Gateway Parts

Is this a good laptop?

It's a gateway http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8651167&productCategoryId=pcmcat138500050001&type=product&tab=1&id=1195599780039#productdetail I heard many bad things about Gateway. But the reviews tell the opposite.

Public Comments

1. Dont bother with Best Buy, They only have 1 month warranty with them so you might as well buy elsewhere. take a look at this. http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsnb_m1530?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=bundlestab dell warranty is awesome.
2. I haven't heard too many great things about Gateway... but then I haven't paid that much attention to them. Check out this system: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DNDWMA3&s=dhs Lots of the same specs as the one at bestbuy, less expensive, room to upgrade before reaching the same price, YOU GET TO PICK YOUR FAVORITE COLOR!... and the tie breaker for me... the warranty. The Gateway comes with a 1 year parts and labor warranty, while the Dell comes with 3 years parts and labor (in home, which means that if you need a part replaced, they will come to your home the next day! and life time phone support. So even if the warranty for parts expires, they will still talk to you over the phone to help you figure out what's going on with the machine). You just can't beat that type of support. But you decide, it's your hard earned money! Happy Shopping!
3. to help you decide... This is from my notes, hope it helps.. Always work out what your needs are and buy a laptop to suit. Choosing a laptop ============= You have to decide on weight and battery criteria. 1. Weight - If you are going to carry it to and fro to school/office then consider getting a lightweight model. An external CD drive may be an option as if you not into burning disks or watching DVD then you hardly use the CD drive. Something about less than 2 kg is a lightweight. 2. Battery Life, - if you never going to use it on batteries then you can go bigger processor and larger screen. You can consider not buying the battery if appropriate. You can have two power supplies; one at home and one in the office is good for large heavy laptops. If you want to use the laptop on batteries then you may have to choose a smaller processor and a smaller screen so you can get the hours required out of the battery. 3. Minimum specifications – Games will require more specifications – more ram and –more video card specs – more processor power. Generally though: -a decent video card (for projection of power point presentations) -Wireless networking -Ethernet -Consider a high speed hard drive - Consider 80GB Hard drive or larger - Consider an external DVD drive or an Internal Burner -depending on your needs -Consider 1 Gig RAM for XP or 2 Gig RAM for Vista -Software able to update from their websites -Internet security and -Antispyware (free from net) is a must for internet use. -Easy accessible USB ports - built in webcam - A Mouse - a keystone lock -A carry bag. Sometimes the manufacturer’s bag is the best buy Consider getting the hard drive partitioned to C: and D: The C drive can be 30 gig for a laptop D drive is extended across the remaining. When looking at laptops in the shop do this: In Vista click start >control panel >system and support >system Go through the results you can see what hardware and what Microsoft products are installed in the laptop/ computer. Google luck!!! Vista versus XP: All laptops are sold with Vista on it, it may be wise to get a higher standard Vista eg premium as it may network better. If you want to install your own XP disks on it first you have to find out if XP has drivers to suit the hardware on your laptop. Since you paid for your Vista, keep it. In a couple of months it will be the norm and it will be running sweet. There is due a service pack issue in March 08. If you want to load XP consider partition the Hard drive and dual boot. Google “dual boot vista xp” for step by step instructions but don’t forget a third partition for your files.
4. The DELL warranty may be awesome. But the product is CRAP. Believe me Ive been in the IT industry 10 years and a lot of my time was spent dealing with DELLs