Awesome! Customizable Custom Bezel for the M18x's Matte Display

Seeing as there are no threads on this sick modifaction, I figured I'd start one.
I should first start off by saying...that this mod could have a negative impact on your warranty. I do not know the method of application for this mod at this time.

Recently I was browsing through the threads and ran in to Aikimox's custom screen bezel for his M18x. What this mod does is bring out the best quality in the M18x's display buy removing the plastic screen while revealing the true matte black display we should have had in the first place. Another sweet addition to this mod is that the AlienFX logo on the bezel can be customizable to your liking.
The only pic that I could find is this one. I hope other pics/additional info find there way into this thread.
It's pretty sweet that a fellow M18x owner with the available resources can contribute this level of modification to the rest of the community.

+1 rep Aikimox!!!

 

Aikimox and his company Fortnax are true innovators! Props to him and his team for getting us such great things lately.

 

Thanks for making the thread for it, Skygunner!
I should have some news and more pics ready in a few days, stay tuned!

 

I'm glad he operates in the same city that I live in.

I can hopefully save on shipping for ALL the STUFF I'm gonna buy from him.

 

No problem. It's an honor to start a thread on this amazing mod.

I live in Anchorage, AK...right next door...lol. I can't wait to get more info on the Quad heatsink/pipe

 

Yeah,
this guy,Aikimox,is a prophet.
He really helped,whether I PMed him or posted in the forum.
+1 rep (again)

P.S.Mods,please make it sticky!

 

Yeah is a cool customization, still thinking..jaja

 

Any chance of a custom one for the m11x?

 

ZOMG.... ty ty ty, ive been trying to find this mod so i can change the alienware to warez... lol

 

Guess I should also post this here as this is a part of the logo project:



One question for you guys, would you rather have a custom title in alien language or English/you region?

 

I'd choose english.

 

English would be much easier to implement, BTW

 

Here's another preview

The quality is not final yet, this is just a brief sketch:

 

If I had to choose, I would choose English, but the Alienware font looks sick. It would be nice to have the option of either.

 

Edit: Let me rephrase. Is it possible to install the thing at home? You said in another thread, Aikimox, it is quite difficult.

 

It's not easy but doable. You just need to be patient and careful. I will post a guide at some point. Estimated price is about 50-60$ with no custom logo and +20$ for the logo. + shipping. I can ship worldwide and PP is fine

 

That looks sick!!!

 

50 bucks will work for me, Aikimox. Please count me in. I'd want regular 'Alienware' sign. Any ETA? There's no rush.

 

This looks like it can be done on the R2 as well, right?

 

make the lettering more thick, to match the existing font, count me in for re-paste, custom bezel (WAREZ420), and 4 pipe mod if it ever gets finished ... im local, and available to drop off any-time.

 

Yes, 100%

Sure, the font is not a problem, just a proof of concept. I will have one system ready next week with the bezel, carbon fiber and logo installed, stay tuned...

 

Sweet! So do we send the laptop into you? or how does it work?

 

2 options:

1) send the lid assembly to me - I will remove the E2E and install the new bezel and ship it back.

2) remove the E2E yourself. I'll send you the custom bezel and you will install it yourself.

The first option will cost more, of course.

 

id removing the glossy plastic makes the matt screen below it more vaunrable ? cleaning the screen without the glossy protective layer cant damage it ?
im realy thinking of removing the plastic glossy and going for the matt look . just want to make sure there is no risk for the screen if i do end up removing the glossy...

 

I think (don't know) that the screen under the shiny plexiglass cover is an ordinary matte screen that would be no more vulnerable than normal. Maybe Brother Aikimox can confirm that for us.

 

Make sure you contact Aikimox before you dismantle your screen.

 

Nah, not vulnerable at all, a regular semiglossy finish with anti-glare treatment. means, you can still see minor reflections on very dark background but nothing close to the mirror effect of the stock plexi-glass cover.

 

raises the ovious question as to why aliewanre did that then ? all their clients want matt screen and yet they decide on covering it with glossy plastic ? why ? lol

im going to look into ur guide as to how to dissmantle the glossy screen and go for it. anything that is not stated in the guide which I should be aware of ?

 

That is an assumption and it is not accurate. I prefer the glossy edge-to-edge display with no bezel. I have seen others post a preference the same as mine. I would be upset about having a bezel with a matte finish screen. Neither is right nor wrong, just a matter of preference.

 

I can respect and see the logic behind what you are saying, however , the whole point of having a laptop, is to also go with it outsiide since its mobile. but when u go outside and the sun shines sky high , I cant see anything on the screen ( not to mantion having my window open in my room and reflection hits hard ) or when I see a movie, Im tired of seeing myself in the screen at dark momments etc...

I guess it is truely a matter of preference.

 

the majority prefers glossy and it's not cost-effective for Dell to offer options here. E2E design is a great choice for those who don't care about reflections. No dust, scratch resistant, everyone is happy.... But not me..

 

I'm not ready to try, as I'm mechanically challenged , but does this work on the R3 the same as the m18x?

 

Should be the same.

 

Totally agree!

 

Same in design? The display on the R3 is slightly smaller, isn't it? Just curious, as I did not think your custom bezel would fit the R3. I've been wrong before, though.

 

wouldn't fit but the tech is the same and methods used for ripping the E2E apart should be similar.

 

Do you have any source of reliable research about this? So far what I have found in the web (not a research indeed but just polls), shows a different preference...

