Shots fired! CNET's review of Alienware Alpha

[ComradeHX]

While I do agree with EVERYTHING you both just said. I have to say something, as it turns out, we are the idiot peasants, we ALLOWED the game companies to DESTROY PC gaming because of consoles, WE get shitty ports that are unoptimized on high end hardware that could run those games at the very least double the framerate the consoles can and we didn't hang them for those actions!!! Unity is only one example of the major fuck ups that happened over the last few years! Locking framerates, silly textures, poor optimization, random frame drops and so on...

What do you mean by "WE"?

I hope you don't mean those people who claim they realize PC is objectively superior overall, yet goes to preorder and pick up AC:U and complain it sucks.

 

I hate all the elitism on the forum. every. single. time. a. console. is. mentioned. 

 

yeah i drive a 2000 escort. does that mean i cant love cars? 

dad has a iphone 6+ and a ipad mini, why? because he wants the newest tech that just works. 

friend bought a ps4, why? because all she wants is something that can play games. 

 

then people that say PCs are in every way better, then the game that runs completly 100% fine on consoles crashes or stutters on pcs. yeah thats the companys fault, but as a consumer, a teenage girl isnt going to want to deal with that, or someone who just had to work a 10 hour shift. some people just want to put this disk in, and start playing. 

 

I personally would go though the extra struggle and steps to get the very most out of games, hell i probably spend more time looking at gaming hardware and fine tuning the game then actually playing. because thats what i enjoy. some people love wrenching on their cars, others couldnt change a tire. 

 

ON TOPIC: ill be honest i didn't read the article. if i had to guess it throttles because of the form factor? or just is crap? well its a first gen guys. its not going to be the best. think of the first ipod or google glass. expensive, didnt do much.

It's not elitism if it's actually true. It is not a belief that PC is objectively superior, it simply is(and has the facts to back it up).

Games do not run nearly 100% fine on console potatoes.

Assassin's Creed: Unity isn't close to being the first...and sadly it probably won't be the last...

[StingBull]

The term "console peasant" is inappropriate now. Instead from now on we will use the term "special needs gamer" to define those people.

[jaggysnake57]

Wrong: Console gamers can also be hard pressed for money and hear about all the great cheap and free games on PC, which is by the way the biggest videogame market right now against all odds.

You just gotta stop thinking divisively and defensively: Microsoft and Sony want and even encourage petty arguments and rivalry to promote brand loyalty but they also subject console gamers to enough shit that they're willing to listen to reason. This device has the potential to speak very loud "There's a better way" But holding on to elitism and fights won't get you nothing. The "console peasants" thing should be an inside joke among PC gamers otherwise we should encourage and welcome console gamers.

Oh and yes this is a PC so you can install uplay and origin it will work ok. And yes you could offer your friends to go for a better build on a larger case if you want. But you won't have the marketing power Dell has behind this machine, that's whats important the ability to reach new customers, not the ability to be the best bang for the buck build.

 

even with the free to play market console gaming is still cheap.  maybe your right and this will take off, i don't see it but what do i know would be interesting to get some hardcore console gamers points of view

 

To be fair, 'ease of use' is a selling point consoles lost a long time ago. They're even worse patch-hoarders, get games with bundled 'online passes', on-disc DLC and the consoles themselves are stuffed to the brim with crappy media-related bloatware that makes Apple Quicktime look compelling.

 

And the worst offender of all, the tiny tiny tiny HDD (mechanical no less) where if you own more than 10 games you're constantly micro-managing installed and uninstalled games.

 

ease of use is still there and going strong, most use there console as a media centre and all that "bloatware" is used regularly. as for patches you start the game patch comes up it downloads apply and restarts the game easy and HDD being small are you shitting me xbox one and ps4 have 500 gb hdds thats about the same as many pc gamers SSDs or even bigger (unless you believe that SSDs are pointless for gamers :rolleyes:) consoles are not that bad i just prfer pc gaming

[That Norwegian Guy]

500 gb hdds thats about the same as many pc gamers SSDs or even bigger

 

Are you freaking shitting me, a 2TB HDD now costs like $80, I don't know a single PC gamer who have less than 1TB of storage anymore.

