Alienware 15 build quality

Hey guys,
Alienware customer here with an m18x R2, just wondering how the build quality is for the alienware 15 as a potential buy. I heard its mostly plastic which is a major turn off for me (major). I was hoping to confirm wether the outer shells are at least aluminium (the silvery looking things) before i buy it. if that is a yes then I will defintely move on with the purchase. Also is glossy display an option by any chance ?

Thanks in advance!

 

http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/alienware-15-review/

Check the design section

 

The screenlid is aluminum, even though some reviewers state otherwise (which is weird, they should research more carefully). A friend of my disassembled the screen to upgrade to a 4K screen and I saw the screenlid in person also from the inside. It is definitely aluminum. Also the screen hinges and motherboard are both mounted on an metal frame inside of the laptop. The rest is some sort of composite carbon/plastic material.

You can see the frame in the picture below, The frame is on top of the fangrils at the back.

 

Thank you so much, but there is no way I can get a glossy screen

 

right ?

 

there is no glossy screen option, the previous option only had a glossy option because they were also touch screens

 

Looks like some reviewers have conflicting info on the materials. Notebookcheck says it looks like aluminum but is not, while others say the screen lid is aluminum but the chassis is a carbon fiber composite. I'd take Rinneh's word for it since he actually saw a disassembled one in person.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-15-Notebook-Review.136667.0.html

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/alienware-15-2015

http://www.trustedreviews.com/alienware-15-review

 

I have AW17r3. I removed all the components, leaving only the chassis... and I must say I was impressed. The bottom, even with nothing in it, was not flexing... and I did try to flex it. It is really sculpted from solid material.

 

I really dont get why they mistook the lid for plastic because also from the outside it is cold to the touch but you can see at the corners on the inside it is metal as well and the texture is very different from the silver plastic parts on the bottom of the laptop which has the same color but is not cold to the touch and with a more fine texture.

 

In any event, the Alienware 15 is no doubt built with quality materials.

 

I can assure you it is a metal shell on the lid, I also have an AW 13 which is not and they look quite alike but the AW 15 lid is cool to the touch exactly like my old M17x-R2 which is also anodized aluminum. As for build quality both the AW 13 and 15 are second only to the old M17xM15x's, but barely off, they are impressive chassis and lend a premium feel.

 

I will happily trade you a Alienware 17 R2 maxed out if you M18x R2 is of similar spec. It is also the rarer model with the touch glossy display.

 

Compared to a Macbook, this thing is a plastic mess. Overall it's not bad though, holds up only with minor creaking on mine and I've noticed it's gotten worse over time. I do cary my laptop around often so it's subject to a little more physical abuse than normal, but I really wish the grey plastic on the underside would be metal.

I've seen better and worse builds. Though for the price I got mine I really don't care that much.

 

a macbook only feels a bit more durable but it actually isn't, it has a lot of flaws in its design.

I had a macbook pro for years and sold it off. If you bump it, it will dent/bend and not return to its original state due to the fairly soft aluminum used, the plastic covers on top of the hinges is prone to cracking due to constant heating up and cooling down, the battery will die quickly under load due to the heat build up inside of the chassis and thus degrade the battery cells (only under heavy load though). It does feel durable though until like many people around me bump it against something, then you do not want it anymore because a screen corner is sticking out for example.

I carry mine around too everyday and I have zero wear and tear. My only gripe is the plastic bezel around the screen. I wish it would be glass covered like the old alienwares.