He'd only kick your butt if it was a direct competitor with SM, tillery, which alienware is not as that's about hardware.

I will say this about alienware...they are a bit overpriced. I just looked at their custom machines for maya...the machine I built over a year ago was cheaper than their lower end "maya" box and mine has actually more bang for the buck. It's always better to buy components direct and build your own....fairly easy, too, as long as you take your time.

The most nerve-wracking thing for me was removing the thermal tape from the heatsink I bought and applying artic III. After everything was built, I just let it run for 24 hrs and kept an eye on the temperatures.

Maya student, you could always search google....there are tons of articles on building your own computer. Also, read the forums at whatever company you plan on buying your mobo from (if they have one)....I learned alot that way when choosing mine.