Auer
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2018
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So the rumors were true.
Now, seeing how much of a joke Alienware has always been, is this a good or a bad thing for AMD?
I think he'll do well. Alienware's branding might've gone down the toilet, but they did have some innovative designs afa cooling and modular notebooks.So the rumors were true.
Now, seeing how much of a joke Alienware has always been, is this a good or a bad thing for AMD?
$3 Billion a year joke.....that is a lot of joking.Now, seeing how much of a joke Alienware has always been, is this a good or a bad thing for AMD?
I see it as a good thing for AMD. Sure enthusiasts known Alienware is mostly the brand name...yet the company has been around for a long time. Unsuccessful companies don’t stick around.So the rumors were true.
Now, seeing how much of a joke Alienware has always been, is this a good or a bad thing for AMD?
$3 Billion a year joke.....that is a lot of joking.
Whatever you think of Alienware, AMD hiring a guy that successfully convinced a bunch of folks to hand over a lot of money for hardware claiming to be 'performance enhanced' sounds like a good way to increase margins on products. Add a few extra bios settings to an existing or soon to be released product, market it as being for elite gamers and watch the profits roll in.
Hes probably the one that came up with gamecache and Radeon Anti-Lag
Dude, youre getting an AMD!
No, he is not.Hes probably the one that came up with gamecache and Radeon Anti-Lag
$3 Billion a year joke.....that is a lot of joking.
I would suggest you know very little about the engineering that went into many of the Alienware systems, and for you to think those were simply put together with off the shelf parts would show your tremendous ignorance about the Alienware products.Fair comment.
It's the kind of thing engineers cringe at though. Marketing BS rather than substance.
I'm sure GM's badge engineering made them lots of money over the years too. Car enthusiasts - however - hated it.
I would suggest you know very little about the engineering that went into many of the Alienware systems, and for you to think those were simply put together with off the shelf parts would show your tremendous ignorance about the Alienware products.
I am aware that at least their later systems after Dell bought them used some custom board and case designs. That they weren't just off the shelf components. For many users of those systems these wound up being problems rather than advantages, as upgrades and changes to their systems were more difficult than with a home built system.
Some of those changes - I'm sure - were done for cost purposes of mass producing standardized systems that isn't really a concern for most standard form factor home builds. We enthusiasts love to spend time on our systems getting them just the way we like them. This won't fly in an assembly line.
Some of them I can only ascribe to being done for "product differentiation", in the form of a racy exterior, and other design elements which are unrelated to the performance of the system, which is where I start to cringe, and as a marketing guy, this is the type of stuff I associate with him.
But in the end, the result is you got an almost standard desktop from a capability perspective, with no real technical benefits over something built from off the shelf parts, and all the drawbacks of said custom designs when it comes to upgrades, etc.
But I wasn't even thinking of all that. I was thinking more about the reputation of Alienware. At least in the circles I have always been involved, Alienware was an embarrassment. If you had one, you wouldn't ever tell anyone, as it suggested you didn't know what you were doing and just bought a system with daddy's credit card.
From my perspective, whenever a marketing guy gets involved, products get worse. They sacrifice the stuff that really matters (performance, compatibility, etc.) in favor of flashy exteriors and gimmicks to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and it is sad.
Most companies regardless of industry would have better products if they never had a marketing department and let engineers take care of everything.
Sure, they might sell fewer of them, but there is more to designs ng a good product than a popularity contest. I hate the modern philosophy "shit sells, my customer wants shit, so I must design shit". I hate what has become of MSI for instance. They used to be a designer of reputable products, now they make disco lights.
They were doing custom designs (not just disco lights) long before dell acquired them.I am aware that at least their later systems after Dell bought them used some custom board and case designs. That they weren't just off the shelf components. For many users of those systems these wound up being problems rather than advantages, as upgrades and changes to their systems were more difficult than with a home built system.
Some of those changes - I'm sure - were done for cost purposes of mass producing standardized systems that isn't really a concern for most standard form factor home builds. We enthusiasts love to spend time on our systems getting them just the way we like them. This won't fly in an assembly line.
Some of them I can only ascribe to being done for "product differentiation", in the form of a racy exterior, and other design elements which are unrelated to the performance of the system, which is where I start to cringe, and as a marketing guy, this is the type of stuff I associate with him.
But in the end, the result is you got an almost standard desktop from a capability perspective, with no real technical benefits over something built from off the shelf parts, and all the drawbacks of said custom designs when it comes to upgrades, etc.
