Alienware talks new media center, CableCARD for Hangar 18

For you malcontents out there waiting for a really, really tough media center, Alienware may be answering your call. According to reports, the gamer-targeting PC-maker will be launching an addition to its media center lineup (currently just the Hangar 18) sometime soon, and apparently the new variation will be somewhat of a heavy hitter. The upcoming, higher-end phase of the company's home entertainment line will be capable of handling two CableCARDs, will have four swappable hard drive bays (for a total of 4TB of storage), and will be available with Blu-ray and audio distribution options. In addition to the new system, Alienware has also announced that it will be offering CableCARD support for its current Hangar 18 models via an external OCUR (OpenCable Unidirectional Receiver), although the add-on will have to be installed by a professional reseller. We can only hope they'll offer an over spec'd, stylized remote to work all of this new gear.

[L. Kraven @ Aug 17th 2007 12:57PM]

Buyer Beware:

They took my order for the original Hanger 18 in early July. They charged my credit card the same day. They estimated a ship date of 8/6/07 exactly 30 days out. I called a couple times a week starting on 8/1. First, it would ship on time. Then it would be one week out. Basically, every time I called, they would tell me "one more week" until I got fed up and got a supervisor who let me know they had not yet shipped a SINGLE unit and could not confirm when they would be able to do so, though she suspected it would be before the end of NOVEMBER.

It is vaporware for now. I cancelled my order and am still waiting for the charges to clear.

[Ant @ Aug 17th 2007 3:58PM]

I'm hearing ya. I heard a lot about Alienware and not all good. When I see there PC's I just think it looks like a pimped up case from PC World with loads of off-the-shelf stuff crammed inside with a mad price tag. All that stuff put together must mean trouble at some point, what do they cool em with heavy water or liquid nitrogen, ow god I’ve just given them their gimmick for a new range.

[Ian Jardine @ Aug 17th 2007 1:07PM]

They talk about 5.1 sound. Why no 7.1 sound if you are going high end especially with a BluRay Player installed?

[jimmyfinch @ Aug 17th 2007 7:16PM]

Your mom's basement is not big enough to take advantage of 7.1.

[Fruition @ Aug 17th 2007 10:47PM]

jimmy what are you, twelve? Go back to your WoW pvp server and kill lowbies in Hillsbrad to raise your self-esteem.

[andrew @ Aug 17th 2007 1:27PM]

Michael D must agree with this philosophy... just look at the earnings restatements. And don't tell me Presidents and CEOs don't know about that stuff, let alone Wiki re-writes.... they just have their assistants make the wiki changes, while hiding in their offices re-writing the books.

[jimmyfinch @ Aug 17th 2007 7:52PM]

There's the television. It's all right there - all right there. Look, listen, kneel, pray. Commercials! We're not productive anymore. We don't make things anymore. It's all automated. What are we *for* then? We're consumers, Jim. Yeah. Okay, okay. Buy a lot of stuff, you're a good citizen. But if you don't buy a lot of stuff, if you don't, what are you then, I ask you? What? Mentally *ill*. Fact, Jim, fact - if you don't buy things - toilet paper, new cars, computerized yo-yos, electrically-operated sexual devices, stereo systems with brain-implanted headphones, screwdrivers with miniature built-in radar devices, voice-activated computers...

[Andrew @ Aug 17th 2007 1:36PM]

If I See One More Media Center I'm Going Start Punting Babies Into Traffic

[sftfixx234 @ Aug 17th 2007 1:44PM]

yeah, i bet the remote alone will have core 2 duo

[Mo @ Aug 17th 2007 3:30PM]

Dude, I am telling you guys. That is Alienware. They suck. I have had 5 of their computers in the past. Worst tech and custumor support. They gave me such a headache. I bought one of their alienware DHS systems which was nothing but trouble. Stay clear and go with a different company. Just a warning and trying to save you guys from the stress that I had. But if you dont believe me, go for it and see for yourself.

Mo!

[David @ Aug 17th 2007 6:39PM]

5 Alienware computers?? Dude, it took you that long to figure out bad they are??

I bought one and that was it for me. Never ever again. It has been the worst computer I have ever had in 20 years. It's slow, quirky, freezes, shuts down for no reason, is loud, and can't handle more than a couple of applications at a time. It's just awful. I've gone to Apple, but if I had to have a Windows machine, I'd go with a generic Dell.

[pauly @ Oct 4th 2007 11:55PM]

Just got mine after 3 months. the remotes great, really cool, the wireless mini keyboard is great. I could not hook it up to my satellite box due to lack of inputs. No component input, no hdmi input, no s/pdif input only output. Unit is quiet and cool but I can't use it w/my satellite due to lack of card support. user friendly after you get used to it. I'm returning mine. Call 619-607-0766 if you want to buy it.