For All UK OWNERS Thread

Just thought id start a thread for people who have bought the Alienware M11 in the UK. If you could say your spec plus how much it cost you, also and any deals you got plus and extra's you may have bought like bags,cd/dvd, etc.
Not got my system yet but im itching to get my hands on one.

 

If there is anyway that you can. Buy it in the US (on holiday etc) I saved over £600 quid on my R2 i7 that way

 

I know i noticed the price over the pond we do get a ra w deal over here i feel, Thats why im looking for the best deal possible. Id love to go over there and pick one up. But it is not possible not for a couple of years any how and i dont want to wait a couple of weeks.

 

yeah it really annoys me.
mine cost £880, spec in sig.

I have just added a 160gb intel x25-m ssd, logitech mx mobile wireless mouse and a 3g dongle so I can play at work

 

Looks like the sort of spec im looking for i dont want to pay more than a grand if i can help it, Where did you get your extras from ill be looking for a decent mouse for gaming/general use. Have you bothered getting a bay for it?

 

you wont need to spend more than a grand. the spec in my sig is still £980 at dell, then you can get 10% off with quidco

I bought my ssd from ebay for £260 new and the mouse from amazon (cheapest place I could find for the mouse!)

What do you mean by bay? external Hard drive?

 

bay i meant bag mate sorry

 

M11X R1 with SU7300 with a 320GB 7,000RPM HDD, 2GB RAM, BT and the Alienware mouse all for £709.

Since fitted an 80GB Intel X25-M R2 SSD for £160 and updated RAM to 4GB for £50 (2nd hand RAM).

 

ahhh lol. I have a few bags from previous laptops but I really want to get a nice neoprene sleeve for it

 

Yeah i like the look of those too

 

bought mine in may


Intel Core2Duo SU7300
500gb 7200rpm hdd
4gb ram
bluetooth


For the grand total of £816 including shipping


I bought them when dell had their ESL Spec laptops for slightly cheaper, and i used the education discount to knock a little bit more off the price

 

Finding a good neoprene sleeve is a right pain, at least in the UK. The m11xs squarish form factor means a lot of 11-12" sleeves aren't deep enough.

After much searching this was the best option: Tucano Elements Second Skin Macbook Air. Note this is the Macbook Air one, not the Macbook one: Tucano Elements Second Skin Macbook Air 13.3" - Black: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Fits the m11x quite snugly. Goes quite nicely with my Muji canvas PC bag ( http://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?V=1&Sec=5&Sub=20&PID=3404)

Hope that's useful

J

 

I bought mine a couple weeks before they put up the price of SSD. I paid £1160 for it, spec in the sig.

 

Yes very helpfull looks good

 

Mines on order on due on or before 14th July and the specs are below £750.00.

m11x - Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 - Nivida335m with 1gb ddr3memory - 2gb ram - 500gb hard drive

 

SU7300 / 2GB RAM / 320GB 7200rpm HD / AW TactX Mouse - £709

Still pleased with my purchase

 

Placed my order just last week and expected delivery is on or before the 12th.
Specs;
i7
4GB
500GB
BT
The rest as standard.

Not bought any accessories just yet as the initial m11x cost was high enough for me, will add over time. Still reading through best cases for it and hopefully no issues with the screen as really do not like using protectors.

Cost £881.10 inc VAT. Would have to dig through my history but located a Dell deal on one of the discount sites which had the above system for £900ish and then used a Dell 10% discount code from their emails.

Really happy with the price but made the error of reading about issues after placing my order. Can't wait to get my hands on it and have my own experience. Never bought an Alienware before despite years of umming and ahhing and I am rather excited.

 

Looks like the sort of spec im looking for and that price look ok for me

 

im so undecided with all the problems that people are having with their R2s im leaning towards getting a R1

 

I think it mentions it a few times on here that you will see a lot of negative vs positive feedback due to the very nature of the forum. I would imagine there are a lot of R2 users who are very happy. I will of course post my experience when I receive mine. I have to say the ordering process was horrific for me with several issues but now it is in production I'm just looking forward to using it.

 

Bought mine april time and paid just under 800, spec is below and they chucked in the alienware mouse as well.

 

Is it better to speak to a dell rep then to get a better deal

 

I ordered mine through a dell rep and he expidited it so I should get it a little sooner.

The days are dragging waiting though.

Should be on or before the 14 july fingers crossed

 

Well im waiting on a dell rep to email me back

 

I guess I've ordered the same options/links as Richo83; i7, 4GB, 500GB, Bluetooth no accessories, free deliver; £880.10.

