Alienware's Star Wars PCs 360
CptnKirk writes "Alienware is now offering their high-end PCs pre-pimped with Star Wars themes. These systems have the usual assortment of configuration options. They're then additionally modded with your choice of Light Side or Dark Side themes. External decals, light kit and desktop theme. They even throw in a membership to the official Star Wars online fan club. I admit, booting the system to "what is your bidding my master", sounds appealing."
Yeah, (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Yeah, (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Yeah, (Score:5, Informative)
In any case, it's *not* a referral link so that the submitter can make more money.
Re:Yeah, (Score:3, Informative)
I have no idea where Boing Boing got their link, but I'm telling you this is exactly what arrived in my inbox from Alienware, so I'm fairly confident it's not being used to track referrals for a single person.
This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's like legos...legos are a toy of creativity. When they start including pre-built shapes to look like spaceships, forts, or castles, it is all over. Who would want pre-built legos?
Well this is the same sort of thing.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3, Informative)
Part of the skill of designing and building models is to use those pieces in new and innovative ways.
A radar dish from a spaceship can be an umbrella for a picnic table, it could be part of a continuously variable transmission in a Mindstorms robot.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:5, Insightful)
They're not necessarily stupid, they're just lazy or have better things to do with the time that it would take. I would never take the time to do lots of things (yard work, fix my refrigerator, drive several hours when a flight will get me there in two hours, etc..). Paying people saves me time and effort - it has nothing to do with stupidity.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3, Informative)
Alienware's premiums are absurd, their rigs too ugly for words, and their construction quality and support questionable at best. They're Dell "quality" with an even larger markup. Their adherence to flagrantly
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2)
Furthermore, for that person for whom coming up with a gift idea is an absolute !@#$, it's a great source of gift ideas. Now, how does my father in law feel about the Farce? Is it with him?
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2)
Also my son does just fine building "custom" constructions out of the pre-fabricated sets.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2, Redundant)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:5, Insightful)
This is the number one reason why I refuse to subscribe.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:5, Insightful)
Given the situation, I'm amazed slashdot has held up this long. However - when the student is ready, the master will appear... There are a lot of places out now that are good alternatives to the retro-slashdot years, back when they were "cool." The masses keep slashdot popular, but it's the popularity that makes it lose the real community feel. There's no cohesion here anymore.
On the other hand, if you go back 5 (or more, for some of us...) years, you'll find that many of the stories were just like this one - case mods, etc. It wasn't until the slashdot crowd all decided that they were biologists, physicists, chemists, economists, and lawyers that the community started going insane. Personally, I welcome the return to silly stories about things nerds would be interested in...like nerdy case mods.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3, Insightful)
What, us physcists can't be nerds too? Some would say that scientists are the ultimate in nerdiness, even beating you johnny-come-lately CS types with your high uids...
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:4, Interesting)
Go to kuro5hin to find out what it's like when you have a slashdot-esque site with hardly any members. It's practically a desert in website form.
Alienware Affiliate Program (Score:2, Interesting)
At 2.5% per sale you'd be crazy not to invent a news story!
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:3)
Build and maintain the system yourself and you'll:
a. Have a more powerful computer
b. Get that power at a much lower cost
c. Understand your system to where you don't need an added, trumped up service pack. YOU fix your system..which is quicker and easier than wai
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2)
Building your own computer is so 90's. It takes a lot of time that people would rather spend money on to get the damn thing already pre-made. You see, those folks have actual LIVES they'd like to live. Once and a while they'll play games on their fancy alienware box then go out and do OUTSIDE things. Can't do those if you're trying to figure out what PSU won't overheat your videocard!
The box you build yourself will only be cheaper if your time is of no value, pretty much
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:5, Insightful)
I've never understood this additude that among certain circles of geeks where not having the time to devote your life to building your own equates to being required to live without.
Is building your own rewarding to some? Damn straight it is.
Is building your own sometimes less expensive? Yes, more often than not.
Is building your own a better way to get the look YOU want? Only if you happen to have that creative streak in you that lets you be both geek and artist.
Is building your own the ONLY way to do? HELL NO!
Look, doctors, dentists, and other people with money enough to throw away on pretty things typcially have better things to do with their time than spend it mucking around building their own version of every pretty toy they can afford. Usually, this better thing happens to be MAKING MONEY.
Yes, it's nice that you spent your life building everything you own, from the misshappen, mangled shirt on your back to the chair your butt is resting on.
But the rest of us, those of us with lives, happen to only find building our own stuff fun if it's being done as a hobby. Which means, the rest of the stuff we own we BUY.
Get off the high horse and join the rest of civilization.
Re:This "news article" was sponsored by... (Score:2)
Oops (Score:2, Funny)
What is thy bidding, my master?
It's all about the power (Score:2)
Crazy power freak!