 

I ask in no specific direction: Any PC gamers here with 500GB or less total storage space?

[Trik'Stari]

Are you freaking shitting me, a 2TB HDD now costs like $80, I don't know a single PC gamer who have less than 1TB of storage anymore.

 

I ask in no specific direction: Any PC gamers here with 500GB or less total storage space?

Not me lol. 1tb hdd and a 128g ssd. Planning to go full SSD if I ever get the chance (maybe with a 1tb hdd for backup storage)

[Yoinkerman]

I have a couple of computers with a single 500gb drive for os/games. It's fine. Most people don't play a huge variety of games all the time. I don't need to install every single game I own.

[Guest Kloaked]

I don't think you guys realize how many people play on consoles but aren't members of any form of tech media to be in-the-know about everything.

You wanna be PC Master Race? That's cool. Just stop being asshole evangelists about it. Not everyone in the world who plays video games needs a fucking gaming PC.

[Snickerzz]

I would hope that the console peasants would wake up, but sadly they won't. They are determined to make their purchasing decisions out of ignorance "I don't have time to build a PC!, I dont have time to make sure things are up to date, I don't have time to look up what kind of hardware I should need, etc".

 

They refuse to wake up and make responsible decisions, and the industry suffers as a result.

the update thing makes 0 sense, on both pc and console just about everything will notify you and or automatically get the update

[NeatSquidYT]

I would hope that the console peasants would wake up, but sadly they won't. They are determined to make their purchasing decisions out of ignorance "I don't have time to build a PC!, I dont have time to make sure things are up to date, I don't have time to look up what kind of hardware I should need, etc".

 

They refuse to wake up and make responsible decisions, and the industry suffers as a result.

This is why I hate the PC community as a whole. Ignorant elitists whose closed minded views brings them down even more. I prefer the console community.

[NeatSquidYT]

I don't think you guys realize how many people play on consoles but aren't members of any form of tech media to be in-the-know about everything.

You wanna be PC Master Race? That's cool. Just stop being asshole evangelists about it. Not everyone in the world who plays video games needs a fucking gaming PC.

Yes. I agree completely. Look at my post above

[Guest Kloaked]

Yes. I agree completely. Look at my post above

The console community can be just as bad, just like everything else. I'm just sticking up for the people who seriously don't give a shit about the difference between consoles and PC's. Ha

[jaggysnake57]

Are you freaking shitting me, a 2TB HDD now costs like $80, I don't know a single PC gamer who have less than 1TB of storage anymore.

 

I ask in no specific direction: Any PC gamers here with 500GB or less total storage space?

i said SSD as alot of high end rigs go for it i game on ~150gbs.......its way too small but 500 would be enough for me

[Victorious Secret]

I don't think you guys realize how many people play on consoles but aren't members of any form of tech media to be in-the-know about everything.

You wanna be PC Master Race? That's cool. Just stop being asshole evangelists about it. Not everyone in the world who plays video games needs a fucking gaming PC.

 

If people here can't be elitist whores about owning a PC, how else will they measure their self worth? 

 

Excuse me while I go play some Halo, then join /r/Battlefield4s Phantom Bow server to get my bow and go finish that assignment, and maybe after I'll go over to my cousins to play some Smash. 

 

Sue me for just playing the games and not bothering with ERMAGHERD GRAAAPHIX or HOLLEEE SHIET SPECS. I too can build a pointlessly powerful rig for the 1-3 games a year I play. I don't mean on the PC. I mean total. What time I have for gaming, I spend it on stuff I find entertaining.

