Alienware co-founder Nelson Gonzalez discusses the state of the custom PC gaming hardware market in the late 1990s.
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Gonzalez: Major PC makers failed to anticipate the rapid growth of gaming PCs
“There was quite a bit of pressure back then for them, but they didn't understand our market. They had no idea that this market would grow so fast and that there were so many people that were closet gamers, if you will.”
Opinion
Gonzalez: Apple Was the Only Computer Maker Prioritizing Distinct Design
“The only guys that were really doing something
Interesting with the PC that gave it a design, gave it a life was Apple.”
Opinion
Gonzalez: Dell did a phenomenal job preserving the Alienware brand
“Honestly, they did a phenomenal job of preserving the brand.”
Opinion
Post-acquisition, Dell's bureaucracy operated like a slow-moving aircraft carrier
“There was a lot of corporate, you know, like, requests, and a lot of, ah, decisions that would take a long time, because there was a lot of analysis that had to be done, understandably slow, so it was a public, ah, company, and I understand that, but, Man, I k…”
Disclosure
Gonzalez: Alienware was initially funded entirely with credit card debt
“Listen, it was credit card debt. We didn't have any cash.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Gonzalez: Early Alienware PCs averaged $6,000 to $7,000 each
“Yeah, yeah, no, actually, back then it was, the machines were averaging closer to six to 7000 dollars.”