[Help Given] Buying New Deskop - Now Updated!

[ssampier]

Is there something really bad about Vista for a new PC that I need to know about? I understand it's not all the different from XP and most of the driver issues have been worked out.

Bad, not really; just really new. Basically there's bound to be issues that will be eventually be ironed out (like they were with XP Sp1 and Sp2 and Win98 Second Edition before it). You may have no trouble or may have alot, time will tell.

 

[Mycanid]

We finally decided to break down and went with a slightly stripped down Alienware. We would have actually gotten a Dell 710, but the customer service was severely lacking and they didn't want to give us enough credit for their no-interest promo. Odd considering we got approved for almost double from Alienware who have an even better no-interest promo going right now.

The Alienware rep was very helpful, answered all questions easily. The best thing about the purchase is that I'll easily be able to upgrade the videocards (has the SLI slots and power supply already in there), RAM to 4GB later and there is a 4-year in-home and all that fancy warranty stuff on it. We certainly paid a large premium (just over $4000 before taxes & shipping) but for both of us it's worth it as both our last systems were DYI and we're sick of not having a real warranty on our main workstations.

Went with the following configuration:

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz 8MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Operating System: Windows® Vista Home Premium
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard
Memory: 2GB Low Latency DDR2 Performance SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 500GB Serial ATA
DVD ROM: 18X Dual Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Burner w/ Nero Software
Graphics Processor: 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7950 GT
Power Supply: Alienware® 1000 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply

It should be noted that once the Dell option when out the window I called the AW rep for case-related questions and then decided to buy. I will also admit that I've wanted an Alienware for quite a while so that did weigh on the choice a bit. The future-proofing also played a big part. My next choice would have been a VoodooPC, BTW. But the cost was getting way up there for the config I wanted.

The unit should be here before the end of the month and I'll post a review. Thanks to all for the advice! ENworld sold me a Dell, but they weren't sellin'.

Of course they got my money anyway as they own Alienware but you get the idea...

A VERY nice looking machine John! I DO hope everything goes okay with it for you.

I have a friend (who just moved to Sacramento) who is a solid gamer and who SWEARS by Alienware. I like their machines, but to be honest I never really liked their design "look"!

May you have many years of trouble-free computing!

 

[John Crichton]

A VERY nice looking machine John! I DO hope everything goes okay with it for you.

* crosses fingers! *

I have a friend (who just moved to Sacramento) who is a solid gamer and who SWEARS by Alienware. I like their machines, but to be honest I never really liked their design "look"!

Yeah, the overwhelming response to long-time owners is huge. I'm banking on that to continue.

 

[ssampier]

Let know how everything turns out.

I remember our first modern family computer. I am young, so this is in 1995. The PC was, unfornately, a Packard Bell and cost $2200 (of course the average PC was $3k). I'm sure others can share stories of buying their first 1MB RAM or 10MB Hard Drive.

Amazing what computer you can get for the money now.

 

[Mycanid]

Only in the minds of the Microsoft/DRM paranoid conspiracy theorists.

To be fair these are not the ONLY ones who do not like it. There are others with (to my mind) quite reasonable quips about the present state of the OS ... SteelWind comes to mind as one who had some good insights into the weaknesses of the OS as it is presently.

But like ssampier pointed out, the OS will undoubtedly change a bit over time with the SP's and such.

All said and done, I personally would have still gone with the Mac and put two OS's on it. Then again - I am not the one buying the machine!

Keep us posted if you are interested to do so ... I would be curious to hear your experience with Alienware....

 

[Mycanid]

Let know how everything turns out.

I remember our first modern family computer. I am young, so this is in 1995. The PC was, unfornately, a Packard Bell and cost $2200 (of course the average PC was $3k). I'm sure others can share stories of buying their first 1MB RAM or 10MB Hard Drive.

Amazing what computer you can get for the money now.

[giggles to himself]

Our first family computer was a Commodore 64!

Sorry for the thread hijack here folks ....

 

[John Crichton]

[giggles to himself]

Our first family computer was a Commodore 64!

Sorry for the thread hijack here folks ....

Sweet.

I still have fond memories of our *free with new banking account* Apple II GS. Wow, I wrote my first short stories on that thing...

 

[satori01]

Good luck on the computer John! I have a 3 year old Alienware and my experience with Alienware customer service once you get past the initial buying stage is poor. It is not uncommon for their computers to arrive and either not function due to seating issues with the video card/ MB and for that lovely case to be damaged in transit.

Now my problems w/ Alienware were before they were purchased by Dell, but after being called some choice words by a supposed Alienware VP I would not buy from them again.

 

[John Crichton]

The good news is that the machine is scheduled to arrive Friday. Sweet. Can't wait to dig in.

Good luck on the computer John! I have a 3 year old Alienware and my experience with Alienware customer service once you get past the initial buying stage is poor. It is not uncommon for their computers to arrive and either not function due to seating issues with the video card/ MB and for that lovely case to be damaged in transit.

Uh oh. Crossing fingers again.

Now my problems w/ Alienware were before they were purchased by Dell, but after being called some choice words by a supposed Alienware VP I would not buy from them again.

Would you care to elaborate?

 

[Wystan]

Please tell more.