This article is missing information about additional details and history prior to the Dell acquisition. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (October 2019)
Alienware Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryComputer hardware
FoundedOctober 24, 1996; 27 years ago (1996-10-24)[1][better source needed][2][3] (as Saikai of Miami, Inc.)
FoundersNelson Gonzalez, Alex Aguila, Joe Balerdi,[citation needed] Arthur Lewis, Frank Azor
Headquarters
Key people
Michael Dell (CEO)
ProductsDesktops
Notebooks
Peripherals
Monitors
Number of employees
490[4]
ParentDell
Websitewww.dell.com/en-us/gaming/alienware/

Alienware Corporation is an American computer hardware subsidiary of Dell. Their product range is dedicated to gaming computers and can be identified by their alien-themed designs.[5] Alienware was founded in 1996 by Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila.[6][7] The development of the company is also associated[why?] with Frank Azor, Arthur Lewis, Joe Balerdi,[citation needed] and Michael S. Dell. The company's corporate headquarters is located in The Hammocks, Miami, Florida.[8]

History

Overview

Established in 1996 as Saikai of Miami, Inc. by Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila, two childhood friends, Alienware assembles desktops, notebooks, workstations, and PC gaming consoles.[9][10][11][12] According to employees, the name "Alienware" was chosen because of the founders' fondness for the hit television series The X-Files, which also inspired the science-fiction themed names of product lines such as Area-51, Hangar 18, and Aurora.[13] In 1997, it changed its name to Alienware.

Acquisition and current status

Dell had considered buying the Alienware company since 2002, but did not agree to purchase the company until March 22, 2006.[14][15] As a subsidiary, it retains control of its design and marketing while benefiting from Dell's purchasing power, economies of scale, and supply chain, which lowered its operating costs.[15]

Initially, Dell maintained its competing XPS line of gaming PCs, often selling computers with similar specifications, which may have hurt Alienware's market share within its market segment.[16][17] Due to corporate restructuring in the spring of 2008, the XPS brand was scaled down, and the Desktop line was eliminated leaving only the XPS Notebooks,[17] but XPS Desktop models had returned by the end of the year.[18] Product development of gaming PCs was consolidated with Dell's gaming division, with Alienware becoming Dell's premier gaming brand.[19][20] On June 2, 2009, The M17x was introduced as the first Alienware/Dell branded system. This launch also expanded Alienware's global reach from six to 35 countries while supporting 17 different languages.[21]

Computer systems models (after acquisition by Dell)

Windows OS-based consoles

Alienware announced that it would be releasing a series of video game consoles starting in 2014, aiming to compete with the Sony PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii U, and the Microsoft Xbox One.[22] The first version in this series, the Alpha, ran Windows 8.1.[23] The operating system and ability to play PC games is what separates the Alpha from the eighth generation of video game consoles. At E3 2016, Alienware announced the second rendition of the Alpha, the Alpha R2. The R2 adds 6th generation Intel processors, a choice of either the AMD Radeon R9 M470X or Nvidia GeForce 960 graphics cards, and support for Alienware's proprietary Graphics Amplifier. It also ships with Windows 10.[24]

Graphics Amplifier

The Graphics Amplifier allows an Alienware laptop to run most full length (or smaller, non-hybrid) desktop GPUs.[25] A proprietary PCIe 3.0 ×4 cable is used instead of the Thunderbolt 3 cable used on most other eGPUs .[26]

Laptops

18 inch

17 Inch

16 Inch

15 Inch

Alienware M15x

14 Inch

Alienware M14x

13 Inch

11.6 Inch

Alienware M11x

In 2012, Alienware announced that they would discontinue the M11x model due to decreasing consumer interest in small form factor gaming laptops.[45] The company went on to offer refreshed models for the rest of their laptop range: the M14x, M17x, and M18x.[46]

Desktops

Aurora

Aurora ALX

Area-51

Area-51 ALX R1

Area-51 Threadripper Edition

X51

Video game console hybrids

Alienware Alpha

Headsets

Monitors

Alienware monitors use a standard naming convention system for their product names.

