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Sensa Notebook

A pr company last year sent me a top-end Alienware laptop computer for review. As maxed out as the review product was, I was ultimately disappointed by its poor design, heavy weight, and dreadfull DVD playback. A better description might be "compact desktop" rather than "laptop." My son is enamored, however, by the blue glowing alien on this brand of notebook computer, and so ordered one through Alienware's Web site. Here are some of his experiences: - the order was repeatedly delayed due to parts shortages of the very common CD/DVD drive. - because we are located outside the USA,... Read more →

Alien Bureaucracy

I saw The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last night with my teenage kids. (They loved it, but figured most of their friends wouldn't get it. "That's what you get," I said, "when you're raised by a dad with a bizaare mind.") A couple weeks ago, Alienware's pr department asked for their notebook computer back. They FedEx'ed to me the FedEx paperwork with which to FedEx them the cardboard box and their computer. Which I did. Today, I received this email from Alienware: Your cancellation request has been received. We have assigned an RMA number to your case, which we... Read more →

Review, Part 6: Alienware Notebook Computer

Finally, some negative aspects of the Alienware notebook computer: - Never-ceasing Noise. Noise from cooling fans is to be expected with high-power notebook computers, but they never turn off, except when the computer is put into hibernation. Fan noise is tolerable, but when I moved the computer over to make room, the noise changed to a quiet but high-pitched whine. That's annoying. I appreciate my regular notebook computer being mostly silent. Also, when I put it into hibernation (to shut off the fan noise) and then close the lid, the Alienware computer turns itself back on. Sigh. - Dust Buildup.... Read more →

Review, Part 5: Alienware Notebook Computer

Here I want to concentrate on the computer's performance with CAD software. When Alienware asked what kind of benchmarks I'd use, I replied I'd have to make up something. A goal of benchmarking is to reflect real-world usage: will this piece of hardware (or software) make me more efficient. Some benchmarks try to be very real; I don't try that at all, because (1) computers are no longer slow, and (2) my computer spends most of its time waiting for me to respond. As some readers may recall from my days as technical editor at 'CADalyst' magazine (1985-1991), I concentrated... Read more →

Review, Part 4: Alienware Notebook Computer

The thing that impresses me about the Alienware notebook computer is the number of ports. Front DVD and sound controls. But those round silver buttons all look alike, so it's hard to distinquish their functions. Clock uses blue LEDs (not shown above, because the computer went to sleep while I was taking the picture.) Right Side That's a DVD/CD burner, with room for a second DVD/CD unit below. Reminds me of microcomputers 20 years ago that were HOT if they had 2 diskette drives (called "floppy drives" back then). Back Cooling intake is matched by FOUR (quiet) cooling fans underneath... Read more →

Review, Part 3: Alienware Notebook Computer

I've been too busy to deal with that Alienware notebook computer sitting over there on my office coffee table. (Tea table, I drink tea, not coffee.) Last nite I finished up "AutoCAD LT 2006: Ultimate Guide" for WordWare Publishing. My daughters use the hulking Alienware as a spare Microsoft Messenger communicator, for when another sibling is already on the "kid's" computer. (Well, one of them; the other daughter is on a France exchange trip with her French 11/12 class -- a 2.5-week school trip to Paris/Lyon may be the only good thing to come out of Canada's enforced bilingualism policy.)... Read more →

Review, Part 2: Alienware Notebook Computer

What astounds us is the size of the Alienware notebook computer. It no longer is a notebook, unless metric notebooks are that big. Reminds me of when these computers were called "laptops" and kinda like some of the early Toshibas with their orange plasma screens of the early 1990s. The computer's this big: * 17" wide-format screen (measured diagonally). * My first color notebook computer take up half the space * It has more connectors than my desktop computer. The computer's this cool: * The eyes of the alien logo glow blue. * A miniature video camera, not much larger... Read more →

Review: Alienware Notebook Computer

I don't like writing reviews of computer hardware and software. (I did too many of them while Technical Editor at CADalyst magazine, and then later as Contributing Editor at Cadence magazine. I am proud, however, of the testing standards I established at CADalyst in the late-1980s; some still stand today.) I just don't have the time. A couple weeks ago, though, Alienware emails to ask if I want to review one of their notebook computers. I kinda ignore them, but they keep up. I relent, but only if they pay the freight in _both_ directions_ and_ pay the customs fees... Read more →