Alienware Aurora (Core i7-2600K, spring 2011)

Pros: i7 2600k overclocked to 4.1ghz option, overclocked it myself to 4.5ghz for anticipation of Battlefield 3.
8gb RAM @ 1333mhz, 32gb @ 1866mhz possible.
2x Nvidia GTX 460 SLI @ 1gb each.
Alienware phone Rep. gave me option of 850watt Power supply.
21.5 in. 1

Cons: RAM is 4 sets of 2gb, not either (2)4gb or (1)8gb. Makes upgrading RAM more costly and wasteful.
Factory overclock of i7 @ 3.4ghz to 4.1ghz was not overclocked before shipping. I had to manually do it in BIOS. Still charged for additional overclock ($100+

Summary: Amazing computer for the price. Got a great deal on upgrading the Processor and Graphics card at the time of purchase. Alienware always has a new deal every week or month, but my current design has still been the cheapest since I bought it. It would currently cost around $2600 without the 2 Year Accidental Damage.

The i7-2600k still out performs many of the new i7-Extreme processors out now, so it was a perfect fit for Alienware's lower end Chassis Platform. The Chassis lights up our living room with the lights off and is a great combo with black lights and lasers for when we have parties.

With the price comes Dell's guarantee and services, plus all of their additional junk that they add on for product placement of their sponsors and partners. I also think that a lot of consumers and critics are spoiled and expect too much from a product for it's price. Everyone expects the product they buy to be the next Ipad or Iphone. Being a life time Dell user/consumer as well as a 2nd time Alienware buyer, I must say that the quality has maintained even in the time of economic uncertainty, and a time where consumers/critics expect more bang for their buck.

Compared to the competition, the price I payed was on the median, or par, with other competitors offering the same specifications as my Aurora R3, except they lacked the cooling elements and the 2 Year Accidental Damage coverage included in that price. While prices and deals fluctuate over at Dell, I know I got a good deal then.
Building this computer yourself from scratch with a similar chassis and the same motherboard and manufacturers of the parts, I found my total added up to around $3100, minus the monitor.

Thank you for improving this system :-)

Updated on May 8, 2012

agniredux, If you haven't noticed, I have mentioned you above in my review, or at least people who share your point of view. And in the end, a lot of the time it comes down to user error. You are sold to the Apple Market and even mentioned the IMac. Your inability to really be tech savvy in the PC world must be your reasoning to go with the ever popular brands Apple sells to you, and markets in such a way that you absolutely have to have whatever product it is they're selling, even if you don't have an entire productive or recreational use for it, and you don't even know why you want it. Apple makes their products fool proof.

It has been almost a year and I have still not had any problems with my computer purchase. Perhaps it does depend on the buyer and the user. I have easily maintained my PC with little to no work, and may even upgrade my Graphics Card here soon.

Don't be quick to judge based on one bad experience with anything in life.

And yes, all corporations are evil :-)