world, a lot of the price is for the name brand.

What you guys don't understand is that not everyone is exactly like you. There is a very small percentage of PC users in the world that enjoy ****ing around with the hardware and tweaking settings on a computer just for the sake of ****ing around with the computer. Just like there are a very small percentage of car owners that enjoy rebuilding the engine every six months. The vast majority of the population just wants a car to drive. They see maintenance as a necessary evil that has to be done to keep the car from dying. A lot of people are the same with computers. They don't want to build one from scratch. They don't want to tweak the video card settings 200 different ways to find the best settings. They don't want to try to overclock the processor or any of that stuff. They just want a fast, reliable computer that they can use out of the box. Plus, a lot of people wouldn't mind if it looked damn cool either. Sure it's just a box, but a lamp is just a lamp. Why buy one that matches your couch? Computers are becoming the centerpiece of many rooms, and people would like them to not look like a big beige box anymore. So yes, that IS a selling point for some people.

For someone that makes good money and doesn't have time or interest in messing around with the innards of a PC, the Alienware and similar products are perfect. Sure you can get cheaper ones elsewhere or by building it yourself. You could probably build a car from parts cheaper than you can buy a Mercedes too, but that doesn't mean it is the best way to go for everyone.

With the Alienware and similar systems, people can get a tweaked system to run all the latest games without having to be a computer science major.

And those same people don't want to tear down an entire machine to find a loose wire or overheating chip that was causing their machine to lock up. So Alienware provides them with a 1-800 number so they can talk to a technician, fix their problem, and continue playing games and USING the computer, like they want to do.

I'm not saying building your own computer is bad. If you like that sort of thing, then go for it. But you guys always act like you are in some little secret club because you know the "truth" that you can build a system for less than you can buy a pre-built one. And act like anyone who does otherwise is an idiot.

I'm just saying be a little more open-minded. Not everyone has the exact same needs, or skillset that you have, and building a computer from scratch just isn't an option for 90% of the computer owners out there.

It is really quite painless now. Jumper-free Mobo's, Plug and Play. It is almost to the point where you just buy the parts, screw then together, plug it in, Load the OS and Voila. a new PC. If you want, when buying that much from a store, they will more than likely slap it together for free. And if you buy A processor and Mobo that are a match made in heaven, they are usually configured to run straight out the box with each other.

Dont get mad Deker. If I lived in your town I would build a pc for you (if you bought the parts =) There are a lot of little tweaks that you can do to the OS, and maybe a few in BIOS that can be intimidating, but putting together a PC is a lot easier than building a website, IMO.

I'm not mad. And I'm not talking about myself. I would have no problem building a PC if I really wanted to. I was speaking for all the millions of other PC users who want a good PC but do not post on photoshop related messageboards or even know what a motherboard is.

I agree with Deker that for many there is certainly an appeal for a system that resembles a lamp in that you take it from the box, plug it into the wall, and voila, the light goes on. At the same time, I also agree that alienware is still not the best way to go. There are numerous companies with equal or greater technical support that won't charge as much (yet) for their brand name...and there are some pretty decent non-alienware cases out there too. I would only point someone towards alienware if they were really hell-bent on getting the most stylistic case possible.

Originally posted by Marble

$350 Vid Card $300 Lots of Ram $300 Mobo $400 Chip $100 Acc. $150 Case. $300 Drives.

well..lets see:
DVD RW = $338
Gfc ti4200 64 MB = $130 (?)
nForce2 mobo = $130
512 pc 2100 Ram = $110
8MB Cache HDD = $90 (i forget how much i paid for mine...i think it was about 90 tho)
monitor = $167
keyboard = $15
mouse = $23
XP Home Edition= $94
Automated Support = $35
Retro Gaming = $29

comes out to $1161 when i add that up. THe actual total is:
$2198.00. So the case and PSU is about: $1037.


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they do have nifty cases though

computers should be free, the world would be a better place.

LMAO... I totally agree with redeye, but im going to have to say that its never going to happen. Mostly because Bill Gates likes his money, but if i had that much i think i would too :P

As for the alienware stuff, I think the new look is just amazing.. and completely new age / original. I really like the AlienICE feature, luqid cooled video card slots and stuff.. that just amazing

They are very expensive, but i think it would be alot better if i just bought the case and all that stuff and not the power supply and the mobo and stuff like that, I just want the case and the AlienICE, and my Radeon All in wonder video card *drool*

seriously people, forget that case. This is my case and the crap inside too.

http://hardkorehell.homestead.com/files/ext.jpg
http://hardkorehell.homestead.com/files/interior_blue.jpg
http://hardkorehell.homestead.com/files/blue_stealthage.jpg

Yes, that cd rom drive is stealthed into the case.now you see it, now you don't. MAGIC!

also, alienware builds good computers ok. But real tweakers can use lesser components and still get much higher performance. just saying.