Was the configuration link in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/492845-m11x-r2-i7-deal-dell-uk-website.html
Oddly enough it's a thread started by: ninja2000, who's replied in this thread, so if you don't mind 'ninja2000', I noticed in your signature you're returning it. Could I ask you why, please?

And the 10% discount code on Dell's own site:
Dell Discount coupons and voucher codes | Dell UK


The 10% discount picks up the total price pre-discount, thus it still valid despite normally only working on basket values +£999.

I spoke to a rep about a week before I ordered and the price on his system was more expensive than what I could configure with discounts; it was less than a week after the i5/i7 CPU options had been added to Dell's site, so it could be his systems hadn't been updated with the option prices.

Order placed 23/06, ETA 22/07. It's a long way off and I'm pretty sure I've seen other orders placed before and after mine, which are due to arrive earlier than mine, but there you go. I could phone up and try to expedite it but I'm heading on holiday for 6 weeks well before then anyway so by the time I'm back it should (fate aside) be here. Perfect to play off the post-holiday blues.

As original poster requested. Other accessories ordered (not off Dell):
Samsung SE-S084C/TSBS external DVD RW from Ebuyer £32, external SATA caddie (as I'll be upgrading to 500Gb hybrid SSD Seagate Momentus XT when they become available) and a bunch of blank DL DVDs for free delivery over £50.

And Slappa M.X. HardBody Netbook Case from Gearzap. It's not bad looking, large enough to carry m11x, PSU and externals and it's a hard case.

I'll probably stick with the small black Saitek m100x wireless mouse I use with my Libretto.

All in all, still under £950 for everything which personally I think is a bargain considering how much I'm used to having to spending for power house laptops which don't require a camel to carry them around.
I haven't read anything about hardware issues as yet; there are references to more noise and heat, but then the i7 uses a lot more relative power and runs at higher temperatures than the previous CPUs so as long as it's working within parameters, I don't mind. I'll be using headphones most of the time anyway.
As for the driver conflicts (some owners have had problems with fallout 3 for example), Optimus is an early technology and these fixes will come with updates. I'm a patient enough person so I won't be throwing my lappie at a wall anytime soon and besides, there is an extensive enough catalogue of games to play already.

 

For those of you who are wondering if you should take the plunge, I guess it's more a question of why you want it. If the m11x was the gaming notebook of choice, there would not be that many critics for it. And the reason there are critics is because there are compromises. If you simply like Alienware, then fair enough.
At this price point, there are a lot of better options for hardware and especially screen! I'm not too enthralled by the contrast and brightness on my friend's m11x R1 compared to even my 5 year old Acer 1714Smi. The M11x's build quality is one of the best but I have to say the keyboard is something else! Solid, back lit, responsive and ample considering.
For form factor and foot print though, there's not really anything out there which matches it. So if you're tempted by it, you're main motivation should be for that (in my opinion anyway; not because of the label or because every time you open it, you want to look like you were sent back in time to play games in 2010).

Personally, I have a powerful enough desktop at home and a Libretto for work, surfing and server access but want something in between that I can play decent games on at friends' and carry to my girlfriend's (which I walk about 6 miles to). I did that for a while with my 8kg (18lbs) Acer 1714smi; I permanently had bruises on my shoulders making me look like I'd been to an S&M session before heading out.
Went for the i7 CPU because there are a couple of CPU intensive games I like, the main being Supreme Commander Forged Alliance, and on 6+ multiplayers, my friend's m11x R1 tops out slowing EVERYONE else down. I'd like a little more headroom which I'm hoping the i7 should fix.
I've also read users getting double the frame rate for GTA IV, BUT only when they've disabled turbo-boost:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-iv-benchies-stranger-than-you-may-think.html
Which if true, would simply be a bonus for me. Everything else I play has been reported as running fine.

If you're looking for an excellent quality portable secondary system and you're at an age where you can get away without looking like you're having a midlife crisis, this is pretty close to it.
This would also be pretty high on my list if I was just peaking in puberty, was heading to university and wanted a good portable all in one system to hog around.
Bear in mind the build quality and lightness of the m11x if you're a student you'll probably be poor for the next 5 years so if you're able to fend of would be attackers, no doubt, attracted to your laptop, like flies to a jockstrap or simply run... something you'll often need to do while cautiously making your way back home through the back alleys to the cockroach infested, leaky, crudhole you'd call home, this will be a big benefit. Also handy, when considering you may need to leave it on the concrete floor while doing unspeakable things just for one bite out of a man's KFC bargain bucket. The horror!

I've owned about 15 laptops... or notebooks (as most over the pond refer to it; still can't get the idea that notebooks are made of paper out of my head) in the last decade and I've had a fair bit of experience with my mate's m11x to know there isn't nor has been a lot out there for power Vs. size. I guess if the m11x were a car, it would be very much like the Ariel Atom. Small, unusually powerful but there are more practical options for the price and you'd feel funny being seen out in public with one.
My m11x will only be seen by geeky enough friends and a girlfriend who already understands my special needs, so this fits my bill perfectly.