[That Norwegian Guy]

i said SSD as alot of high end rigs go for it i game on ~150gbs.......its way too small but 500 would be enough for me

 

Why would I be comparing SSD space to HDD space? That would be pointless. I have a 250GB SSD myself, that doesn't mean I don't also have mechanical storage (which I do, 4TB on my main rig, 24TB on my file server and 6TB on my HTPC)

[Guest Kloaked]

If people here can't be elitist whores about owning a PC, how else will they measure their self worth?

That's the thing that bothers me the most. A lot of people think since the can build a gaming PC, they must know a lot about how tech works and it gives them the right to be all high and mighty about it.

Someone at church who knows what my hobbies are mentioned that a friend of his thinks that people nowadays don't realize how easy it is to build a PC compared to way back when a computer filled an entire building and required multiple people to build and maintain it.

So you're not really accomplishing anything mind blowing when you put some parts together with instructions.

[jaggysnake57]

Why would I be comparing SSD space to HDD space? That would be pointless. I have a 250GB SSD myself, that doesn't mean I don't also have mechanical storage (which I do, 4TB on my main rig, 24TB on my file server and 6TB on my HTPC)

the point was that some high end builds use 500gb ssds so have similar storage sizes to consoles and that 500gb big enough for most gamers its 10-15 games depending on game size. i will play a game till i get board then delete it thus i only need 250 ish

 

most console games sell there games and therefore are in no need for more than 500 gb as they never have more than 2 or 3 games in there collection

[kacper]

I would hope that the console peasants would wake up, but sadly they won't. They are determined to make their purchasing decisions out of ignorance "I don't have time to build a PC!, I dont have time to make sure things are up to date, I don't have time to look up what kind of hardware I should need, etc".

 

They refuse to wake up and make responsible decisions, and the industry suffers as a result.

Fuck me , I haven't thought that I'll ever defend consoles :

 

Yeah, building PC is easy .It is now , that I have knowledge . Try explaining PCIe to your parents, or that more clockspeed is better - and then tell them that clockspeed now doesn't really matter - but at the same time it does . Confusing as hell for someone new to the subject . 

 

15 years ago I knew how to install Windows - but I had no idea that bios was on motheboard - I was scared to build my computer because I've got no idea how to install bios - stupid isn't it? I've got no access to internet so I could't google that .

 

Ok, let's say that you know everything you need , you build your pc . Everything is easy and should be working fine - unless it doesn't . This year I've upgraded my PSU and GPU . Everything just as internet guru's said . Then it's rebooting you few minutes after boot . Maybe driver problem - lets uninstall then install previous versions . Ok , couple more times . It would be easy if you could peacefully uninstall drivers but it's still rebooting you. It's Windows , isn't it? Everything on windows could be done with reinstalling windows , right? After reinstalling windows still the same thing - Win8 sucks - let's try win7 . Nothing? Too bad . 

People on internet tell you to change PSU , ok You do it - NOTHING . Let's RMA gpu . Nothing .

Then one time , you find exactly one person on internet that had the same problem .Only one post about this issue on net . 

You had to overclock 2d settings in your GPU . 

 

Now you've wasted month , countless hours . Was it worth ? For me - yes. For someone who don't know anything about PC? - I don't think so . 

Just because we like to upgrade/build/tweak PC doesn't mean everyone should.

[alicskysareblue]

CNET sucks and calling people who dare play on anything other than PC a "peasant" is starting to wear thin. If anything, it's reaching meme status and becoming very immature and frankly, obnoxious. Super Smash Bros and Pokemon alone destroys a good majority of the crap that makes it through Steam Greenlight, not to mention disappointing AAA titles like what Ubisoft is up to. Raw power only takes you so far. And this is coming from someone who only games on PC.

Cnet was not knocking consoles they were just  talking facts, I heard nothing in that review that sounded like they were making jabs at consoles, remember xbox one and ps4 run on integrated gpus. 

