Dell's XPS Gaming brand to disappear this year

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 16th June 2009
Comments (11) Stumble
Dell's XPS Gaming brand to disappear this year

Following a number of whispers at Computex, we have learned that Dell is to close its XPS Gaming brand soon.

Following a number of rumours at Computex, we have learned that Dell is working to streamline its business and is will no longer sell XPS branded gaming PCs soon.

Dell will instead focus its resources in the lucrative gaming PC sector on Alienware, which it acquired in 2006, although the company spokesperson stopped short of giving a date when this transition would happen.

"You'll see an overlap of several months," said Dell spokesperson Markus Schuetz in an email conversation.

Schuetz was referring to the new Alienware M17x gaming laptop, which will eventually replace the XPS M1730 when it is phased out later this year. "We will have similar situations on the desktop front later this year," he said before later adding "we will transition current Dell XPS 6xx and 7xx to Alienware later this fall/winter."

Despite this, Schuetz was keen to point out that Dell's XPS brand will also continue to exist as well under the Studio XPS line, which features more stylish and lifestyle-orientated PCs and laptops.

Sources at a number of Dell's suppliers spoke to us at Computex and suggested that Alienware would be closing down. One source said that this would happen by August 20th at the latest, which is not confirmed by Dell. At the time, we were incredibly sceptical and, after speaking to more sources in search more concrete information, we were still drawing blanks - and Dell wouldn't comment on the rumours.

It looks as if we've finally got to the bottom of this one now though - it's merely a case of Dell streamlining itself. Schuetz said that "it's like throwing the best of two worlds into one pot. . . .these [new] systems will blow you away, that's for sure."

Discuss in the forums.
Quote Singularity 16th June 2009, 15:41
Well, it makes sense from a company perspective... but the end result will be that gaming PCs from dell will all cater to the "zomg alienz! kewl!!!11One" crowd... I much prefer the XPS design style than the over the top Alienware one...
Quote AlexB 16th June 2009, 15:49
And the price of the XPS boxes was always a bit easier to swallow.

Oh well, it's not like most of us were going to buy either, anyway..
Quote lewchenko 16th June 2009, 16:25
Ive never bought an XPS or Alienware desktop PC as I build my own, but I know someone who has bought an XPS gaming rig... and whilst I considered it expensive, it is decent in spec, and has been reliable. I also quite like the look of them.

I do not like their use of proprietary components though in some aspects.

People often attack Dell for quality issues etc, but they also do some good stuff... the PC market would be a worse place without them ! I see the Dell Studio XPS 16" line won awards in this month's latest PC PRO... and they claimed the screen was one of the best they had seen... so its not all dodgy !

Ive always considered Alienware stuff to be a bit too much over priced though...more so than the XPS range.
Quote Denis_iii 16th June 2009, 17:29
no loss in my opinion and a good move though if the choice was between alienware and dell i'd go with the XPS
Quote HourBeforeDawn 16th June 2009, 19:18
thats funny Dell bought Alienware to make their XPS systems better and so on but they made Alienware constrained to their low quality building practices so of course nothing improved and both companies got pulled down, ehh but as others have mentioned no loss at all.
Quote frontline 16th June 2009, 19:52
Always preferred the styling of the XPS branded stuff, which was a lot better value for money (even if it was still far more expensive than building your own).
Quote Abbo 16th June 2009, 21:21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Singularity
Well, it makes sense from a company perspective... but the end result will be that gaming PCs from dell will all cater to the "zomg alienz! kewl!!!11One" crowd... I much prefer the XPS design style than the over the top Alienware one...

Have to agree, prefer the look of the XPS over Alienware.

Are they thinking of replacing it with the Alienware, or will they bring out another model?
Quote regnez 17th June 2009, 04:04
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexB
And the price of the XPS boxes was always a bit easier to swallow.

Oh well, it's not like most of us were going to buy either, anyway..

False. I got my parents an XPS One (the 20" one) from the Dell Outlet about a year ago for ~$550, which is outstanding value, particularly for an AiO.

Sure, the outrageously high-end gaming desktops are overpriced, but lately Dell has been branching out its XPS line to include all sorts of high-quality, award-winning notebooks aimed squarely at the mid-range market. Also, it doesn't hurt that most XPS computers come with a three year, on-site warranty as standard.

The XPS line was not for everybody, but no computer is, and I'd be disappointed to see it go.
Quote tron 17th June 2009, 11:27
The streamlining thing definitely makes business sense, of course.

But according to my personal taste, they are getting rid of the wrong gaming brand.

XPS styling is much nicer and minimal than Alienware desktops. XPS cases are also much better for air cooling efficiency than the 'front closed door' Alienware style.
Quote Denis_iii 17th June 2009, 14:21
Quote:
Originally Posted by regnez
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexB
And the price of the XPS boxes was always a bit easier to swallow.

Oh well, it's not like most of us were going to buy either, anyway..

False. I got my parents an XPS One (the 20" one) from the Dell Outlet about a year ago for ~$550, which is outstanding value, particularly for an AiO.

Sure, the outrageously high-end gaming desktops are overpriced, but lately Dell has been branching out its XPS line to include all sorts of high-quality, award-winning notebooks aimed squarely at the mid-range market. Also, it doesn't hurt that most XPS computers come with a three year, on-site warranty as standard.

The XPS line was not for everybody, but no computer is, and I'd be disappointed to see it go.

i don't think they are dropping the xps line, just the gaming xps line
Quote dyzophoria 18th June 2009, 05:56
makes sense, the alienware brand has well been tied up to gaming desktops (and laptops) for I can remember, makes no sense why a single company would have 2 different Brands for gaming rigs even though the XPS gaming brand has been catching on quite well. :)
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