 

Good summary Sabre. Looks bang on same deal as mine and ordered on the same date! Though my eta is 12th July, a tad unfair (if it turns up!).
Pretty much summed up why I'm buying one. I travel a lot and wanted an easy portable device to manage video, games and work for me. Only thing is if I whip this out in a meeting I will look a total dork but I am fine with that compromise
And luckily my Gf has spent enough years with me to understand / accept my gaming and gadget addiction.

 

I got mine on friday and i been using it all over the weekend and im really impressed with it. I use to use a m1730 which was great but so big and heavy. This little unit is the bees knees and im glad i got it.

cheers for helping me make up my mind guys

 

Which spec did you get Watts? Great to hear you are loving it

 

I found it so, I checked on the spec I wanted then gave them a call.

 

anyone had to return anything?

The fan on my M11x R2 started making a really bad noise (sounds like bearings). Dell said they'd send someone out to fix it which I was quite happy with as the rest of the laptop is perfect but they don't have the fan in stock so want a replacement or a return (then I'll order a replacement).

Neil.

 

Presume they don't have to honour any previous discounts if a return and re-order? If that were the case I'd be going for a replacement even if it did eat into the warranty period.

 

i didn't get any discounts but going to order now with discounts...

they've agreed to take it back.

 

sabre - thanks just used your link to get a i7 for 20quid more than i paid for the i5!.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/492845-m11x-r2-i7-deal-dell-uk-website.html

Neil.

 

It's best to use the phone they don't always answer emails.

 

bit the bullet and order well tried too got all way to the end and it said techical error please try again later

 

Richo83> 12/07, 10 days earlier ETA than my order.
I'd love to know how order priority is done, possibly via the National Lottery machine by the sounds of it.
But you're right... for the right person, this laptop is a perfect inbetween PC.
You've got less than a week to go, good luck with it!

justmeinit> You can try to wait for the website error to get fixed. Errors I've had on Dell's site have lasted days sometimes though!
I spoke to reps via the 'contact' page on Dell's website. There's an option to speak to someone and you can arrange for a call to you through there:
Welcome to Dell Sales Chat | Dell UK
Last option, click to chat.
Alternatively the freephone number for the tech department is 08002799751 - you can ask to be put through to sales as opposed to calling the national rate number.
Given that the links are both still valid, I see no reason for Dell not to match their own site price if you call them.

Neil McRae> you're welcome for the links.
Fan noise? Doesn't bode well!
The R2, I believe, uses a different, larger heatsink than the R1 M11x so hopefully your problem is an isolated issue rather than a possible production fault.
If you wouldn't mind, I'd be curious to know what ETA you've been given for your new order. If it's before or very close to my 22/07, it may well be time for me to contact Dell and find out why I'm getting special treatment?
A couple of weeks extra on production time? I friggin hope it's being forged out of Diamondium! Friggin mothers...

As someone else stated, I don't believe e-mail's the best method of contact. You're more likely to get the response you want while speaking to them directly. It's a much faster way of you to be provided with the wrong answer so you can go 'umm... actually you might want to check that again!'.
When my friend placed his R1 order, his 3 e-mails concerning timescales were dealt with, with the same template response stating;
"Your Dell order is in production - we will contact you as soon as it is available. Please be patient"... which isn't the best method to alleviating someone's impatience. It's like telling a kid not to 'touch that'! A sure fire way to getting an object roughly fondled. Reverse psychology!?!

I've been put through to a call centre in Mumbai a couple of times, but I've normally found the departments I've spoken to fairly helpful. Dell's tech department are very good, and the guy I spoke to there, the first time, was even helpful enough to offer me a downgrade option for the HDD to 160Gb to save some money, as I'd be upgrading the HDD anyway.
Negotiations are best done over the phone, directly with staff and there are often options not available through the site via that route. I'm not sure there is as much incentive via e-mail (except complaints because of the audit trail) especially as most e-mails in large companies end up in a group inbox along with every other query and then 'triage' tiered depending on the type of response required. Unless the query's very simple, you'll tend to find only one aspect of your query will be dealt with. That's my experience anyway plus a healthy dose of cynicism!
Why check your e-mails every hour for 3 days for half an answer when you can call and find out everything in about 10 mins?
If you call up trying to get an offer then the least you can expect is exactly the same deal you could get through Dell's website anyway and at best, you'll get a discount on something that if you're willing to call up about in the first place... you will probably be ordering anyway.