 

as for this console peasant bs I agree, it used to be funny because it was used in a satirical way but now its just obnoxious and demeaning, it is also really, really, REALLY,  stupid I mean at the the end of the day who the FLYING F***  cares what system you play games on they are games; a form of entertainment i.e a form of  time waster. go take your  energy and use it for something more  important.

[Trik'Stari]

Fuck me , I haven't thought that I'll ever defend consoles :

 

Yeah, building PC is easy .It is now , that I have knowledge . Try explaining PCIe to your parents, or that more clockspeed is better - and then tell them that clockspeed now doesn't really matter - but at the same time it does . Confusing as hell for someone new to the subject . 

 

15 years ago I knew how to install Windows - but I had no idea that bios was on motheboard - I was scared to build my computer because I've got no idea how to install bios - stupid isn't it? I've got no access to internet so I could't google that .

 

Ok, let's say that you know everything you need , you build your pc . Everything is easy and should be working fine - unless it doesn't . This year I've upgraded my PSU and GPU . Everything just as internet guru's said . Then it's rebooting you few minutes after boot . Maybe driver problem - lets uninstall then install previous versions . Ok , couple more times . It would be easy if you could peacefully uninstall drivers but it's still rebooting you. It's Windows , isn't it? Everything on windows could be done with reinstalling windows , right? After reinstalling windows still the same thing - Win8 sucks - let's try win7 . Nothing? Too bad . 

People on internet tell you to change PSU , ok You do it - NOTHING . Let's RMA gpu . Nothing .

Then one time , you find exactly one person on internet that had the same problem .Only one post about this issue on net . 

You had to overclock 2d settings in your GPU . 

 

Now you've wasted month , countless hours . Was it worth ? For me - yes. For someone who don't know anything about PC? - I don't think so . 

Just because we like to upgrade/build/tweak PC doesn't mean everyone should.

I knew (And still know) relatively little about PC's, and was still able to build mine. I know almost nothing about how my computer works, just that it does.

 

Consoles no longer have a purpose other than ripping people off. You get a limited operating system with limited hardware, when you could just buy something like the Alienware Alpha, or any other small form factor, pre built machine. and you end up getting an entire computer capable of infinitely more than any console. For about $50 more (in the case of the Alienware Alpha) than the launch price of a console.

 

This is why I hate the PC community as a whole. Ignorant elitists whose closed minded views brings them down even more. I prefer the console community.

 

Right, because it's ignorant to be upset that we are getting shitty PC ports as a result of people making the poor decision to buy a console, and thus telling these companies "hey, I will buy literally anything you put in front of me without a moments hesitation, I'm too busy to bother with doing any research before spending hundreds of my dollars, please, take my money" or at least that's how they see it. they see it and think "well shit, these people will throw money at us even if we don't really try to offer a good experience, and just pump stuff out while paying media people to over hype the game, and by the time they realize what they've bought, they can't return it."

 

 

 

the update thing makes 0 sense, on both pc and console just about everything will notify you and or automatically get the update

 

Tell that to the plebs, the fact that you MIGHT have to click "allow update" is just SOOOOO taxing.

[KamiKatze]

GTX 860M, WTF alienware? Make it 10% bigger, put a 970 in.

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

This thread is basically the reason I hate tech forums, and especially this bullshit trash community (At least when this gets posted)

Take the PC Master Race bullshit and stick it where the sun doesn't shine

The OP is a newbie so he doesn't exactly represent the entire forum

[kacper]

I knew (And still know) relatively little about PC's, and was still able to build mine. I know almost nothing about how my computer works, just that it does.

 

Consoles no longer have a purpose other than ripping people off. You get a limited operating system with limited hardware, when you could just buy something like the Alienware Alpha, or any other small form factor, pre built machine. and you end up getting an entire computer capable of infinitely more than any console. For about $50 more (in the case of the Alienware Alpha) than the launch price of a console.

