Gateway NX860XL its a good deal?

Gateway NX860XL

- Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.00 GHz, 667MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache)
- 2048MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2-1024MB modules)
- 17" Ultrabright WSXGA+ TFT Active Matrix (1680 x 1050 max. resolution)
- SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA Sound Card (6622442)
- 100GB 7200rpm Serial ATA hard drive
- Integrated 8x Multi-Format Double Layer DVD Writer (DVD±R/±RW/CD-RW)
- Primary 8-cell lithium-ion battery with AC pack and 1 yr. limited battery warranty
- Integrated Intel® 802.11a/b/g wireless networking card
- Bluetooth® Wireless Networking Module
- NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS Graphics w/ 256MB DDR Video Memory
- (4) USB 2.0, VGA, S-Video (TV Out), IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
- Integrated Intel® 10/100/1000 Ethernet adapter
- Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition w/ XP Media Center Backup CD

$2049.98


- Any one knows wich brand Gateway uses on its memories?
- Its a realible Notebook?
- Its a good deal?

 

I just purchased this laptop and will be reviewing it in a week or so after I have had a chance to play with it for a little while.

 

Thats a little pricey. Gateway is a decent brand, but not for $2k. You could save about $40 by not opting for the SoundBlaster, and purchasing it for less elsewhere.

 

I couldnt find any other brand wich offer the same specs for $2k os less .. do you know any other?

I searched on net for this Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA Sound Card, and the cheapest I found was on CompUPlus for $85.00, on Gateway website the price is very close.. about $89.99, this sound card increase anything on gaming fps??

Thanks for the answer!

 

Great! you got the same configuration?

 

The only notebooks with a Go7900GS, that you could buy for less than $2k, are the Dell Inspiron E1705 (customizable) and the Toshiba Satellite P105 (pre-configured).

 

Dell Inspiron E1705

- Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.00 GHz, 667MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache)
- 2048MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2-1024MB modules)
- 17" Ultrabright WXGA+ TFT Active Matrix
- Integrated Audio
- 100GB 7200rpm Serial ATA hard drive
- 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
- 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
- Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)
- NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS Graphics w/ 256MB DDR Video Memory
- Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition w/ XP Media Center Backup CD

$2233.00

With almost the same config, Dell costs $233.00 more than the Gateway.

BTW thanks a lot for the answers!

 

That price is without the coupons that Dell usually have going on. The price will be much less after using a Dell coupon. They have different coupons available at different times. Right now, Dell has a "30% off $1299 or more" coupon. I priced a E1705 with the specs above, for $1,520.40. You should consider this seriously since Dell can pull out this coupon any time.

 

I just purchased the NX860XL today for $1614 before tax. The sales rep gave me 15% off. I'm glad, because I'd much rather have this than the Dell, although I was seriously considering the Toshiba (P105-S9722).


WATYF

 

Nice, I've never heard about those coupons before.. so I just have to put the coupon code before buy? hehe sounds great

 

This isnt any kind of coupon right?? I have to call someone to get the discount?

 

id advise anyone looking at a NX860XL to take a look @ the Dell e1705.

I went through 2 nx860's in 12 days. They are pieces of crap with problems left and right.

The difference in build quality is disapointing because Gateway truley used to be a good company.

 

Yes, apply the coupon after adding the notebook to your shopping cart, just before checkout.

 

Thanks man!

 

Thats one point I'm concerning about.. the build quality ... Thats why I'm tending to buy an HP or Dell .. I couldnt find any other good alternative to those 2 brands.. the problem with HP is the video card.. and Dell the high price but with those wonderful coupons hehe

Any one is disapointed with the Gateway build quality??

Any one knows if the XPS series have those coupons too??

Thanks for the reply man!

 

if you are ready to buy an XPS, and call them you can get a deal buy telling them you will buy one right now.
you just need to build a system, put it on your Online cart and have it available for them to look @.
You will need your sales guy to go ask for a discount or you wont buy it. THey usually give in.

There are some really good deals on the Inspiration series and you can get the same hardware in a dell that you in the NX860 for about the same price. i think they are doing 30% off..If its more expensive, its not a big difference..especially considering the difference in quality.

Just to let you know for my gateway this is what went wrong.
Poor boot times.... im talking 3-4 min + just randomly. I tried several fixes (reformat, different install cds. slipstreams etc, bios reflash)
failed cd drive
failed wireless card
failed blue tooth
warped case
MISSING SCREWS on original system, causing the keyboard frame to be loose.
on the replacement pc they sent, i just got a broken keyboard and loose face plate.

 

I have had no problems with my NX860XL so I wouldn't know about poor quality. It is an older model but not sure why the newer would have such problems.

 

Same here. I've found the build quality pretty good, and I've had no failures or seious problems in the 7 months I've had mine. Unfortunately lemons will occur.

