[citation][nom]captaincharisma[/nom]its true you could build a powerhouse PC cheaper but keep in mind that dell bought Alienware and its still alive and well. which proves there is always lazy noobs who what a kick@$$ computer just go buy one because they can't find anyone to spoon feed them the info[/citation]
While Alienware is alive, I don't know how "well" one can consider it. Most gamers consider it a joke brand. Their machines are overpriced and underpowered. They advertise the price of their entry level machines but, especially in the case of their laptops, they aren't powered enough to play the latest games.
But as for Microsoft buying HP's PC division, that would be corporate suicide for them. First off the regulators would never allow it due to antitrust concerns. Secondly, they would alienate all other PC vendors who would stop being customers and start being competitors. And thirdly it would be disastrous for the consumers, because once other PC vendors saw Microsoft competing with them, they would then start using other OS's which would fragment the market further. I know some people don't see this as a big deal, but the reason Windows is by far the most popular OS is because of compatibility. Until we can take a software disc and install it on any OS people need something that is compatible, and the "cloud" where apps run on the net is seen by far to many as risky considering the hacking that goes on and the lack of security able to thwart it.