Those systems aren't so hot.. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Those systems aren't so hot.. (Score:2)
Now witness the power... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Now witness the power... (Score:5, Funny)
Han: Don't be silly, no honest company would run an advertizement as a front page sto... I've got a bad feeling about this...
Re:Now witness the power... (Score:2, Offtopic)
Luke:..... Uh no thanks
Vader: Fair enough , on with the saber swinging.
Luke : I will never turn to the darkside
Vader : Why not , if you sign up right now ill throw in this free pencil holder and a bretzel.
Luke : Hm , no never
Re:Now witness the power... (Score:5, Funny)
Princess Leia: Kuro5hin. They're on Kuro5hin.
Governor Tarkin: There. See, Lord Vader, she can be reasonable. Continue with the operation. You may advertise when ready.
Princess Leia: What?
Governor Tarkin: You're far too trusting. Kuro5hin is too obscure to make an effective demonstration - but don't worry; we'll deal with your rusty's friends soon enough.
Oh well... (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sure fanboys everywhere are rejoicing right now.
Re:Oh well... (Score:2)
But at least they did use 'classic' graphics, instead of the new crap.
But then we miss Amadala...hmm...Leia or Amadala....
Re:Oh well... (Score:5, Funny)
Now take a current photo of Natalie Portman.
Re:Oh well... (Score:3, Funny)
Next, cover both with hot grits . . .
Decision should be easy after that.
Re:Oh well... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oh well... (Score:3, Insightful)
Perhaps alien-ware were making a statment .
Millenium Falcon Case Mod (Score:4, Insightful)
From Boing Boing [boingboing.net]
Not that appealing (Score:3, Informative)
SOUNDS??? (Score:2)
You youngsters and your hip lingo.
Back in my day the only sound computers could make were unitelligible beeps.
The cool thing back then was to change the C:/ prompt to What is Thy bidding, my Master:/, but then of course the great Onion famine of '46 kicked in and we had to sell all of our posessions and move to Idaho.
Idaho back then was not a part of the Union,
um (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:um (Score:3, Funny)
Re:um (Score:2)
your? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:your? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:your? (Score:5, Informative)
relationships (Score:2)
Languages are alive (Score:3, Informative)
I don't much care for Lucas, or the latest abominations he has foisted upon us in the last few years, but in his defense it should be pointed out that
Languages are living, mutating things. They aren't static, and what was true in 1500 by and large isn't true today.
Thy may have been the mo
Re:Languages are alive (Score:3, Insightful)
So, while language may be continually evolving, there's something to be said for knowing its history, since so many works that are a part of our culture take on an entirely different meaning otherwise. How
Re:Languages are alive (Score:3, Insightful)
That's correct. And today, the use of the familiar form at all is largely gone. So, using it as an honorific is still technically incorrect, because in modern usage, it's use at all is just wierd:) I wouldn't say that 'thy' and 'your' have reversed meanings... they're just used so rarely that nobody understands their use anymore. I would argue that in the KJV of the bible (the version that m
Re:your? (Score:2)
Finally... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Finally... (Score:2)
I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything's soft... and smooth...
alternate link for iconset (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.deviantart.com/view/17884431/ [deviantart.com]
What, no Jar Jar? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What, no Jar Jar? (Score:2)
Dart Boards.
Archery Targets.
Urinal Cakes.
Toilet Paper.
Clay Pidgeons.
Heavy Bags.
Would not buy it (Score:2, Interesting)
I can play games, render an animation, listen to mp3 and encode some video, all with very little slowdown to each other! Thank you AlienWare!
Wow. Unless they think that you will be playing Solitaire, I really doubt that that statement could be true. And as such, they are doing false advertisement, something I really hate and so even if I had the money, I wo
Light side looks the best. (Score:3)
!=chix (Score:5, Funny)
geek: it's my uber star warz mod pimped out rig that i heard about on the popular tech news website
girl: kbye
Re:!=chix (Score:5, Funny)
I'm getting old... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'm getting old... (Score:2)
Did you miss this quote from the submission?
I admit, booting the system to "what is your bidding my master", sounds appealing.
They are toys for an 8-year-old.
Re:I'm getting old... (Score:2)
Toys for 8-year-olds with moneyed parents who grew up with Star Wars .. that's why the graphics are from Eps 4-5-6. AlienWare knows what they're doing.
I'm just surprised they're not marketing them as "collectors items".
Beginning to dislike StarWars (Score:2)
The stories have gone down the toilet also.
$1499?? (Score:2, Informative)
Oh, but the case has a nice decal on it, I forgot.
Sure, but does it run BattlestarOS? (Score:2)
Alienware recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP
Professional.
Re:Sure, but does it run BattlestarOS? (Score:2)
Alienware and Star Wars (Score:2, Interesting)
In an effort to offer some constructive critisism, perhaps they should add a feature that allows the editors to give a one-liner as to why every story I submit is rejected. Perhaps I don't talk good. But how the hell would I know that is why my submission was rejected?
