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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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 Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: Alienware |
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I want an Alienware Area-51 7700 laptop:
Here are the specs of the system I put together--I want this to function as my stereo, DVR, computer, etc., so that's why it's tricked out the way it is. My question is to those of you that are more tech-savvy than I is, how to I get this laptop here to Korea without paying duty, what would I use bluetooth for, and would you add/subtract any of the components? Any of you have an Alienware computer? If so, how do you like it? Thanks!
Processor: Intel�� Pentium�� 4 550 Desktop Processor w/ HT Technology 3.4GHz 800MHz FSB 1MB
Operating System: Microsoft�� Windows�� XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 90-Day AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support
LCD Display: 17" WideSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD Clearview Display with Built-in Camera
Motherboard: Intel�� 915P PCI-Express Chipset
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Video Card: Area-51m 7700 ATI MOBILITY�� RADEON X800 with 256MB of DDR 3 memory
Hard Drive: Extreme Performance - RAID 0 - 120GB (60GB x 2) 5400 RPM ATA100
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
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 AC Adapter: Alienware�� 7700 series 220 Watt Auto-switch AC Adapter
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Wireless Network: External Wireless 802.11a/b/g PCMCIA Card
Bluetooth: Belkin�� Bluetooth�� USB Adapter
Floppy Drive: USB Floppy Drive
Mobile Transport : Alienware�� Premium Backpack XL
AlienRespawn: Alienware�� Respawn Recovery Kit
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia�� Ultra 2.0 Speakers
Alienware Exclusive Offers: Gamespot Complete - Free 90-day Trial (a $20.85 value)
Alienware Exclusive Offers: 10% off your next EB Games online purchase
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware�� T-Shirt - Black
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware�� Mousepad
$3,207.00 US |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:16 am Post subject: |
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I've wanted one for a long time.
But I've also wanted a BMW motorcycle, a 52" plasma screen, and my own tropical island.
Some things you just learn to do without, like Paris Hilton not being able to surgically cover her dogs from head to toe in Swarovski crystal bling....
Blue tooth is localised wireless. You could use it to connect to wireless devices such as mouse, headphones, microphone, speakers, remote controllers for your sound/video/presentation, GPS devices, PDAs etc. The only thing is that you don't need bluetooth wireless for (example) a mouse, and anything with bluetooth wireless ability is going to be more expensive than non-Bluetooth (headphones for example- I can live with the cord to save $25-30). The best use for bluetooth with a laptop would be to use it to connect to your bluetooth phone and use that to access the internet/email. But with built in wireless 801.11a/b/g devices now ubiquitous on laptops, Bluetooth's time has probably come and gone, except for the folks with PDAs and the wireless earphone mics for their cellphones.
That laptop is pretty well set. The only thing I can think of is you might as well max out the RAM on it- I doubt 1GB is the max capacity. Then again, it's not crucial and the price of RAM keeps dropping, you could always pick more up later.
And you'll probably need a locking padded attache case and a bodyguard (I know I'd be afraid to leave home with that thing, but I'm the kind of guy who will buy 8 pairs of $25 sunglasses instead of one pair of $200 ones). |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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cheem
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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Can't argue with the specs; that system will fly, BUT:
* you're paying about an extra grand for the "Alienware" name
* 10+ lbs is fricking heavy
* this is subjective but I'd be embarrassed to bust that thing out in public
and the most important point: no corporate presence in S. Korea. What will you do if the thing stops working? You have a $3k, 10 lbs paperweight. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Jealousy keeps me from being objective. 
Nice laptop....erm....desktop replacement. Yeah...the weight would be my only real problem with the machine. |
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Demonicat
Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Location: Suwon
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| alienware is like "porche", if ceases to be just about the product, but about the status. Ever since we were kids reading EGM (in my case) alienware seemed to be the l33t system that we all wanted. Yeah, it is unneedidly expensive, but thats not the point, the point is...something else. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Demonicat wrote: |
| alienware is like "porche", if ceases to be just about the product, but about the status. Ever since we were kids reading EGM (in my case) alienware seemed to be the l33t system that we all wanted. Yeah, it is unneedidly expensive, but thats not the point, the point is...something else. |
I dunno, I'm not that much into "brand names." What attracts me to an Alienware laptop is that they advertise, and indeed I have seen in person, being easily upgradable. For instance, 2 years from now, when there's a far better graphics card, it's easy to upgrade, same with the HD and RAM. When prices drop, component breaks or I want to upgrade, I can do it without doing damage. That is my main goal.
10 lbs. is heavy, but I'm getting a backpack and I'm not a lightweight. I just don't want a desktop, as I don't want the size comittment (though would ideally prefer a desktop). As for embarassment and all that, I doubt any Korean knows what Alienware is, nor really care. If I were in North America I'd worry about it getting ripped off from a frothing tech teenie, but here in Korea? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Wdll Alienware, because of its targeting the gamers market, was the first to allow video card upgrade in a laptop. But it's certainly no longer the only to do that. If you don't care about the brandname or the distinctive case, follow up Wrench's lead- you can probably spend your money more wisely. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting...thanks. Only thing is, when I customized one the same as the Alienware one, there was only a $400 difference. Can you upgrade yours as well easily? That's the thing I am most concerned about.
