Gave Alienware another chance. Not going well...
I decided to give Alienware another chance. This was a dream brand to own since I was a kid, but every time I try to give them a go, it ends poorly lol. You think I would just give up, but I am still chasing the dream.
This time I ordered an M18 R2. After the initial setup, none of the windows updates will install. I figured while I waited I would open up the Alienware command center only to find out in is not installed... I give up on the windows updates after a couple reboots and decide to try a reset and start over, but now the Windows Reset wont even start. At this point I will probably just try a windows USB reinstall..
I have not even been able to judge this machine on any actual performance yet, but this feels about on par tbh. I also ordered a X16 R2 to try out, just because I was not sure if this M18 might be a bit too unwieldily so I am sure that will be a bag of fun when it arrives.
**Update**
After a full windows reinstall, and then some installs of components from the support site. it is up and running. Overall now that that is fixed, the performance seems pretty good now.