 

Well it is still in production so I am not overly confident it will arrive on Monday I would love to be pleasantly surprised though!

 

it'll bounce back two weeks but you'll get it in one week -same thing happened to me.

 

Hi mate,
New ETR is 23/7/2010.
The fan is not a design fault its just an early life failure. Its the bearing in the fan thats making the noise.

Neil.

 

old laptop gone....

 

Finally bit the bullet this is what i ordered
Base
Alienware M11x Soft Touch – Stealth Black
Memory
4096MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2x2048]
Keyboard
Internal UK/Irish Qwerty Keyboard
Video Card
1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M
Hard Drive
500GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
Microsoft Operating System
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Wireless Networking
Dell Wireless 1520 Half Mini Card (802.11n)
Cables
UK 250V Power Cord
Shipping Documents
English Documentation
Gedis Bundle Reference
N07W1X04
Standard Warranty
1 year Next Business Day Hardware Support included with your PC
Services and Support
1 year of coverage included with your PC
Bluetooth
Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module - European
Order Information
Alienware M11x Order - UK
Primary Battery
8-cell 63Whr Lithium Ion battery
Processor
Intel® Core™ i7 640UM (4M Cache, 1.20 GHz)
Gaming Essentials
Steam® Gaming forum and download application
Color Choice
Alienware M11x Soft Touch – Stealth Black
Avatar
Alienware Logo
AutoMatic Updates
AutoMatic updates - On
Wallpapers
Alienware Glow Wallpaper
AlienFx Colour
Plasma Purple
Accidental Damage Support
No Accidental Damage Support
LCD
11.6-inch WideHD 1366x768 (720p) LCD
Hidden NamePlate Engraving
Generic Name Plate Engraving
Protect your new PC
No Antivirus Software
Power Supply
90W AC Adaptor
Total excl. VAT VAT Rate VAT Total incl. VAT
Sub-total(s): £ 749.87 17.50% £ 131.23 £ 881.10
Total Price: £ 749.87 £ 131.23 £ 881.10

 

As of today the ETD is now the 27th July - pretty irritated by this as over 15 day delay and now over 4 weeks from order to estimated delivery. Contacting Dell today about it but resigned myself to a stock answer of - your etd is...

 

Ok so I fancy a little bit of a rant, but also to see if anyone else ETD has changed today.

Online chat agent whilst at work -> informed me that there is a shortage of Nvidia cards so the production has been halted on my m11x until the new batch received.
Called Dell rep after work -> informed that there are no backlog of parts and the ETD has just been modified due to demand for the product and being produced outside of the UK.
So I'm not sure why I have been given 2 different stories, not that it matters as most likely a structured dialogue to follow if a customers order is delayed.

Well I am pretty unimpressed with my Dell experience so far. Having to do 3 orders initially to get the m11x processed, due to incorrect advise from Dell agent, then given an ambitious ETD of 12/07/10 - just 19 days from order without next day delivery. Then having that ETD changed without being informed to the 27/07/10 - an extra 15 day delay.

Pretty poor customer journey but can imagine people have been through worse.

I understand problems can arise (as I work for a computer firm myself) and really the only reason I'm irritated by all this is the lack of communication, the lack of one contact point and the fact that I was really looking forward to receiving the m11x on Monday (if all went to plan).

Rant over.

Good job the Envy 14 still isn't available in the UK as I would be eyeing that up around about now.

 

standard Dell mate exact same as mine- you won't wait that long should be with you in a weeks time by my experience. my date of 23rd hasn't moved by I predict deliver first week of August.

 

btw is Ito still in work in progress?

 

Im having a few problems myself with them not had a confirmation email yet that my order has gone through with a estimation date how long does that take i order last night

 

you should have got a Internet order number almost
right away then confirmation with 24 hours

 

Just ordered mine. With the current offer and hopefully another 10% from Quidco.

I have been checking out this and alternatives but they all seem to have their problems. The m11x meets my needs and it sounds (from reading) most if the performance issues have some resolution (to some degree).

I currently use a Compaq Mini 311 that is OCed to 2.2Ghz and found that it has taken over as my main pc (from my Alien desktop 630i + Q6600@3Ghz + GTX260). So I decided I needed a bit more from my main PC that travels with me.

Main games I play are these and they all run on the 311 (at low/mid settings) so should be much better on the m11x:
WoW
DDO
LOTRO
Dragon Age
Mass Effect 1 & 2

m11x, £979 (all in) and hoping for another 10% cash back from Quidco.
stealth black
i7
4Gb Ram
500Mb HD
Wifi
Bluetooth

 

yeah got the internet order number spoke to someone on the online chat and they confirmed my order and its expected date is 28th july