Edit: Just looked closer, yes, this Sager is upgradable.
Thanks Wrench, I just may get this one instead!
Now just to figure a way around the duty...what is it 30% import tax? |
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hypnotist
Joined: 04 Dec 2004
Location: I wish I were a sock
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Bulsajo wrote: |
| The only thing is that you don't need bluetooth wireless for (example) a mouse, and anything with bluetooth wireless ability is going to be more expensive than non-Bluetooth (headphones for example- I can live with the cord to save $25-30). The best use for bluetooth with a laptop would be to use it to connect to your bluetooth phone and use that to access the internet/email. But with built in wireless 801.11a/b/g devices now ubiquitous on laptops, Bluetooth's time has probably come and gone, except for the folks with PDAs and the wireless earphone mics for their cellphones. |
Bluetooth is built in to pretty much every mobile phone outside CDMAland, and that is driving its popularity in other areas - e.g. GPS units and even cars. And 802.11b/g isn't going to replace Bluetooth in a hurry - not whilst coverage is so limited and expensive. Besides, using Bluetooth you can interact WITH your phone as well as through it - I often send text messages or update my contacts from my PC via Bluetooth. Sure, I could use a cable, but who wants to have to mess around with that?
That said, if you ARE in a CDMAland country, it probably won't be that useful. But rumours of its death are greatly exaggerated. It's becoming ubiquitous throughout the rest of the world. |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| JeJuJitsu wrote: |
Interesting...thanks. Only thing is, when I customized one the same as the Alienware one, there was only a $400 difference. Can you upgrade yours as well easily? That's the thing I am most concerned about.
Edit: Just looked closer, yes, this Sager is upgradable.
Thanks Wrench, I just may get this one instead!
Now just to figure a way around the duty...what is it 30% import tax? |
Very easily. I actually made a thread about it. Any way just get you Director to make a letter in Korean and English (you might have to do it and get it signed) The letter just has to state that its for educational purposes (need addy, phone etc). Send it to discountlaptops for shiping instructions voila your done. I did a direct deposit took 3 days to clear, and shiping was blazingly fast, 3 whole days. Just get in contact with them, and they will help you out. (Say Wrench recommanded you to them)
I love my z71v. Its quite fast and its light enough to be a run around lappy plus its upgradable.
You will need around 24k won for the charge for UPS guy and thats it.
Mind you shiping is about 170k won. (Thats my lappy you will have to get a quote from them)
Sage n7620 is the same as Alienware with out the 400 dollar paintjob.
Any way gl. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| Wrench wrote: |
| JeJuJitsu wrote: |
Interesting...thanks. Only thing is, when I customized one the same as the Alienware one, there was only a $400 difference. Can you upgrade yours as well easily? That's the thing I am most concerned about.
Edit: Just looked closer, yes, this Sager is upgradable.
Thanks Wrench, I just may get this one instead!
Now just to figure a way around the duty...what is it 30% import tax? |
Very easily. I actually made a thread about it. Any way just get you Director to make a letter in Korean and English (you might have to do it and get it signed) The letter just has to state that its for educational purposes (need addy, phone etc). Send it to discountlaptops for shiping instructions voila your done. I did a direct deposit took 3 days to clear, and shiping was blazingly fast, 3 whole days. Just get in contact with them, and they will help you out. (Say Wrench recommanded you to them)
I love my z71v. Its quite fast and its light enough to be a run around lappy plus its upgradable.
You will need around 24k won for the charge for UPS guy and thats it.
Mind you shiping is about 170k won. (Thats my lappy you will have to get a quote from them)
Sage n7620 is the same as Alienware with out the 400 dollar paintjob.
Any way gl. |
Wrench, ALMOST sold on the Sage...are you saying that if I get a letter in both Englishie and Korean from Director stating Ed. use, that customs waives the duty charge? I'll contact a salesperson there when I buy in a week or so. 170k won + 24k won for UPS guy?
Got a link to your thread about this?
Sorry to protract this thread, but discountlaptops should be commended for this: optional Windows OS. Anyone know if I can DL Linux off the net for less than Windows XP, and run: Firefox, MMOG games, a media player (that will play movie downloads well) all through Linux? I've been a big fan of Open Office suite for years even having windows.
But I wouldn't mind not using Windows XP if it's not a massive headache and I can play my games and movies. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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dbee
Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Location: korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:51 am Post subject: |
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I'm not 200% sure OP but I think that if the package is clearly marked as a birthday gift, then the import duties are null and void.
Again, check this before you do it, and if you can sort it out wrench's way then go ahead as it would probably be easier and more reliable |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:27 am Post subject: |
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Yeah as I said UPS will call to verify that you do work at a edu institution and when they can deliver. Make sure you keep a reciept from UPS customs for when you leave.
Any who its that simple.. Good luck on your hunt. |
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