Good Laptop, But a Bit Slower Than Most
Written: Oct 14 '04
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Pros: very large screen,
good layout,
good software bundle,
many configuration options
Cons: runs very hot,
excessive noise from fan,
heavy as a tank
The Bottom Line: Overall, this is a decent laptop. There are better choices for the money though. For a desktop replacement, it should work nicely.
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| robert26's Full Review: Gateway 600X (600xb) PC Notebook |
I purchased this laptop back in April of 2003. At the time I was looking for the fastest processor with the most memory and best video solution for under $2500. I opted for a P4 2.4Ghz, 512MB RAM, and ATI Mobility Radeon graphics with WinXP Pro. I left the CD-RW/DVD and 40GB hard drive as standard.
When I received the notebook, the first thing I noticed was the enormous weight of it. At around 9lbs, it doesn't sound like a lot. But, when you start setting it on your lap or hauling it around, 9lbs is a lot of weight. Hence, the reason I call it a laptop and not a notebook. To me, a notebook is smaller and lighter and made for the traveling business person or student. This one, on the other hand, is a contender for a desktop replacement. The screen size is abundant and the image is beautiful. And I love the touchpad over a stick any day. The keyboard is well laid out and feels very solid. The overall ergonomics of the machine is very good.
Being as heavy as it was, I was expecting the performance to blow me away. I was, however, slightly disappointed. First, it took forever to boot up; about 2.5 minutes. I attributed most of this time to the sotware pre-installed by Gateway. Even though I had a 40GB drive, almost 10GB was taken up by the preloaded software. I appreciate some software, but it should be included on a CD so I can have the option of installing it if I choose. After using it for a while, I noticed program load times were slower than I expected, as well as CD and DVD access times. My desktop was noticeably faster but it has a slower processor (1.8Ghz) and less RAM (256MB). It's also a bit slower than most notebooks I've used. One annoying feature I noticed is that my thumbs sometimes hit the touchpad and cause problems. I would have liked to see a feature that disables the touchpad when an external mouse is connected. My biggest gripe, however, comes from the heat and noise caused by the fan. Under heavy loads, it's on almost constantly. The noise level is worse than my desktop and it has six fans in it. Also, its so unbearably hot that you can't use it for very long if you're wearing shorts.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2489
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: Greater than 15 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 31-40
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Epinions.com ID:
robert26
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Reviews written: 4
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