Gateway: reliable computing.
Written: Sep 07 '01 (Updated Sep 27 '01)
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Pros: Customize your system the way you want it!
Cons: Not necessarily the best bargain
The Bottom Line: Reliable computing.
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| Parrothead2000's Full Review: Gateway Select 1200 |
I'm a pretty sophisticated computer buyer. I work as a software developer, and in the past I've built my own systems. So the fact that I bought this computer is in itself a good endorsement.
The advantage of Gateway (or Dell for that matter) is that you go on their website, choose exactly the features you want, and Gateway customizes it for you. This way you get exactly what you need, but don't pay extra for what you don't need. The disadvantage is that you have to wait for the computer to be delivered. There was no sales tax, but Gateway charged me a hefty $55 delivery fee.
I also like Gateway over other consumer PC's because Gateway comes in a plain old mini-tower case. The new Compaq's and HPs you see in stores (but soon they will be one company) have all these weird curvy designs that are supposed to look better, but actually they just look ugly and what I really hate about them is that the top of the computer is not flat. A flat top is very useful because it's a little shelf where you can put stuff like a cable modem and a zip drive. Where would I put that stuff if I had a Compaq? I have no clue.
Gateway's primary competitor is Dell. Dell has better prices right now on Pentium IVs. But this model from Gateway uses the AMD Athlon chip, and those in the know, know that the Athlon is the most powerful and cost effective chip you can buy. A 1.4 GHz Athlon is FASTER than a 1.4 Mhz Pentium, yet it sells for LESS money.
The new Athlon motherboards use DDR memory. Gateway doesn't yet include DDR memory with it's Athlon computers. Gateway is behind the curve on this.
Gateway offers the ATI Radeon with DVI output as one of its video card choices. This is the REAL reason I bought this computer, because I wanted to hook it up to a Samsung 170T monitor. (Read my review of the Samsung 170T monitor.)
On the topic of monitors, DON'T buy a Gateway monitor. None of the computer manufacturers have a decent monitor, not Gateway, not Dell, not Compaq. If you want a good monitor, get a Samsung flat panel monitor. If you want a standard CRT monitor, then I recommend Sony. (Sony invented the Trinitron tube, and manufactures all of them, but I think they give they keep the highest quality trinitron tubes for their own branded monitors, and give the crappy one's to Gateway to use in the Gateway monitors).
I bought the Samsung monitor from the Gateway Accessory Store, which is really a whole separate website than the website from which you buy computers. I don't think the two operations have anything to do with each other.
I repeat, DON'T buy one of the Gateway monitors when you buy your Gateway computer.
When you choose the ATI Radeon videocard, Gateway forces you to buy better speakers. They are indeed pretty good speakers, now my computer sounds better than my TV set (makes me wish I paid extra for the DVD-Rom drive, I'd watch DVDs on the computer instead of my TV).
Gateway has very good customer service, I called them after placing my order over the internet (because I made a mistake... too embarrassing to say exactly what the mistake was) and they were very helpful.
The conclusion is that the computer came exactly as I expected, and it was shipped out promptly. If this is what you are looking for, then I recommend Gateway. But there is nothing special or extraordinary about it, it's just a computer.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1200
Operating System: Windows
Processor: AMD Athlon (K7)
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-RW
Hard Drive (GB): 31-40
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Epinions.com ID:
Parrothead2000
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Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 6 members
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