Many longtime computer users recognize the fact that Gateway has been a major contender in the computer world for much of the personal computer’s existence. Gateway was long heralded as one of the highest quality products on the market and was also highly praised for their attention to customer needs and support. In recent years, Gateway’s focus has changed a little from being a custom computer builder to offering mass marketed and mass manufactured machines that in turn appeal to a greater portion of the general public. This doesn’t mean, however, that they aren’t worth a good looking. Gateway laptops still hold a reasonable share of the portable market. This being said, they shouldn’t be discounted by people in the market for a new machine.

Gateway laptops are well designed and full featured computers that have the extra visual appeal that many look for. Designed with a sleek housing, bright colors and patterns, Gateway laptops have a satisfyingly modern feel. A generous number of USB ports on all models allow you to connect what you need without carrying additional hubs around, and the addition of a built in webcam in all but the most budget oriented models offers the ease of instant video communication wherever you are.

Gateway laptops really shine with the P series, which is their top performer, and is well equipped for whatever you want to throw at it as far as entertainment goes. Taking a step further is the P-FX series, which has all the extras that a gamer is sure to love. A 17″ high definition wide screen, standard HDMI output for hookup straight to your HD screen, 5-in-1 media card reader, high performance graphics card and extra fast Intel Core 2 Duo processor make this series perfect for anything you have in mind. Starting at $900 and moving all the way up to the high end at $2000, this series is very competitively priced.

With mobility being stressed more and more these days, Gateway offers their solution in the form of a convertible that offers all of the features of a laptop, as well as the pen-and-paper ease of a tablet PC. The C series is really just a laptop that can operate as a tablet PC, with the addition of a rotate and flip style screen. For those searching for compact and sub-compact type PCs, you will have to look to other manufacturers, however, if you want the additional functionality of a point, click and draw surface, the C series does this quite nicely. Equipped with a 14″ screen and weighing in at just over 6 lbs, this one is really just a full laptop in disguise. Offered in multiple configurations from $1000 to $1200

For money conscious buyers, you will find that Gateway laptops fall comfortably in the middle to middle high ranges as far as pricing goes. You might be surprised though to find that Gateway laptops only offer Intel processors and, being that Intel chips run a good chunk of change higher than their AMD counterparts, you will not be able to compare Gateway to other manufacturers that offer the option of the less expensive AMD chip. The bang for your buck factor works out pretty well though, as what you get for your money should satisfy most everyday computer users.

Gateway laptops offer these different series:

• M series – S – Intel Core 2 Duo T5550, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, 15.4″ WXGA Screen $900
• M series – X – Intel Core 2 Duo T5450, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD, 15.4″ WXGA Screen $1100
• M series – XL – Intel Core 2 Duo T8300, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, 15.4″ WXGA Screen $1300
• P-172x – Intel Core 2 Duo T5550, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, 17″ WXGA+ Screen $1000
• P-172s FX – Intel Core 2 Duo T5750, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD, 17″ WXGA+ Screen $1400
• P-172x FX – Intel Core 2 Duo T8300, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, 17″ WUXGA Screen $2000
• C-141x – Intel Dual-Core T2330, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, 14″ Widescreen $1000
• C-142xl – Intel Core 2 Duo T8300, 3GB RAM, 250GB HD, 14″ Widescreen $1300

Christophe Catesson – Communication Manager for http://www.bestlaptopsreviews.com – Laptop and notebook information reviews and ratings, most popular laptops, industry news….

Gateway Laptops Questions & Answers

Question: Gateway Laptops?
Hello,
I wish to purchase a gateway laptop P-6860 FX but the problem is that I’ve only found these laptops avaible in the US.

How and where can I buy one of these In Canada (Montreal) without having to buy it online?(I want to go directly to the shop and buy it, if possible)
Also I’ve seen that the price for this laptops isn’t always the same. In the bestbuy site it’s 1650$ and in the
gateway site it’s 1350$, which is the right one?

Answer: The price is $1350 regularly but about twice a month they sell it for $1250

the best buy price might include the warrentys or the accidental damage policy and that is the reason for the price diffrence. You have to watch online sites as sometimes they throw in things like that with out you knowing.

As to where to get it. I believe the 6860-fx is a best buy only make. And a great deal (i own one myself and my wife has the 6850) I guess you could take a day trip to the US and go to the nearest bestbuy to pick one up. It’d be like a mini vacation with presents. Alot of the people i’ve spoken to in Canade are a bit peeved that they dont have direct acess to this notebook as well.

