Comments

# Eric Wise said on April 23, 2007 04:45 PM:

All of our new laptop machines are alienware (though not the SLI) and we haven't experienced any issues like you described.  Granted the exception that you're on a higher model, I'd say you might have a bum hardware install.

# mcgurk said on April 23, 2007 05:45 PM:

Return the system, give me the money and I'll build a better one for you.  

Seriously, I'd give them one chance to fix everything and then return the system.  Build your own system; there are some decent posts at www.google.com/search that I'd start with.

If you don't want to spend the time, grab an XPS from Dell.  I got the 1210 laptop and had 0 problems with a vista install.  The only problem with Dell systems is that, although their prices seem good, you aren't getting quite as much as your money seems to buy.  They use their own versions of some of the components, like the nvidia cards and the motherboards.  If you just want to turn the key and drive, its a good deal.  If you want to put on some blowers down the road, you'll find the engine mounts aren't quite what you expected, so to speak.

# http:// said on April 23, 2007 06:18 PM:

Alienware is now owned by Dell. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know.

# Karthik said on April 23, 2007 08:04 PM:

I went with Jeff Atwood's recommendation and got an Asus Laptop.  Couldn't be happier and have had very few issues.  I'd return the Alienware and get an Asus W or V series laptop.

# Scott Densmore said on April 23, 2007 08:24 PM:

Get yourself a MacBook Pro and Bootcamp.  Apple is a hardware company after all and Vista gets a rating at 4.7 on my machine.  4.7 is the memory bus speed and all the other ratings are 5 or greater.

# jdn said on April 23, 2007 09:19 PM:

If you get a Mac, get Parallels and run in coherence mode.  You can run Vista from within OSX.

# Sam Gentile said on April 23, 2007 09:27 PM:

Please don't tell me stuff like that Scott and jdn. I just spent $3000 on this machine. I'm not about to go drop another 3 grand on on a MacPro. If you have suggestions on THIS machine then help me, otherwise skip it

# jdn said on April 23, 2007 11:59 PM:

I was kidding.

Seriously though, if you ever buy a Mac, get Parallels and run in coherence mode.

I spec'd out the top of the line model at their online store: 8 cores, 16 GB, 3TB Disk Space, 2 30" monitors....but unfortunately I don't have the $17,800 it would cost to get it shipped.

So I bought a 22" widescreen monitor and 4GB Ram upgrade for my notebook for $1000, and saved myself $16k.

Glad to hear things are looking better on the Alienware.

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