I don't know where this Alienware having crappy tech support rumor came from as Alienware has always had some of the best computers and tech support in the industry. It was the most well known of the main gaming PC makers (Alienware, Voodoo, Falcon Northwest). Also, Dell purchased a widely known and respected brand. Alienware wasn't stealing Dell's sales of the XPS line, it was just because if people were going to spend $4000 on a gaming PC they sure as hell aren't going to buy a Dell built with mostly generic parts, they want an Alienware with the custom paint job, case and cabling, or a really high-end one from Voodoo. If anything, Dell's would keep around Alienware for gaming and drop the XPS, although this is only speculation on my part. It just doesn't make sense for them to buy out a brand name and simply ruin it or turn it into another Dell when the brand name had recognition and was known as being one of the best.