 

I guess he is based on how many people actually removed the glass from their machines but if this option was offered by Dell I bet it will be a 50% of people going with matte

 

Personally, I totally agree with you. According to certain "public opinion polls", the percentage of those prefering matte (imediatedly of after a first experience) could be much more higher...

edit: For the curious, some sample site with polls results...
http://www..com/matte-vs-glossy-screens (scroll to the Poll: "Matte screen or glossy?") http://www.tested.com/news/news/articles/238-glossy-vs-matte-lcds-the-great-display-debate/
http://chris.pirillo.com/glossy-vs-matte-lcd-monitors/
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2011/05/23/glossy-vs-matte-screens-why-the-pc-industrys-out-of-touch/

 

You base your opinion of those who speak, those who care.
I base mine on those who came to me in the past 1-2 years asking to build them a power laptop. 90%+ don't really care glossy or not.

Also, just for a reference, our local Apple stores have very few MBPs with matte screens. The ratio is about 80/20 in favor of glossy. When I asked if they could sell me one with 15" matte, they sent me to applestore.ca to build the system online, 'cause they have no demand on matte panels and don't stock them most of the time.

 

That's the reason why I asked before if you have some reliable research. I we are relying in personal experiences, I usually ask my students wherever I go (32 countries until now), specially those that have purchased already the glossy ones... Usually i get the answer, "it's terrible", "very dificult to do work in those". Then, why you buy it. "I didn't know it will be so..." Those are the usual answers I get. Among my scholar colleagues, that need to lecture with those, they swear they will never buy again something like this... ( usually, we need light on the classrooms, since we need to see our students eyes, so the lights reflects in such manner that it's very dificult to see nothing on the panel).
I'm not trying to "argue" about... just to point out that until now we do not have any reliable research. Just those polls, and in those polls we see both 'sides' (a lot of them, not just a "few"), stating their preferences and perspectives. So, we can take those in consideration or not; it's just a non-academic source, but it's is a source of information nevertheless.

 

And a lot more people remain silent and indifferent. Even those saying "it's terrible" will most likely buy it again if the price is lower compared to the matte version.

Yes, non-academic source for sure, any research would be biased and limited by the criteria set up front. If we are to go global we would need something bigger than personal experiences or suspicious forum polls. Like I said, my personal experience comes from the source, people come (came) to me to buy new toys and I always made sure they got the info regarding the matte vs glossy pros and cons. And yet, as soon as there's a word about extra 50-100$, almost everyone says "I'll manage the glossy, thanks".

And believe me, Dell and other big vendors do their research well. I won't be surprised if they bring back the E2E Precisions this time around. Do I like the trend? Oh, no, I hate it more than anything else in this field. The question is what can we do really? We made a thread and added our votes and let Dell know what's best in our opinion. And yet, they didn't even bother to offer a matte option on at least one of their AW models... IMHO, that only says one thing - we are in a tiny and unimportant minority

 

Well, my dear Aiki, I think that we can agree that we disagree... (on this matter)

 

We agree on one crucial point: we both would pay extra to get the best laptop screen

 

OH NO! Since Apple owners prefer glossy, I'm going to have to change my preference to matte now. Got to distance myself as far from them as possible. Gives me shivers. BBBLLLECHH.

Does your wife know you visited the Apple store? Mine would be devastated to know I had been unfaithful.

On a serious note, I like glossy because it's easier to keep looking nice. All of my work laptops have matte finish screens, and they have had for years. They're far better for use outdoors because there is little or no glare, and they look fine with bright colors. When turned off or with a dark colored background, they look pretty terrible. They get shiny spots from normal wear, scuff marks show up, fingerprints and dust are more noticeable, etc.

 

She gave me a glance and now I know the reason behind it, lol. Nah, after touching a MBP 13" I'm not gonna bother. Not Mac...not for me. I'd rather go back to Elitebooks, Precisions and ThinkPads. AW is still a pretty solid choice for me. But I crave for RGBLED Matte IPS or at least TN panel.

 

That's for sure my friend!

BTW: Sometimes I think that the producers of today laptops are "prisoners" of a designers conception, trying to sell an externality rather than a feature or a functionality. Like fashion designers all follows, more or less, the path of the conception of the impact of a "form" or of an "impression" (tecnological impressionism?)... (a skirt that can be shorter or longer...), until someone wakes up to a new 'vision' that actually ... brought back to life, some "old" conceptions that renews, with some new aspect or color, which maybe was functional in the past... and then the skirts get longer again... whether they are made of silk or denim...

In my years (more than my age ), I had worked as a consultant with the most highest 'authorities' and the senior decision makers from large, very succeful international companies, with powerful international corporations and mighty governments (in their relative time); and I have seen that too many times major decisions are taken, every day, without any kind of pre-market or impact research...

 

Hi

Sorry to intrude in your thread, but maybe you can help me out. My Clevo P180HM also has a plexyglass in front of the screen. I called my local Clevo dealer today and asked him if he could get me a front bezel so that I could experiment on it. He said - no problem - however, there is a gap between the bezel and the screen itself that would soon start to be filled with dirt.

Is that the case of the M18x too? Is there a way around this?

Aikimox, you sell/sold Sager's equivalent of the P180HM, haven't you? What is your opinion?

Thanks

 

Yes, there's a small gap but it's bearable. My beast has been stripped for almost a year and the dust never really got into the gap.

 

Hum... Did you ever consider applying a rubber seal strip in that gap or is it not possible?