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Dell Alienware Laptop
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Dec 8, 2016 19:38:53   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
Does anyone have experience with this laptop. It is a gaming laptop, 17", with 16 ram. I am thinking about buying, but would like your opinions first. Thanks in advance.

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Dec 8, 2016 19:51:07   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
Dell is a quality computer product. I suggest you read the reviews. It's the reason why my next laptop will be a Dell. If you are a Costco member, you can order it online at a cheaper price. Good luck. Jerry has knowledge of Dell Computers.

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Dec 8, 2016 21:11:10   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
I assume you're talking about a new system and not used? Dell has an excellent reputation, and the current Alienware line is top notch. One thing, 17" laptops are BIG and heavy. I have a Dell Precision Workstation 17 that I used for customer presentations a few years ago, and hated lugging the thing around.

So, several questions, suggestions:
1) Upgrade to 32 Gb of Ram for the additional $300. Really improves system response when using Lightroom and/or Photoshop.
2) Go for Windows 10 Professional instead of Windows 10 Home. Worth the $50
3) Is your primary use photography or hard core gaming? Are you using an external monitor? If so, consider the Dell XPS 15. The ALienware is about $1800 with the additional RAM and OS, the XPS will save you possibly $500.

Also, Dell has an excellent credit program, which allows you to purchase and pay off within 18 months without any monthly interest charges. Check that out.

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Dec 8, 2016 21:57:14   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
I assume you're talking about a new system and not used? Dell has an excellent reputation, and the current Alienware line is top notch. One thing, 17" laptops are BIG and heavy. I have a Dell Precision Workstation 17 that I used for customer presentations a few years ago, and hated lugging the thing around.

So, several questions, suggestions:
1) Upgrade to 32 Gb of Ram for the additional $300. Really improves system response when using Lightroom and/or Photoshop.
2) Go for Windows 10 Professional instead of Windows 10 Home. Worth the $50
3) Is your primary use photography or hard core gaming? Are you using an external monitor? If so, consider the Dell XPS 15. The ALienware is about $1800 with the additional RAM and OS, the XPS will save you possibly $500.

Also, Dell has an excellent credit program, which allows you to purchase and pay off within 18 months without any monthly interest charges. Check that out.
I assume you're talking about a new system and not... (show quote)


thanks for the suggestions. use is primarily photography, too old for gaming, lol. looking at the 17", as I will not have access to an external monitor when traveling. will just need to lug it up to the hotel room, so the extra 5 lbs should not be that much of a problem.

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Dec 9, 2016 05:22:58   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
orrie smith wrote:
Does anyone have experience with this laptop. It is a gaming laptop, 17", with 16 ram. I am thinking about buying, but would like your opinions first. Thanks in advance.


I've got a student that has the lower end model with the 1920x1080 screen. It's pretty fast and the screen looks great. I would suggest getting the 512GB (or even the 1 TB) SSD boot drive, 32 gb ram and Windows 10 Pro. The standard res screen is more than adequate for Photo editing (I use a pair of 1920x1200 screens on my desktop, and I like being able to read the small text in native mode), and you will never use 8 gb of VRAM so you don't need the $2000 or the $2200 versions. In fact, you probably don't need more than 2 -4 gb vram, but that does not seem to be an option.

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Dec 9, 2016 06:35:11   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
I went with the Dell XPS 15 model last month. Great platform for (mobile) photography work.

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Dec 9, 2016 07:45:19   #
mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
....
So, several questions, suggestions:
1) Upgrade to 32 Gb of Ram for the additional $300. Really improves system response when using Lightroom and/or Photoshop.
2) Go for Windows 10 Professional instead of Windows 10 Home. Worth the $50
.....
excuse me jumping in, but I'm upgrading my laptop (a Dell 15" still running Vista) sometime after NYE. Curious about Windows 10 Pro vs Home. What advantages does one get for the extra $50?

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Dec 9, 2016 09:19:46   #
brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky
 
mikeroetex wrote:
excuse me jumping in, but I'm upgrading my laptop (a Dell 15" still running Vista) sometime after NYE. Curious about Windows 10 Pro vs Home. What advantages does one get for the extra $50?


http://www.zdnet.com/article/which-windows-10-editions-get-which-features/

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Dec 9, 2016 09:23:26   #
brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky
 
orrie smith wrote:
Does anyone have experience with this laptop. It is a gaming laptop, 17", with 16 ram. I am thinking about buying, but would like your opinions first. Thanks in advance.


Alienware has historically been the standard for the gamers. The systems are configured for graphics intensive activity. Dell tried to compete with them years ago, and couldn't. So, they bought the company. However, Alienware continues to be a separate design specification than typical Dell units.

I seriously doubt you will be disappointed. I'd love to have anything Alienware.

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Dec 9, 2016 09:23:55   #
astrosteve Loc: Kansas
 
I had an alienware 17" laptop....... The worst computer experience ever! The screen failed after two days, Dell replaced it with a refurbished unit. The screen failed in that one after a week. Dell refused to give me another and only refunded my money after a 3 month series of emails and calls, and then less a $200 restocking fee.

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Dec 9, 2016 09:35:54   #
bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY
 
For my uses I don't see any advantages to "Pro"

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Dec 9, 2016 09:46:44   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
bobmcculloch wrote:
For my uses I don't see any advantages to "Pro"
You can mount but cannot create BitLocker drives without the pro version. For security, this is important. There's also some report desktop capabilities now only in W10Pro that previously existed in all Windows versions. If these mean nothing to you, you'll likely not need to spend the extra money.

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Dec 9, 2016 10:55:24   #
sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL
 
I had an Alienware for 4 years. Never failed once. Great machine.

If you do gaming, load up on memory and best graphics card.

If you do graphics, the gaming setup will work fantastic.

Sarge69

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Dec 9, 2016 11:17:37   #
dmagett Loc: Albuquerque NM/Sedona AZ
 
I agree that Dell is good. I wish that Dell would (as Lenovo does) have downgrade rights to install Win 7 Pro.In my opinion Win 10 has way too much "stuff" that comes with it that you can't easily remove and don't need.They also took away items that I use "Media Center" for example I went back to Win 7 Pro and it runs faster that 10...very happy.
mas24 wrote:
Dell is a quality computer product. I suggest you read the reviews. It's the reason why my next laptop will be a Dell. If you are a Costco member, you can order it online at a cheaper price. Good luck. Jerry has knowledge of Dell Computers.

Reply
Dec 9, 2016 12:10:14   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
dmagett wrote:
I agree that Dell is good. I wish that Dell would (as Lenovo does) have downgrade rights to install Win 7 Pro.In my opinion Win 10 has way too much "stuff" that comes with it that you can't easily remove and don't need.They also took away items that I use "Media Center" for example I went back to Win 7 Pro and it runs faster that 10...very happy.


I have 2 laptops, one an older HP/Compaq Presario I bought in 2009 loaded with Windows Vista, then upgraded to Windows 7 Home. It's a backup working dinosaur. My other laptop is a newer Lenovo model that was upgraded to Windows 10 Home. I've never had the Pro Version ever. Am I missing something?

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