AlienWare

Tagline: Build it as if it were your own

Basic Info:

Alienware was founded in 1996 by avid gamers and spirited entrepreneurs Nelson Gonzalez, CEO, and Alex Aguila, COO and President – and manufactures high-performance desktop, notebook, media center, and professional systems. It has earned a reputation for its ‘unorthodox excellence’ and sells directly in United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
“According to employees, the Alienware name was chosen because of the founders’ fondness for the hit television series The X-Files, hence the theme to their products, with names such as Area-51, Hangar-18 m15x, and Aurora.” – Wikipedia.

In 2009, The M17x was introduced as the First Alienware/Dell branded system. Alienware now represents the premium performance space in Dell’s consumer family of products

Alienware misssion says its all – ” Empower the customer to create, work and play faster by innovating and building the most powerful computers in the world.”

• Funding: Acquired by Dell Corporation in March 2006 as a wholly-owned subsidiary
• Headquarters: 14591 SW 120 St, Miami, FL 33186-8638
• Additional Offices: Call center in Costa Rica, full facility European Branch in Ireland and a full facility Pacific Rim Branch in Australia.
• Employees: 700+ worldwide

What it does?

• Assembles third party components into desktops with custom enclosures for high-performance gaming
• Alienware products also support graphically intense applications such as video editing, simulation, and audio editing
• Alienware also offers for sale recertified laptops and computer peripherals, such as headsets, computer mice, monitors and keyboards.

Notable Alienware innovations

Alienware® Video Array Technology

• Exclusive Alienware® Full Tower Chassis
• Custom Metallic Colors
• AlienGUIse Desktop Theme Manager 4.0
• Alienware® Liquid Cooling Technology
• ALX High-Performance Systems
• User Replaceable Graphics in Notebooks
• Award-Winning System Integration
• Exclusive AlienIce™ Video Cooling System
• AlienAutopsy™ Automated Technical Support Request System
• Alien Factory Automated Operating System and Driver Installation Program
• Alien Adrenaline™ Video Performance Optimizer

Awards

• Maximum PC: Kick Ass Product Award
• PC Gamer: 16 Editor’s Choice Awards
• PC World: 2006 & 2005 World Class Award
• CNET’s “Best of CES” 2007 Gaming Category
• PC Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award 2005
• INC 500: Named One of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
• Ernst and Young: Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• Florida Trend: 2005 Top 200 Private Companies
• Smart Computing: Customer Support Overall Grade ‘A’
• PC World: Top 15 Desktop PCs
• PC World: Stuff We Love Award
• CNET: Editors’ Choice Award
• ZDNET: Editors’ Choice Award
• Computer Shopper: Best Buy Awards
• Computer Shopper: Shoppers’ Choice Award
• Computer Games Editors’ Choice Award
• Computer Gaming World: Editors’ Choice Award
• Tech TV: Lab Pick Award
• Laptop Magazine: Hot Pick Award
• Reseller Ratings.com: Gold Customer Satisfaction Award
• Videomaker: Best Products 2004

Products:

Alienware is known for the following line of high performance products -

1. LapTop
   • Area-51 m15x
   • M17
   • M17 x
   
2. DeskTop
   • Aurora
   • Aurora Torchbearer Edition
   • Area-51 series
   • ALX X58

3. Desktop barebones

4. Gear Shop: accessories
5. Game downloads
6. Recertified systems

Management:

• Nelson Gonzalez – CEO
• Alex Aguila – COO & President
• Arthur Lewis – General Manager
• Frank Azor – EVP

Revenues: As of FY 2005, Alienware brought in upwards of $170 million USD in annual sales.
Website: www.alienware.com