Question: Are virtual games bad for Gateway laptops?
Like downloadable games, and stuff like that.
would it ruin a gateway laptop?

Answer: They wouldn’t hurt it if you kept all the malware out. This is a good and smart question. My grandkids 6, 10, and 13 always seem to accidently download the wrong things; the stuff can fool anybody. So keep a good backup and restore system. Have fun.

Question: Why do laptop manufacturers like Gateway and Acer put such crappy speakers on their laptops?
I like the features of this Gateway laptop, but the speakers just sound so weak. They are nothing like the Altec Lansing speakers that Compaq and HP laptops come with. Why do they skimp on something that should not be such a huge expense for the manufacturer?

Answer: They sell millions of laptops

millions x how much they save on speakers (not to mention cheap *** ram) = a whole lotta beans

If enough people people demand better quallity parts and are willing to pay for it I’m sure gateway would be happy to put more into it. Most people just don’t care about notebook spearkers though….just line out that right to a shelf system or something

Question: What are your views and opinions on Gateway Laptops in general?
I was thinking of buying one

Answer: Please save yourself the troble. I purchased a brand new spanking new Gateway MX 6425 in June 2006. I accidently deleted some important stuff while trying to get the factory software off. When I suck the disc in, I got an error message saying to contact the manufature and it wouldn’t let me get past that screen.

I ended up having to send the PC back 5 times for that issue alone. I had to send it back during those 5 times (6th) because they sent it back WITHOUT the touch pad connected to the motherboard. Ended up sending it back 2 other times after that, because it came back with more and more stuff wrong with it that was never wrong from the beginning. Eventually with all going on, the PC just stop working. It would cut off only after being on for 2 – 5 minutes.

They ended up replacing my BRAND NEW laptop with a refurbished upgraded MX6450. It’s been good for the most part, being it’s a Gateway. But ALL Gateway’s laptops are doomed for henge breaks. If you do a search, you will find hundreds of stories from people who’s henges broke. Just so happen, it takes about a year for it to break, so we all had to pay $200 to get it fixed.

Gateway’s have HUGE over heating problems. You should just forget about having your laptop in your lap. Whatever you do, don’t buy a Gateway, Dell, or HP. I suggest getting a Sony, Alien, Acer, Apple, or Toshiba. Those are the only one’s I haven’t had before. The other 3 mass produce crap.

I’m about to buy a new laptop torn between a Sony or Apple.

Question: Are gateway laptops a good brand?
I want to buy a laptop for my daughter who is entering high school next year and she will probably have it until the end of high school. Are gateways good? Also, she really wants a pink one with a glossy inside, does anyone know if gateway still has that?

Answer: I have a gateway, and as for durability (if this computer will leave the home alot, you might want to think about a better brand… Dell, Toshiba, or Sony). Our university carried Gateways to offer to students because they were a better $ option than the Dell’s they carried….well last semester they went back to dell because of all of the issues people had with Gateway. They’re not awful, but if u can afford another $100, I’d get a comparable one with a better brand…. u might wanna research HP, but I’m not 100% sure of their quality, but never hearing a bad thing…is sometimes a good thing.

Question: What does everyone think of gateway laptops?
I’m especially interested in the 17 inch models. Thanks for your input!

Answer: probably better than HP

HP is the worst but they look good. but bad service and quality. they break on you after the warranty goes up.

Question: Is it possible to customize gateway laptops?
on their main site?

i sorta don’t agree with some specifications and want to change it. but is it possible? ecause i don’t see a customize/modify button…

Answer: Ah, no. While some top-end laptops can be upgraded, it means replacing processors and video interfaces. Most (almost all) cannot be upgraded at all (besides RAM and hard drives). No system can be customized via “settings” except via overclocking.

Question: How good are Gateway Laptops?
I just bought a gateway laptop, that is a M-Series, with windows vista home premium, also with intel core 2 duo, 2 GB of ram and 160 of hardrive.

Answer: My boyfriend is a computer science major, and his mom bought him a gateway laptop for Christmas two years ago. My advice would be to send it back or something. They suck. After only a year the power button had fallen off, the power cord never was staying in, and the screen was falling off the computer. He had to buy a brand new computer. Then I was using it a few months ago, and the computer started smoking. I mean this wasn’t his fault, he loved that thing like it was child. I would advise if you get a laptop buy either a sony or mac. I have a sony vaio and have never had a problem, and I’ve had it for 3 years. And I’ve heard nothing but good things about macs. Hope that helps!!