But I wasn't even thinking of all that. I was thinking more about the reputation of Alienware. At least in the circles I have always been involved, Alienware was an embarrassment. If you had one, you wouldn't ever tell anyone, as it suggested you didn't know what you were doing and just bought a system with daddy's credit card.
From my perspective, whenever a marketing guy gets involved, products get worse. They sacrifice the stuff that really matters (performance, compatibility, etc.) in favor of flashy exteriors and gimmicks to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and it is sad.
Most companies regardless of industry would have better products if they never had a marketing department and let engineers take care of everything.
Sure, they might sell fewer of them, but there is more to designs ng a good product than a popularity contest. I hate the modern philosophy "shit sells, my customer wants shit, so I must design shit". I hate what has become of MSI for instance. They used to be a designer of reputable products, now they make disco lights.
They were doing custom designs (not just disco lights) long before dell acquired them.
Ok. I only remember reading reviews of their first few systems back in the day, and much later trying to fix someone's old Alienware sortof-desktop.
After that experience I feel similarly about Alienware as I do Apple computers.
Any computer I can't use standard off the shelf parts to upgrade it or fix it when it brakes is not a computer worth having.
That is a bit different set of thoughts than calling Alienware and its achievements a "joke." And of course you give zero value to product and customer support in your evaluation.I am aware that at least their later systems after Dell bought them used some custom board and case designs. That they weren't just off the shelf components. For many users of those systems these wound up being problems rather than advantages, as upgrades and changes to their systems were more difficult than with a home built system.
Some of those changes - I'm sure - were done for cost purposes of mass producing standardized systems that isn't really a concern for most standard form factor home builds. We enthusiasts love to spend time on our systems getting them just the way we like them. This won't fly in an assembly line.
Some of them I can only ascribe to being done for "product differentiation", in the form of a racy exterior, and other design elements which are unrelated to the performance of the system, which is where I start to cringe, and as a marketing guy, this is the type of stuff I associate with him.
But in the end, the result is you got an almost standard desktop from a capability perspective, with no real technical benefits over something built from off the shelf parts, and all the drawbacks of said custom designs when it comes to upgrades, etc.
But I wasn't even thinking of all that. I was thinking more about the reputation of Alienware. At least in the circles I have always been involved, Alienware was an embarrassment. If you had one, you wouldn't ever tell anyone, as it suggested you didn't know what you were doing and just bought a system with daddy's credit card.
From my perspective, whenever a marketing guy gets involved, products get worse. They sacrifice the stuff that really matters (performance, compatibility, etc.) in favor of flashy exteriors and gimmicks to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and it is sad.
Most companies regardless of industry would have better products if they never had a marketing department and let engineers take care of everything.
Sure, they might sell fewer of them, but there is more to designing a good product than a popularity contest. I hate the modern philosophy "shit sells, my customer wants shit, so I must design shit". I hate what has become of MSI for instance. They used to be a designer of reputable products, now they make disco lights.
In the end, the customer isn't always right. Educate them instead of just giving them their first gut instinct of what they want.
I agree, and probably will never buy an Alienware system, but they aren't terrible. I think the quality dropped a bit on their laptops since dell got em, dunno about their desktops. Before, they were very good, though maybe not as good as sager or the like.Ok. I only remember reading reviews of their first few systems back in the day, and much later trying to fix someone's old Alienware sortof-desktop.
After that experience I feel similarly about Alienware as I do Apple computers.
Any computer I can't use standard off the shelf parts to upgrade it or fix it when it brakes is not a computer worth having.
That is a bit different set of thoughts than calling Alienware and its achievements a "joke." And of course you give zero value to product and customer support in your evaluation.
We get it, you don't like Alienware and see no value. Looking at the big picture, Alienware has millions of satisfied customers that re-purchase their branded systems. That speaks for itself. And that in the end shows that Alienware is far from a joke and millions to find value where you see none. But to denigrate Frank Azor, Alienware, and AMD for hiring his just comes off as petty. Move on to finding something else to be outraged about today....
That is a bit different set of thoughts than calling Alienware and its achievements a "joke." And of course you give zero value to product and customer support in your evaluation.
We get it, you don't like Alienware and see no value. Looking at the big picture, Alienware has millions of satisfied customers that re-purchase their branded systems. That speaks for itself. And that in the end shows that Alienware is far from a joke and millions to find value where you see none. But to denigrate Frank Azor, Alienware, and AMD for hiring his just comes off as petty. Move on to finding something else to be outraged about today....
