Anybody think Dell will end up killing Alienware?
I think most Alienware customers are anti Dell.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/23/techno...=rssnyt&emc=rss

Dell to Buy Alienware, a Maker of High-End PC's for Gamers

MIAMI, March 22 (AP) — Dell, the world's largest computer maker, said on Wednesday that it would buy the Alienware Corporation, whose high-end PC's are widely acclaimed by video gamers for their fast performance and sleek, U.F.O.-themed looks.

Dell, based in Round Rock, Tex., did not announce terms of the deal, which will help expand its offerings for the lucrative gaming and multimedia market. Dell said Alienware would operate as a wholly owned subsidiary and would keep its brand name and its own product development, marketing, sales, technical support and other operations.

Alienware, based in Miami, was founded in 1996 by Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila, two childhood friends who have built a cultlike following for their PC's, which cost an average of $3,000 to $4,000. They will continue to run the company as a stand-alone unit of Dell, Dell said.

"This acquisition makes sense because the space that Alienware plays in is a high-growth segment of the PC business. It's also a high-margin segment," an analyst at IDC, Richard Shim, said.

Alienware is on track to reach $225 million in sales this year, up from $172 million in 2005, according to recent projections by Mr. Gonzalez, the company's chief executive. Mr. Aguila is president.

Dell revamped its XPS line in 2001 to feature high-powered, high-priced computers to better compete with companies like Alienware and Voodoo PC, another niche player. Earlier Wednesday, Dell started its XPS 600 Renegade system for gamers, starting at $9,930 with a flat-panel monitor.

Alienware's least expensive laptops and desktops start at about $700, but the top-of-the-line, liquid-cooled ALX models can approach $10,000 when fully equipped with dual-core processors, hard drives that can store up to a terabyte of data, and state-of-the-art graphics cards.

Alienware has branched out by offering some cheaper computers. It also has growing sales of workstations and servers to corporate and government clients, like Lockheed Martin and the Army. Gaming PC's, however, still make up 80 percent of sales.

I gues as long as AlienWare turns a profit, Dell will let them live. They make some high performance PCs, but they're a little too pricey for me. Impressive hardware though.

I am suprised Alienware would sell out like that.. but it does look as though Dell will keep their hands out of the pot.. atleast for a while

They put together the highend stuff... it's very much a niche market. Usually, the ones that buy those are your true die hard gamers and want it all peaked and tweaked with the latest and best technologies....

I used to do that very same thing where I live. But it got to be such a hassle, and I got tired of hearing "well i can get this part from here for this much".... there twards the end, my response was: "sure, go ahead and buy it from there, and oh, btw, when it breaks, dont call me for support, and good luck getting a replacement in 38 hours like I give you".... it was usually enough to shut them up, but as time grew on, I just gave up.

Another mom and pop buisness destroyed by big buisness. Which is too bad. I wasnt making millions, I was making just enough to pay the bills. But oh well. I still buy my stuff from online sources and put together high end machines, but it's only for good close friends and family. And they understand the slight markup for putting all together and make it work..

I hope Alienware will be able to remain a true "sub corp" without dell sticking the hands in it.. But as dudster said, it wont last long, and then it will just be intergrated into normal Dell buisness operations.

You mean they'd stoop to putting an Alienware label on a GX280? They'd never do that.

They didn't slap the name on it yet, but they have 'borrowed' the looks......

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products...;l=en&s=dhs