What to look for when receiving my new M14x?

I think the title is a bit kinda similar or same to other same title topic, but this is my type of question, I'm sorry if it is already exist somewhere.
I just read some topic such as Beej1986 just got his/her laptop and disappoint with it, with both software and hardware problem, well the software I already know how to deal with it, but not the hardware, now here is my questions:

What or where to look for when I receive my M14x? I mean thing like Beej1986's problem like the dents on his/her laptop, thing like that, Oh and also thing like the plastic that is cover the newly built laptop, that some suggest that they it is refurbish and not genuinely new.

Can any laptop veteran here suggest what/where to look for when receiving the laptop?

Thanks for advance, I ask this is because I cant find the topic anywhere and my M14x is arriving in few days, so I want to be ready and prepared and know what to do if something wrong.

 

first off it's illegal for a company to sell a used or like new product without informing the buyer if they in fact due than not only could they get charged for fraud on a mass scale but you wold also have the right to sue. i highly doubt a company like dell would risk taking a loss like that, and on top of it if they where caught it would be all over the news and the stock would take nose dive. i dont think you have anything to worry about

 

What I did was look for structural defects, check the seams, overall rigidity. Check the full movement of the lcd screen, hinges, etc. Look for flexing. Check mouse buttons. AND check every key. The only issue my m14x had was a perforation on some keys, like plastic at the bottom of a few keys. Made the keys stick when clicked, i just carefully removed them. After boot up, just check and make sure they included the specific hardware that you purchased. and the fx lighting zones.

 

How do I know if it a refurbish? Because I know that most new product will come with some sort of plastic covering, but some other doesnt, so I just want to know where to look for, to make sure that I spend 3K for brand new but now refurbish. Plus I dont want to sue them too because it is a double sword which is my time and money, their name as a company, time and money too. Can you be more specify?

For the FX Lighting zone, Do you think I should use Ingrater's Winamp AlienFX Plugin to test it out?

 

, i wouldn't worry, alienware basically custom tailor each product for their customers. Don't worry so much, especially if you added specific upgrades to your order. Plus dell's site lets you track your alienware's build, which is kinda neat.

 

Well, just better be safe than sorry.

Anyone has thing want to add are very welcome, because I dont want to get trouble when spending this much of money, but it always a good idea to know what to do if it do happen.

 

all this is making me rethink about getting one

 

im nervous now!! my m14x is being delievered between mon and wed.
i really hope its ok

 

Mine's coming in two weeks and fingers crossed nothing's wrong with it or else dealing with tech support in New Zealand is like shooting yourself. We don't have technicians who come to your door and repair your laptop on the spot. We get asked to send the unit away and wait for weeks while paying a huge premium over the already expensive price.

 

We dont? I thought we do, because when I place to order I also saw a "1 Year 24/7 Technical Service" and a "1 Year On-Site Tech Support", but one thing made me wonder is, because of like whenever I trying to call Dell for order status, during NZ's working hours in the morning like at 9am, which is 7am in AU.

I'd always hear the automated voice said "Our office are currently closed, please call again during the office hours" I was like ?? Dell Office open since 8am, and now is a freaking 9.10am!!! But when I try again, this time 11.30am NZ (9.30am AU) then the office is open now.

So this made me doubt if the service that Dell NZ stated is really exist or not.

 

I know for sure that my sales rep is based in Malaysia, and my friend who received a faulty M17x R3 had to send his laptop to Dell in NZ, who after a week sends it back. If it takes a week to repair one part (in his case - the WRONG screen), then I doubt they actually repair it here.....

Unless they have no stock of spare parts and have to wait for parts to be shipped to them... which equally sucks.

I've just emailed my Malaysian rep asking about this whole on-site repair business for NZ customers... also asked about how to get 3G working (or which chip to buy)

 

Cool, let me know the outcome,

 

Well he got back to me:

(1) We do have technicians in NZ apparently but they *sometimes* run out of parts so you have wait - how do you run out of parts when not many people buy alienware in NZ?!?!

(2) He said there are no sim card slots in M14x - I sent him a picture from Dell website and just gave up on him.....

 

Oh that good, for the running out of parts I think it is because of not many people buy AW that why they dont usually order many of the parts and keep it in stock. To save their $

What? On the order confirmation email it clearly stated that "1x 3G SIM Card Slot" Or did Dell didnt tell him that M14x does include one? :laugh: