Dell confirms Alienware purchase
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Mar 22nd 2006 at 10:00PM }
After denying the rumors that first started circulating a couple weeks ago, Dell has finally confirmed that they've acquired high-end gaming rig manufacturer Alienware for an undisclosed amount.
When suits are making such acquisition decisions, they often start with a "make or buy" investigation. One can assume that whenever the decision to "buy" (that is, acquire an external company) has been made, said suits determined that the acquisition target offered something that they couldn't "make" on their own for the right price and within the right time frame.
Oh hell, we'll stop beating around the bush: Dell purchased Alienware because Dell has repeatedly failed to build credibility in the high-end PC gaming market. Few Joystiq readers associate the Dell name with gaming performance, and that's exactly why Dell had to acquire an outside company.
How many $10,000 gaming rigs do you reckon Dell will sell now?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stu L Tissimus @ Mar 22nd 2006 10:11PM
AlienWare: $3000 for a free mousepad and T-shirt!
B @ Mar 22nd 2006 10:23PM
There goes the end of a great PC maker. Even though the machines cost even more $$$$. I'll bet that Michael will ruin it soon.
DUKobE8 @ Mar 22nd 2006 10:34PM
Noooooo!
Robert @ Mar 22nd 2006 10:35PM
Buy a Shuttle instead. That's what I did. Best decision eva!
GOD @ Mar 22nd 2006 10:54PM
That really sucks. I bought an Alienware not too long ago and you could tell they put time into building it. I wouldn't say they make the best machines, but being purchased by Dell will only lead to cost cutting... I don't mind paying more for quality (as opposed to the Dell gaming rigs which you pay more for nothing).
Jago @ Mar 23rd 2006 12:28AM
Woop-de-freakin-do!
I still would never buy a computer from a company. It's now THAT hard to learn how to build your own system and there are PLENTY of websites/how-to guides for learning everything. That is how I did it...plus I like to know brand everything actually is in my system (and the others that I build for people.)
Anthony @ Mar 23rd 2006 1:02AM
I suppose we'll be seeing Alienware builds with Intel CPU's now, might put people off
Sloopydrew @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:10AM
"Dude, you're getting a Alienware" doesn't have the same ring to it. At least now Alienware PC owners will be able to enjoy long chats with underpaid folks in India, if anything goes wrong with their comp and they need tech support. Us Dell users have been enjoying this bonus feature for years, now.
Tim Childree @ Mar 23rd 2006 9:07AM
Dell has been in talks with several high-end gaming companies for several months now. I work tech support for one of them. Michael Dell was actually interested in maintaining our company's tech support if the deal had gone through. It's only the cheap Dell systems that get India tech support. The business-grade and gamer-grade systems receive American support.
I wonder if this will have any effect on Alienware's crappy tech support? Up until now, they have refused to even speak to their customers once a system has gone out of its warranty. I don't know how Dell is about giving tech support for out-of-warranty systems.
Oh well. Just another chance for millions of morons who have no idea how to care for a PC to get a system that will one day burn their house down out of sheer spite for the things they do to it.
TheBlunderbuss @ Mar 23rd 2006 6:03PM
Jago: you're absolutely right. I hate being limited by the manufacturer's inferior motherboards.
The only benefits from the companies are #1 a warranty and #2 technical support, both I don't really need.
The next time I get a computer, I'm going to make sure I get the components I want, with the features I want.
This and my last computers (much to my surprise) don't have an AGP slot.