Flags

Flags are great. There's so much history behind them, so much hard work and achievement... Flags can be useful, though, too. Sometimes, when you move a flag or hang it in a certain way, then you're trying to send a message. Here are a few examples:

• If you hang any flag at half-mast: Mourning
• If you hang the American flag upside-down: Bring help
• If you hang a white flag at half-mast: You're a pessimist
• If you hang the Canadian flag upside down: You're American
• If you hang the British flag upside-down: You're an idiot
• If you hang a white flag upside-down: You should see an eye doctor
• If you burn an American flag: You're probably not happy
• If you burn a Canadian flag: The Leafs lost... Again.
• If you burn a white flag: You're Cheney
• If you burn a black flag with a skull-and-crossbones: You hate wall street bankers
• If you burn a French flag: You're jealous of their 5 week mandatory vacation

The Good and the Bad with Alienware

Positive points:

• After the billing process, the bulding and sending of the laptop actually seems to go quite quickly.
• The Alienware website has amazing U/I.
• TI have so far not encountered any of the "humongous" problems that have apparently occurred with certain people's machines.
• Quote: "AlienSense facial recognition software offers unprecedented security to Alienware notebook users. Utilizing the system’s webcam, AlienSense records and analyzes up to 1,000 distinguishing features for failsafe accuracy. Passwords can be forgotten, stolen or guessed. Biometric identification cannot be duplicated or forged.
  Each time you log on to your Alienware notebook, AlienSense collects biometric data to constantly improve its speed and accuracy. This ability to learn allows AlienSense to adapt to day-to-day variations in your appearance including hair style or length, whether you’re wearing glasses and even facial hair.
  AlienSense has four separate security modes for varying degrees of desired protection.
  Disabled — All AlienSense functionality is completely turned off
  Face Login — AlienSense logs you on when you first access the computer and then performs no additional security checks until the computer is locked, logged off or rebooted.
  Auto User Switching — AlienSense automatically switches between user Vista accounts when a new user approaches and is recognized. “Auto lock on unauthorized user” locks the desktop after 60 seconds of viewing an unrecognized face.
  Continuous Security — AlienSense is set to lock the desktop after a preset amount of time without a face visible. This is AlienSense’s highest security level and allows you to lock your computer automatically any time you walk away from the system. " From: http://www.alienware.com/products/notebooks/area-51_m15x/more_info/more-infos-command-center-asense.html
• It kicks ass.

Negative points:

• The billing process (Phase 3) takes two buisness days to finish.
• The price is insane...

That's it so far. I'll update as I get further in the process towards my new computer!

My Alienware m15x

Oh yah. I finally convinced the ones who control the money in my house to get me an Alienware. I would type up the specs, but that may take a lot of time. I think I'll chronicle the process of it getting to my house (in Toronto, Canada) from the factory (somewhere in Florida, US).

So, to start, I paid for it on Monday the 2nd.

• Phase 1: (Order Confirmation): Monday 2nd of February
  Your order has been received and is awaiting order confirmation. As part of our security procedures, all orders must be confirmed before they can be processed.
  
  
• Phase 2: (Billing) : Tuesday 3rd of February
  Your order has been validated and is waiting payment processing. While in this stage we are confirming any credit card and/or payment information for security purposes. Please understand that this phase is necessary as it will protect you the customer from any fraudulent transactions. We observe very strict security guidelines and hope you will appreciate our efforts. Note: Your method of payment and other factors may influence how quickly we can build your PC.
  
  
  
• Phase 3: (Payment Processed): Wednesday 5 of February.
  Payment has been received and the order is now in queue for
  production.
  
  
• Phase 4: (Pre-Production): Wednesday 5 of February
  The inventory that will be used to custom build the PC is being pulled and inspected. In the rare occurrence that a PC component is not readily available, you will be notified via email.
  
  
• Phase 5: (Production Phase 1 - Assembly): Wednesday 5 of February
  Your system is being hand-built by an Alienware Assembly Technician. Alienware takes great pride in building our systems, as our motto reflects, "build it as if it were your own." The assembly stage can take some time, as all the components and cabling in the system is carefully installed for greater upgrade flexibility and thermal airflows. Every Assembly Technician has been trained and qualified to Alienware standards. We pride ourselves on giving you a high performance computer system!
  
  
• Phase 6: (Production Phase 2 - Integration): Wednesday 5 of February
  This stage includes the installation of the operating system, drivers and any applications that are specific to the system you ordered. Our Alienware Integration Technician will also install any demos, benchmark utilities, and burn-in software necessary to correctly monitor your system’s performance. These functions are performed by AlienFactory, a proprietary software designed by Alienware for our valued customers. This is also the first stage of the Alienware 200-Point Quality Control Process.
  
  
• Phase 7: (Production Phase 3 – System Testing): Wednesday 5 of February
  Your system is undergoing the second stage of the Alienware 200-Point Quality Control Process. This is the most crucial stage. We perform a series of grueling tests that push the hardware components in your system to the very limit. This phase is especially important because it is here where the system either passes or fails. If it does fail, it will automatically go to one of our Diagnostic Technicians to identify and correct any problems before we ship it to you. The system may need to go back to an earlier production phase to meet stringent Alienware performance standards.
  
  
• Phase 8: (Production Phase 4 - Quality Control/Shipping Prep): Wednesday 5 of February
  The system is undergoing the final stage of the Alienware 200-Point Quality Control Process. An Alienware Quality Inspector is in charge of inspecting your system from top to bottom for any obvious or latent defects. Our Inspectors are seasoned technicians/engineers and are very experienced in the art of perfection. Note: If the system does not pass any of our performance standards, the system may have to go back to an earlier production phase and it may slightly delay your order.
  
  
• Phase 9: (Order Shipped): Just got it.
  Congratulations, the order has been shipped. We only hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed building it for you.