The ending characters represent a mix of features, as follows.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Alienware – Timeline". Facebook. October 23, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  2. ^ Jefferies, Charles P. (October 25, 2006). "News Bits: Alienware Turns 10, AMD Fusion Announced, Acer Turns 30 and Predicts Major Growth". NotebookReview.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  3. ^ "Detail by Entity Name". Sunbiz.org. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  4. ^ "Alienware Corporation". Hoover's. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  5. ^ "The History of Alienware". Alienware Arena. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  6. ^ Hill, Brandon (November 18, 2019). "ASUS Gaming Marketing Chief Vivian Lien To Replace Frank Azor As VP Of Dell And Alienware Gaming". HotHardware. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Meet Vivian Lien, The Woman Leading Alienware & PC Gaming To A More Inclusive Future". India Times. January 17, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Dahlberg, Nancy (May 4, 2014). "Game on! Video gaming industry growing in South Florida". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  9. ^ Chacos, Brad (June 9, 2014). "Meet Alienware's Alpha console, a Steam Machine without SteamOS (for now)". PCWorld. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  10. ^ Leather, Antony (August 27, 2015). "Alienware Launches Three New Gaming Laptops". Forbes. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  11. ^ Byford, Sam (August 27, 2015). "Alienware's gaming laptops and X51 desktop get faster specs and extra features". The Verge. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Dell to Buy Alienware, a Maker of High-End PC's for Gamers". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 23, 2006. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  13. ^ Pain, John (March 13, 2006). "Alienware racks up gamers, and millions". USA Today. The Associated Press. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  14. ^ Nguyen, Tuan (March 22, 2006). "Dell Buys Alienware". DailyTech.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Hachman, Mark (March 22, 2006). "It's Official: Dell Beams Up Alienware". PCMag. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  16. ^ Hruska, Joel (May 13, 2008). "Dell XPS phase-out symptomatic of declining PC gaming sector (updated)". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  17. ^ a b Shaun, McGlaun (May 13, 2008). "Report: Dell Axes XPS Line in favour of Alienware Gaming PCs". Daily Tech. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  18. ^ Brown, Rich (November 19, 2008). "Dell Studio XPS review: Dell Studio XPS". PCNet. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Scheck, Justin (May 13, 2008). "Dell Tries to Revive Its Game PCs". Wall Street Journal.
  20. ^ "Desktop Computers & All-in-One PCs". Dell. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  21. ^ Hachman, Mark (March 23, 2009). "Alienware Plans Worldwide Expansion; Layoffs, Too". PCMag. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  22. ^ Broekhuijsen, Niels (June 10, 2014). "Alienware's Alpha Gaming Console: What is it?". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  23. ^ Ackerman, Dan (December 4, 2014). "The Alienware Alpha is a PC that thinks like a game console". CNET. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  24. ^ Ackerman, Dan (June 13, 2016). "A big boost for the pint-sized Alienware Alpha". CNET. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  25. ^ "Alienware Graphics Amplifier". Dell.com. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  26. ^ "Alienware 13 + Graphics Amplifier Review". TechSpot. January 20, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  27. ^ "Product details: Dell Alienware M18XR3 Viking Bærbar (n00aw843)". Dell.dk. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  28. ^ "Alienware m18 Gaming Laptop – Laptop Computers | Dell USA". Dell. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  29. ^ Sag, Anshel. "Alienware Shoots For The Moon At CES 2019". Forbes. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  30. ^ Sag, Anshel. "Alienware Area-51m: A Return To PC Gaming Roots At CES 2019". Forbes. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  31. ^ "Alienware Area-51m Product Video". YouTube.
  32. ^ Ngo, Allen (May 28, 2019). "Alienware m17 R1 is barely six months old, gets completely refreshed with even thinner Alienware m17 R2". Notebookcheck.
  33. ^ "Alienware Area-51m R2 Laptop Product Video (2020)". YouTube.
  34. ^ "Alienware Area-51m R2 Gaming Laptop | Dell Middle East".
  35. ^ "Alienware m17 R4 Gaming Laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series graphics | Dell USA". Dell. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  36. ^ "Alienware m17 R4 Review". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  37. ^ "Alienware x17 Gaming Laptop Product Overview (2021)". YouTube.
  38. ^ "Alienware x17 R2 Gaming Laptop | Dell USA".
  39. ^ "Alienware x17 R2 Review: Top-Tier Power and Style". February 5, 2022.
  40. ^ "Alienware m16 Gaming Laptop – Laptop Computers | Dell USA". Dell. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  41. ^ "Alienware m15 R4 Product Overview (2021)". YouTube.
  42. ^ "Alienware m15 R7 (AMD) | Product Highlights". YouTube.
  43. ^ "Alienware m15 R7 : Gaming Laptop Computers | Dell USA".
  44. ^ "Alienware M15 R7 (2022) review". July 17, 2022.
  45. ^ Smith, Mat (April 19, 2012). "Alienware's M11x is no more, bigger is apparently better". Engadget. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  46. ^ Pinola, Melanie. "Dell Refreshes Alienware Laptop Line, Discontinues M11x". PCWorld. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  47. ^ "New Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop". Dell. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  48. ^ "Amazon.com: Alienware Gaming PC Desktop Aurora R7 – 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700, 16GB DDR4 Memory, 2TB Hard Drive + 32GB Intel Optane, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5X, Windows 10 64 bit : Everything Else". www.amazon.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  49. ^ "Alienware Aurora R8 Mid Tower Gaming Desktop | Dell USA". Dell. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  50. ^ "Alienware Aurora Pro Gaming Desktop with 9th Gen Intel CPU | Dell USA". Dell. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  51. ^ Buzzi, Matthew (November 14, 2019). "Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition Review". PCMag. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  52. ^ Freedman, Andrew E. (May 13, 2020). "Alienware's Area 51-m R2, Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop and Other Laptops Get Upgrades". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  53. ^ "Alienware Aurora R12 Gaming Desktop | Dell USA". Dell. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  54. ^ "New Alienware Alpha". Dell. Retrieved June 20, 2016.