Okies...
or you could think that maybe I took a look at the forums after doing a google search, and found the forum.
Closest I work to Alienware is having been in a commercial filmed in Florida. Sorry to dash your hopes like that (I don't even think that the AW techs answer posts on their own forums, so why the heck would one waste their time here?).
But its nice to see that you've proven yourself a fool with your language though. However, if you'd like to feel even more of a putz, please check out some of the forums for NeoTech, or other people who copied the old AW design... there's a reason I'm a regular poster there.
Truth of the matter is that even with parts received at a substantial discount you'd be hard pressed to build a laptop for the huge price decrease that you claim that you can, and still have it compete with the performance of a Dell 8500/8600, Sager, or AW. If you could, everyone would be doing it. For the extra $ you pay, you get the support of the company. If the price difference was as great as you claim, then it wouldn't matter... but it's not. 5 years, and it'll be a different story.
Now if you had said desktop... I wouldn't have disputed it, as it's relatively well known that you can do it cheaper (and with better results). Which is why I build my own desktops.
Laptops, however, are a different animal
BTW: are flexfit motherboards even on the general market yet?
Now I totally agree with you about the cost $... it's ridiculous for the Area-51m, and the design of the chassis leaves a bit to be desired (one smart bay, what is up with that?), but like I said, if you are smart, one can get one for the same price (roughly) as a comprably equipped Dell 8600.
Heck, I wouldn't even consider getting one if I didn't use the promos and then get some major $ back from the union for doing so. I'm not foolish enough to pay full price for something like that!