I'm really starting to dislike this place. But I guess that's just my opinion.
Will they lose money on the deal? (Score:2)
I doubt that in the end they will recoup their investment. Perhaps we'll be able to pick-up some of the machines real cheap in mid-June with all the other discounted SW toys. How does an Alienware Happy Meal toy sound?
But Alienware is being smart, by not using a completely modified case they can always replace the covers on unsold units.
If you consider buying this... (Score:2)
Re:If you consider buying this... (Score:3, Funny)
[reads again]
Oh.
Sorry 'bout that. Nothing to see here folks.
Tell ya what... (Score:2, Insightful)
If that's all you need to complete your Star Wars experience, I can set you up for just a few hundred dollars. No need to shell out thousands for some overpriced computer system!
I can't believe (Score:2, Funny)
more like..booting the system to - (Score:2)
You could be a bitch to Lucas and Alienware, both at the sametime through a single purchase!!Limited Availability!!!
I would love to buy an alienware computer (Score:2)
For added "realism" (Score:3, Funny)
These are not the PCs you are looking for.. (Score:2)
alienware logo and star wars images? (Score:2)
What's next, 3D shutter glasses that look like Geordi La Forge's visor [imdb.com] from Star Trek: TNG?
(actually, those might be cool)
I would love to see the marketing research... (Score:2)
Oh no (Score:3, Funny)
They've turned to the dark side.
Does it come...... (Score:2)
Looks like a van from the 1970s (Score:2, Funny)
But... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:But... (Score:2, Funny)
After the outcry of the fans, there will be a third version where they both boot at the same time.
slashdotted that biotch (Score:2)
Reminiscing (Score:2)
I admit, booting the system to "what is your bidding my master", sounds appealing."
That was the startup sound on my home machine back in 1994. I wonder if they removed the music from the background of the clip. It was fun for about a week before I replaced it.
what is your bidding? (Score:2)
You boot your system more then once?
Re:what is your bidding? (Score:2)
Well *I* think it's tough... (Score:2)
This does meet one important marketing niche (Score:2)
(Where as geeks with nothing to prove make an R2-D2 case mod on their own).
aw, man! (Score:2)
I'll be impressed... (Score:2)
Not what you might think (Score:2)
They are promising the next model of Dark Side will be more mature, though.
I have an Alienware Area 51-M laptop from 2003 (Score:5, Informative)
I am very disappointed with it. I can't wait for my next computer - which will NOT be alienware!
This computer runs real hot. So hot, that if you put it in your lap, you can get second degree burns within a few minutes. I got blisters all over my thighs once that took a week to go away. I put a pillow between me and it the next time, and the pillow's polyester fill melted. Now I use a wooden cutting board. What a hassle!
The computer runs so hot, you can't use any wireless cards on it. Those cards burn up, then cause the computer to freeze. Ach! I finally got it to be wireless by using one of those usb wireless cards, which because it hangs off the back, was able to stay cool enough to function. But I can never use my card slot on this computer, ever.
My graphics card - the ATI mobility radeon 9000 - is sorely outdated. It barely dragged its butt through thief III, but when I put Everquest II on it, it just choked. It's underpowered and most games are designed with a NVIDIA in mind, so my ATI mobility card looks even worse.
It weighs a ton. At 20 lbs, it wears me down if I have to take it long distances. Gah.
It's LOUD. The fan in the computer sounds like a hurricane. Plus even the power supply is loud! The power supply goes HISSSSS all the time, even when the computer is shut off, and it's very annoying. One guest thought we had escaping gas... turned out he was just hearing the power supply.
I cannot afford a new computer until December, but I am so looking forward to it. I have learned my lesson. I do not want my high end gaming machine on a laptop. I will keep my gaming machine in a tower so I can upgrade it properly, and get a LIGHTWEIGHT, SILENT, and COOL-RUNNING laptop that I can carry around with me so I can program wherever I go. This noisy, hot, heavy beast is just too cumbersome to program on, let alone play any games on its outdated graphics card!
I think people are missing the point... (Score:3, Insightful)
Laaaaaaammmmeeee......... (Score:5, Insightful)
Worst. "Mod". Ever.
I'd have some respect for it if it was something a little more hardcore. Light sabre that shoots out from the 5 1/4" bay if your biometric doesn't scan right. A nice custom case shaped like a stormtroopers helmet. Hell, even a nicely cut out side panel with back lighting. This? This is a fuckin ironed-on graphic. Ooooh, wow.
Of course, we all know the best Star Wars mod ever was the Millenium Falcon PC. Now, we know what the lamest was too.
Thanks Slashdot.
The horror! The horror! (Score:4, Funny)
or how about:
"an illegal operation performed has been. Shutting down, program is."