voodoo, alienware or dell?

[itsmillertime109]

Hey, Im looking for a high powered laptop that will last me for years to come. I've narrowed my choices down to an Alienware Area-51m 7700, Dell XPS or a Voodoo Heavyweight laptop. I want a laptop that offers insane preformance at a fairly reasonable price...but the price probably won't be a factor.

I've also heard many things that are confusing me. I've read that Dell computers are for people who know nothing about computers, voodoo laptops are outrageously expensive and offer nothing extra, and alienware componets are crap and are similar to 3rd party laptop manufacturers.

I've looked into all 3 of them...and the voodoo heavyweights look most desireable...but is $1500 more expensive then an Alienware of similar components. The Voodoo laptop also has an AMB dual core processor...which is the main reason im leaning more toward the Voodoo laptop.

Please i need help choosing. I consider myself pretty experienced with computers.

So the question is...what laptop will get me the highest quality, most extreme preformance, and at a cost that isn't freakishly expensive.

Here are the alienware and voodoo laptops im looking at...
[1] Area-51m 7700

Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 670 Desktop Processor w/ HT Technology 3.8GHz 800MHz FSB 2MB Cache
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
LCD Display: 17" WideSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD Clearview Display with Built-in Camera
Motherboard: Intel® 915P PCI-Express Chipset
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 1024MB
Video Card: Area-51m 7700 NVIDIA GeForce™ Go 6800 Ultra with 256MB of DDR3 memory
Hard Drive: Extreme Performance - RAID 0 - 240GB (120GB x 2) 5400 RPM ATA100
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: Slot load 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Secondary CD ROM/DVD ROM: Slot load 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
TV Tuner: Alienware® 7700m Series Mini PCI TV Tuner
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio (24-bit, 192Khz) with 7.1 surround sound
Primary Battery: Alienware® 7700 series 12-cell Lithium-Ion Smart Battery Pack
Additional Battery: Alienware® 7700 series 12-cell Lithium-Ion Smart Battery Pack
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Wireless Network: Internal Wireless 802.11b/g miniPCI Card
Floppy Drive: USB Floppy Drive
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad

VOODOO

Features
17" Optional WUXGA 1900x1200
15.5 x 11.75 x 1.95 inches
13 Pounds
talladega BLACK
Tattoo - No Thanks!
Allure Finish

Components
Voodoo ENVY Heavyweight u:709 Notebook
Voodoo Disaster Recovery System II
Free VoodooPC T-Shirt
Voodoo Koeskin System Binder
Voodoo EDGE Aluminium Mousing Surface
Voodoo Performance and Stability Re-Engineering
IS09001:2000 Quality Control Standards
Voodoo ENVY Heavyweight u:709 Chassis
Envy Performance Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2-4800+ Dual Core Processor
2 Gig Crucial DDR-400LL Memory Kit
8X ENVY DVD+-RW Dual Layer Slot-Load DVD % CD Writer
8X ENVY DVD+-RW Dual Layer Slot-Load DVD % CD Writer
Enable RAID (more risk more speed)
Seagate 100 gig 5400
Seagate 100 gig 5400
ENVY 10-in-1 Internal Digital Card Reader
Voodoo ENVY Video Camera
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Go Ultra 220 256 MB
17" TFT WUXGA 1900X1200 LCD
ENVY TV-Tuner USB 2.0
Envy Immersive Theater Audio System
Envy Theaterbook Immersive Subwoofer
Voodoo ENVY Multi-Wireless Card
ENVY Gigabit High Speed Ethernet
Internal 56K Fax Modem
North America Shipping
Voodoo GameDoctor - 1 Year Membership
FUEL Software Essentials v2.0
Windows XP Professional
Voodoo Stealth XL Metal Notebook Case
Standard Select Upgrade Assurance
Voodoo PlatinumCare 1 Year

VOODOO PRICE: 6075.93

ALIENWARE PRICE: 4922.00

[MrDigital]

The Dell will probably be the cheapest given that you can score their laptops with some maaaaad deals every few weeks.

-MrD

[mynameis]

Get a Dell, at least it has a mobile processor, going to the be the cheapest and probably just as fast or faster that the others.

From experience, Dell service is many times better than Alienware service.