Sure, the man's life work being a joke is not denigrating at all. He built a $3B business that has millions of satisfied and repeat customers, if that is a joke to anyone, I don't think you understand the PC business.I don't think I was being outraged or denigrating. Just pointing out that among enthusiasts prebuilts have always been considered somewhat of a joke, and wondering if that is the image AMD really wants through this kind of high profile hire.
I then went on a tangent about marketing and how it often misses the point while chasing an image, but I may have made some generalizations and assumptions there, as I don't know the man personally.
I don't think I was being outraged or denigrating. Just pointing out that among enthusiasts prebuilts have always been considered somewhat of a joke, and wondering if that is the image AMD really wants through this kind of high profile hire.
I don't think I was being outraged or denigrating. Just pointing out that among enthusiasts prebuilts have always been considered somewhat of a joke, and wondering if that is the image AMD really wants through this kind of high profile hire
Frank... Frank... Frank... Frank... Frank...
I bought an Alienware two years ago, and have no regrets. It has a standard PSU, ATX motherboard, RAM, GPUs, hard drives, M.2 drive, etc. It's able to hit 4.2GHz while staying under 80c, though the auto fan control is LOUD.
I didn't want to build a system at the time, and at $3500 after all the discounts and rewards, it was a great price for a TR 1950x, dual 1080TIs, a 1TB m.2 NVMe SDD, 32GB of ram and two-years of in home service.
Much of the so-called "reputation" that I hear about seems to be mostly undeserved.
I was going to describe my own circle of enthusiast friends and their opinions of Alienware growing up - but no way, I think you hit a nerve with old Bennett and I am going to stay out of it! I think Frank is a very handsome and passionate man.
I'm not expecting any console-style AMD boxes. AMD has a stranglehold on the console market and I can't see them wanting to step on potential toes by releasing a competitor in that segment. I imagine the hire will be upping their laptop design game, but it'd be cool if we see some Alienware-style desktops come from them. I always enjoyed Alienware's case designs and thought their attention to detail was right up there with Apples.
^^^^^^^^^^^LaptopsI was going to describe my own circle of enthusiast friends and their opinions of Alienware growing up - but no way, I think you hit a nerve with old Bennett and I am going to stay out of it! I think Frank is a very handsome and passionate man.
I'm not expecting any console-style AMD boxes. AMD has a stranglehold on the console market and I can't see them wanting to step on potential toes by releasing a competitor in that segment. I imagine the hire will be upping their laptop design game, but it'd be cool if we see some Alienware-style desktops come from them. I always enjoyed Alienware's case designs and thought their attention to detail was right up there with Apples.
i think most of that negative reputation stems from the early years(2010-2014'ish) after Dell bought the brand where it pretty much seemed like Dell was slapping the Alienware logo on XPS laptops and putting a higher price tag on them.. but over the course of the last few years it seems they're actually trying to separate the brands a bit more.
I don't think I was being outraged or denigrating. Just pointing out that among enthusiasts prebuilts have always been considered somewhat of a joke, and wondering if that is the image AMD really wants through this kind of high profile hire.
I then went on a tangent about marketing and how it often misses the point while chasing an image, but I may have made some generalizations and assumptions there, as I don't know the man personally.
Sure, the man's life work being a joke is not denigrating at all. He built a $3B business that has millions of satisfied and repeat customers, if that is a joke to anyone, I don't think you understand the PC business.
Frank is an icon of success in our industry. Frank has done more to get high end gaming systems into the hands of customers, more than I could have ever dreamed of. Frank built a support network to keep those customers satisfied and happy. Frank hired engineers that built some of the most bullet proof systems I have ever seen in terms of performance, thermals, that could be shipped across the world and show up in 100% working fashion. Frank brought high end gaming to the masses which in turn fuels a gaming ecosystem that we have all enjoyed.
Can you build one yourself that is better? Likely. Can you design, engineer, build, support, and ship that system to millions for the same cost? Surely, Alienware built and image and a fanbase, but it was not because it was a system that just looked cool. We have seen many try that and fail. It is just insulting to see it be called a joke by someone like you that has an immense knowledge of what it actually takes to build a killer system.
No, he is not.
Any enthusiast that scoffs at prebuilts is doing nothing but gatekeeping and trying to keep their hobby away from anyone that doesn't have the time or interest in building. In other words, those people aren't even worth considering.