Received the M14x today and dissapointed.

First thing I notice is a dent on the left side upwards the screen. just below the status leds that are there. The dent is on the metal bar that lies there.

Secondly I can not connect to my wirless network. I do the same thing I do usually. (I've ordered a XPS 15" aswell, and that connects without a problem.)

So I'm not typing this from the M14x, which is a shame tbh.

I really do not have time start with problems, the first I do resort in a problem solving thing.

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I wrote this when I was annoyed with a software problem, the network.

So I would like to be fair and actually say that I like the laptop besides these two thing. The network connection more being a frustrating problem.
The soft tuch on the palmrest <3 for instance. The build quality overall. Yea besides the dent.

It's a beauty and I should not have stated that I am disapointed when I in the end is not.

 

hmm..I had no problem connecting to my network when I got mine..regarding the dent, as much as it sucks, you will have to call tech support...they will switch it out like they did with another member's

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I got mine yesterday and everything was perfect. I specifically looked for dents and imperfections and there was none anywhere.

But, I did find that my unit did not have any plastic covering over the screen or other components (like the alienware symbol, etc), which makes me wonder if its been refurbished, or just had it removed to install the extra goodies I asked for (Bluetooth and more Ram).

First thing I did was to run benchmarks and system checks to ensure I got everything I asked for installed on it. 2820 QM check, memory check, bluetooth check, kickass fast laptop.. check-a-mundo..

Call Dell and get your issues sorted out. If your problems are cosmetic, then you should be happy. I've heard of issues with HDD failures, dead pixels, and other hardware issues with other users on here.

 

I got the network sorted now and are typing from M14x and I am in a better mood.

(Sorry for the inflammatory topic.)

I will call Dell and see what they can do about the dent. I do have faith in them.

 

Did you have to reinstall the network driver to sort out your issue, or was it a wifi problem?

 

I went into the router and chenged a setting, saved that,tested and it worked. After I went back and restored the original settings in the router and saved, and it still works.

In my defence I have to say that I had tried to reboot the router earlier. But lesson taugth in the end the solution was really simple.

Assumingly just a glitch in the router.

 

hopefully not refurbished..mine was customized and I had the protective plastic everywhere...

 

Where exactly did you have the plastic? When I got my 15x (which I returned to buy the 14x), I only had the plastic on the screen.

 

Mine has no dents - i think someone else had this on the right side of the speaker grill... someone on the DELL assembly line has fat fingers.

Also mine definitely did not come with protective stuff on anything but it's also immaculate was upgraded also.

I highly doubt they had any refurbs this early.

 

The alien head on the back, the speaker grille, the black shiny strip in front where the "vents" are, the power button...don't remember there being one on the screen though

 

I don't think mine had any plastic, but I ordered mine day 2, no way it could be refurbished.

 

I had same isus with my first m14x and i exchanged day after now I am really begining to love it!

I am starting to convince my self that is indeed a great machine!

So if has a dent like mine did return it back, and get a new one, what it comes to wifi, it takes time to gain control of this beast i had no connection yesterday

It has a lot to do with the firewall settings

good luck enjoy it

Yes there are many things that have to be change > for me is the sharper corners, it those indeed heart my wristles

well i like perfection, dont we all ?

For the over all i would say an 8

Scheers
JC

 

Ah I guess they have different plastic covers for different models.

I kept the hard plastic screen cover for my laptop so I can use it on the m14x. I even wanted to keep the pouch and power source...but I'm sure they would probably charge me for that

I suggest calling them and see if they can simply send someone over with a few replacement parts to get rid of the dent. As it is on the screen, it's likely they can just put on a new one.

 

From my experience intel wifi cards are easily the best in the industry. They will always connect to anything, and they are the least fussiest cards out there. Usually if there is a problem, its either driver related, or there is a problem with the hotspot/router.

 

I did a comparison between my acer laptop and the Alienware m14x. The m14x was about 5db better in connection. It's not much, and you can lose anywhere from 5-10db from just moving around.

For me, I use my laptop in the living room, and my router is in the basement. If I cross my legs I lose between 5-10db. LOL.

If you are interested to see your signal and other wifi signals in the area, get this:

inSSIDer | MetaGeek

If you are finding that your connection isn't so good, look at the channel that your wifi is on and all the other wifi around you. If they are the same, then change yours to a channel that isn't being used (via your router configuration page).

 

Update to this, if not for anything else but an eventual form search
And still I feel that "disappointed" was a to strong word to use.

I replaced the laptop due to the small dent in the speaker grille. Dell sent me a replacement-part, but they sent the keyboard, after I said the needed part was not in that keyboard package they decided to replace the laptop as whole.

It took a month, but I felt that was not really in a hurry either, but replacing a laptop for this should give them good points. And I appreciate their goodwill.

The keyboard on this replacement looks better, the other seemed to have a very mild warp in it. The speakergrille is ofcourse in AAA condition.

But as other have asked in this thread, I had only a plastic wrap on the powerbutton, in this new one and the old one.

And regarding the network rant I had... With this laptop Windows 7 "first time setup thingy" asked me for the network I wanted to use. After resting the old one I noticed that it did not ask me and I have the same problem as I initially had. It's a bummer.

But I am very happy with how Dell handled this.