Gateway 450S PC Notebook

Pros: Light weight, easy to use
Cons: Heating problems, and a burnt leg

I bought this notebook for my daughter for college, in Sept of 2002. The reason I chose gateway, well honestly it was the laptop computer the college was offering at a good price at the time. Gateway had a good reputation, and I felt that it was ...

Pros: None. This computer is a hot running junk train.
Cons: Wow. Where do I begin? Video, Fan, Heat. Other Problems.

I purchased a Gateway 450S 450 S or the Gateway 450sx4 one year ago. This laptop had been a great machine, delivering plenty of speed with a P4 1.6ghz, a built in cd burner, and I bumped the ram up to 512 so it's running xp nicely. While it's features ...

Pros: Strong Performance, Vivrant Screen, Multiple Graphical Outputs (TV, etc.), and INCREDIBLE Warranty Service
Cons: Loud Processor Fan (Only On Occasionally), Warm Base

DECISION TO PURCHASE LAPTOP: I had purchased a laptop from Dell in the past and got burned on a mail in rebate. I decided to give Gateway a try, since I lived in Texas (where Dell is), and I wouldn't have to pay Sales Tax with Gateway, either. Their ...

Pros: Nice looking
Cons: Too many problems, runs too hot, horrible text support, bad power consumption

I've had my 450SX4 for 1 year now. Here are the problems to date: 1. Login errors before Window ...

Pros: lightweight, worked well (until component failure)
Cons: runs hot, had equipment failures, customer support unsatisfactory

I purchased a SX4 approximately 18 months ago. When I received it, the power cord was faulty. Gateway promptly sent me a replacement. The machine worked very well for a time. The machine has always run very warm. Using it on your lap is rather ...

Pros: Runs fast, nice looks, screen is good.
Cons: Noisy! Processor makes computer very hot.

This model technically runs fine. However, it runs very hot and the fan noise is very loud for a laptop. Having experienced this, I'm surprised that more people don't consider these points about laptops in user reviews.

The processor runs hot enough that it can, at times, be uncomfortable to rest my wrists on the computer as I type. The fan sounds like a small hair dryer and runs often and capriciously. The noise actually draws comments from people around me.

Technically, this computer runs fine. It's fast, the screen is lovely, etc. Expressing dismay about the noise and heat from this thing is not henpecking though. It's terribly bothersome and makes me regret the purchase. There are just too many other options available to have to put up with this.

Pros: All around well-built PC. Fast loading, clear image quality. Very nice.
Cons: Mouse pad is a bit touchy, internal fan can get loud during graphics applications.

I just hit the one year mark with my Gateway 450 and I'm still impressed. This machine has never once let me down. Aside from two minor flaws I still find myself often wishing that my needs only required one computer, if that were the case then this would be the one. I have yet to use Tech support so I can't comment about that but every detail of this PC is very very well done. The screen is bright, the battery is sufficient for my portable requirements, and it seems substantially faster than similar laptops from other computer makers.