That voodoo sounds insane, 2 optical drives and 2 hard drives. I hope you don't plan on actually moving that thing around much if thats the one you choose.

[itsmillertime109]

thanks...but this sounds wierd...i configured an alienware laptop and a dell xps laptop with the same specs...and to my surprise...the dell was more expensive.

as i said money isn't realy a problem...i need a quality, high preformance computer

and in response to mynameis, i realy don't care if its portable or not...im perfectly fine with a 13 pound laptop...it just needs to be super powerful

[mynameis]

You need to watch gotapex.com for dell coupon deals, you can get a ridiculous amount off if you just wait a bit.

I didn't think it was possible to get an XPS laptop over $4000, not including extra warranties or peripherals.

[pwain]

Buying top of the line will only upset you. Prices drop like crazy and Technology is the exact opposite. a nice Dell would probablly be half the price, run games great (maybe not ultra-high, but pretty darn good).

If you have 6k to spend, I would spend 3k now, and then in 2-3 years sell it and buy another 3k laptop.

That way it will last you much longer than even the latest and greatest of today(which would probablly only last you a couple of months more than a 3k system)

[itsmillertime109]

i didn't believe it either...but here it is mynameis

the alienware sentia was $2574

the dell was $3,893.00

they were both configured about the same

---------------------------------------------------

thanks pwain...ive had an hp pavillion for about 2 years and it has always been pretty up to date...i haven't realy had any isuues with it being too out of date. My computer habits just changed and i need a super high powered laptop. So staying up to date won't be to much of a problem.

very good adive though...i didn't think of that

[mynameis]

Buying top of the line will only upset you. Prices drop like crazy and Technology is the exact opposite. a nice Dell would probablly be half the price, run games great (maybe not ultra-high, but pretty darn good).

If you have 6k to spend, I would spend 3k now, and then in 2-3 years sell it and buy another 3k laptop.

That way it will last you much longer than even the latest and greatest of today(which would probablly only last you a couple of months more than a 3k system)

Thats good advice.

[mynameis]

i didn't believe it either...but here it is mynameis

the alienware sentia was $2574

the dell was $3,893.00

they were both configured about the same

You don't want a Sentia. A Sentia is closer to a Dell 700m than a Dell XPS, it is a small(12in) notebook with onboard video. It won't even be able to run some of the newer games at all, like BF2.

[itsmillertime109]

You don't want a Sentia. A Sentia is closer to a Dell 700m than a Dell XPS, it is a small(12in) notebook with onboard video. It won't even be able to run some of the newer games at all, like BF2.

ha i know...theres no way im making the mistake of "integrated graphics" ever again. It was a comparison of prices...theres no way id go for the sentia

[mynameis]

It was a comparison of prices

Compare the Dell XPS Gen2 with the Alienware Area 51-M 7700, they are more similar than a Dell XPS Gen2 and a AW Sentia

[itsmillertime109]

Compare the Dell XPS Gen2 with the Alienware Area 51-M 7700, they are more similar than a Dell XPS Gen2 and a AW Sentia

ha...i did that to...

Alienware ARea 51-7700m : $3,321.00

Dell XPS: 3,893.00

even though its a little hard for me to an intel m processor and a pentium 4 processor with ht technonogy

im more hard set on the voodoo...they say its custom made and better qualty than alienware or dell...and im drueling over the 64 bit dual amd processor one of the heavyweights offer

[rabidmoose171]

you want a pentium m... it absolutley tears the p4 apart.

[itsmillertime109]

you want a pentium m... it absolutley tears the p4 apart.

seriously??? i don't see how it can out do an
Intel® Pentium® 4 670 Desktop Processor w/ HT Technology 3.8GHz 800MHz FSB 2MB Cache

let alone the dual core amd processor can be beaten by a mobile processor. look at it again..its a DESKTOP processor in a LAPTOP. But whatever...ur probably right, though im a little confused

[Chuck232]

I think you must be pricing out something mad wrong with the Dell. In any case, you can always get the $750 off coupons and sometimes 40% off coupons which are pretty rediculous.

The Voodoo is definitely the best system out of all three, however you'll have to decide whether you want to spend that much money. I'm with pwain on this one. Get a very nice laptop for around $3K and then half the time you wanted it to last, get another $3K notebook which would destroy any notebook you have listed now.