 

 

Right, because it's ignorant to be upset that we are getting shitty PC ports as a result of people making the poor decision to buy a console, and thus telling these companies "hey, I will buy literally anything you put in front of me without a moments hesitation, I'm too busy to bother with doing any research before spending hundreds of my dollars, please, take my money" or at least that's how they see it. they see it and think "well shit, these people will throw money at us even if we don't really try to offer a good experience, and just pump stuff out while paying media people to over hype the game, and by the time they realize what they've bought, they can't return it."

 

 

 

 

Tell that to the plebs, the fact that you MIGHT have to click "allow update" is just SOOOOO taxing.

Yeah, if everyone was playing on high end PC games would look nicer . But seriously, who cares about that? Not to mention fact that without "plebs" as you say it - we wouldn't get as many AAA titles as we do now. 

 

By the way, if you think that we are getting shitty ports , maybe your PC sucks? My 780ti doesn't complain about anything - in fact even "shitty" AC:U runs good.

[Trik'Stari]

Yeah, if everyone was playing on high end PC games would look nicer . But seriously, who cares about that? Not to mention fact that without "plebs" as you say it - we wouldn't get as many AAA titles as we do now. 

 

By the way, if you think that we are getting shitty ports , maybe your PC sucks? My 780ti doesn't complain about anything - in fact even "shitty" AC:U runs good.

I do have a gtx 660. The rest of my system is fine though.

 

I was referring more to the general degradation of development practices in general, like releasing an unfinished game and just fixing anything that pops up with a patch.

 

 

This video applies not just to pre-orders, but to the entire console gaming scene in general. Have you every really stopped to think "is this screwing me?". Can people not just learn some patience and learn to get as much value for their money as possible, instead of just "OOOH NEW CONSOLE MUST BUY, 90% MORE GEN!!!!"

 

Edit: I also forgot, games like Destiny, where you are going to have to pay in order to finish the storyline (which by some accounts is shitty to begin with).

[kacper]

I do have a gtx 660. The rest of my system is fine though.

 

I was referring more to the general degradation of development practices in general, like releasing an unfinished game and just fixing anything that pops up with a patch.

 

 

This video applies not just to pre-orders, but to the entire console gaming scene in general. Have you every really stopped to think "is this screwing me?". Can people not just learn some patience and learn to get as much value for their money as possible, instead of just "OOOH NEW CONSOLE MUST BUY, 90% MORE GEN!!!!"

 

Edit: I also forgot, games like Destiny, where you are going to have to pay in order to finish the storyline (which by some accounts is shitty to begin with).

When you grow up , you'll realise that world isn't black and white. Yes, current gen consoles are the worst I've ever witnessed , yet they sell like crazy despite fact that there isn't much to play on them . We are getting screwed by management of big corporations , but try to imagine how long would company survive if developers would be responsible for finances. 

Everyone is shitting at Ubisoft - in fact they are one of the best companies to work for (in terms of job stability) . Because of their every year AC release schedule - everyone has pretty stable job for quite some time - something that is rare for game developers. 

First time in long time Ubi didn't downgrade a game . They got rid of tailing missions - they added pseudo stealth aproach which is quite fun . 

Everyone was complaining that our uber PC and nitrogen cooled GPUs were idling at new gen titles - but when one game put everything to test ,now people complain that they can't run it.

 

BTW ACU has the best lightning I've ever seen .

[Thony]

I would hope that the console peasants would wake up, but sadly they won't. They are determined to make their purchasing decisions out of ignorance "I don't have time to build a PC!, I dont have time to make sure things are up to date, I don't have time to look up what kind of hardware I should need, etc".

They refuse to wake up and make responsible decisions, and the industry suffers as a result.

I see it differently, they rather buy a cheap box, download the game and play it. No maintanace no worries and most importantly no need to invest any more money into it because it will run any (except exclusives) game for many years.

PC needs upgrades, at least GPU once in 3 years (if we talk about a pc that matches console price)