 

It’s funny to see so many people extolling the virtues of the Dell e1705. I just sent mine back a few days ago due to intermittent power up problems and having the screen replaced with the replacement screen being worse than the original. To top it all off, my experience with Dell's customer service was alternatively bad, frustrating, funny and just plain confusing. As a kicker, three days after I returned my system for a full refund, a Dell customer service tech called to tell me my replacement system was still on order but should be arriving soon. LOL I ordered the Gateway NX860XL a few days ago with basically the same setup you listed above for several hundred dollars cheaper. I got my deal by calling a Gateway rep. It seems you can do better price wise by calling and speaking with a Gateway rep than by ordering online. Good luck with whatever laptop you chose.

 

they sell gateways at best buy..they are not the nx860xl..but the ones i've seen have one big flaw...

the keyboard caves in right in the center..it's a floppy keyboard...

do the nx860xl's have the same give and bounce right in the center parts?

 

"do the nx860xl's have the same give and bounce right in the center parts?"

No give on mine. It's very solid.

 

yes, lemons do occur.

Im just extremely bitter after my experience with the NX860XL.
I ordered my original NX860 on june 6th....Didnt get it until sept. 28th After SEVERAL delays because of known video card problems, battery problems they stopped shipment on most high end configurations of that system.
I only put up with it because i got a $800 dollar discount, free warranty, bluetooth moust/tv tunner.


I finally got my computer all those things i mentioned in previous posts went wrong.
They asked my to send it in for repair... HA!! After waiting 3 months do you really think id send it back?
I made them send me a new one.... That one also had issues.

Sucks for me, i got 2 lemons...

 

Well we can only speak from experience.

Ive owned 10 gateways over the years. The NX860XL was the first gateway ive bought over the past 3 years.. Its also the first one ive had issues with.

As for this Dell.. Compared to the NX860's its a clear step up in quality and i havent had any issues with it yet. Hopefully it stays that way.
Good luck with your system.

 

with the 2 i had the lower left hand corner would shake/rattle when using keys on the left hand side (splitting it right down the middle)

 

No, but the price as configured in the previous post includes the $345 rebate they are offering. If you put in the coupon you come out with a more expensive build. The coupon seems to substitute for the better deal they are offering rather than stacking with it (shrugs). Otherwise it would be an amazing deal. I'll try again.

 

I just purchased the Gateway NX860XL with the following, XP Pro,C2Duo T7400 (2.16GHz), 2048 667 DDR2 SDram, 100GB 7200 RPM, 8z MF DL DVD writer, 4 yr Total protection, 3 YR Lojack Display 1900X1200, Platinum color, xtra 8 cell Bat, MS Game Bundle. This config came to $2965 shipped. I got the salesperson to come down to $2450 shipped. I compaired this to 6 other computer manufactures & this was the best price.
When you talk of reliability the cheaper models for about $ 500 to $1000 give you more problems then the more expensive ones. I have Had problems with Dell, HP & Compaq. I have had Gateway in the past & no problems. Hopefully I will be happy with this notebook.
Jerry

 

My NX860XL is supposed to arrive tomorrow according to the tracking info from Fed Ex I have. However, I am having second thoughts.
Firstly, if someone is thinking about buying one of these be sure you do it over the phone. You can get remarkable discounts if you play the gateway boys off against the dell, and I mean amazing...its like buying a car, threaten to buy the dell and watch em cave.

Second, some of the dell guys have figured out how to hack the bios on the 7900GS in their machines to enable amazing speed increases, with only slight increases in op temps on the gpu. Unfortunately, Gateway/Quanta does some different things with their bios's and so far the techniques used sucessfully on the Dell 1705's and XPS's won't work on the NX860XL's. I'm talking about truly significant increases in 3dmarks2005 results, on the order of from just under 6000, to right around 9000 which is a serious increase in graphics power.

Perhaps someone will figure out how to enable our 7900gs's to do the same but doesn't look like it will happen any time soon. Since those results are on par with what an overclocked 7950GTX will do.....you get the picture...

oh well...
seer

 

To the original poster's topic. Thats a great price. You can even talk them down by around 200$ from what i hear. (but for what your getting at that price i doubt you can).

Easily better price/performance ratio then the dell e1705 or toshiba satellite.

Thats a $90-100 sound card as well. Its not integrated like the dell version it requires the pci slot on computer.

 

Alittle bit of an update. Just got off the phone with a Gateway rep. Bottom Line... after tax and shipping... $1864 - Would NOT budge. No matter what i said. Wound up telling the guy Ill think about it because im also looking at a dell e1705.

 

Are they getting any more willing to wheel and deal?

 

This machine, in the identical configuration (except for Windows Vista Home Premium), is now offered on the Gateway site for $1699. This has to be, hands down, the best configured laptop for the money. I tried to configure a Dell Inspiron 1705 the same way and it was over $2300. The HP dv9000t doesn't come close either.

 

I have been researching laptops (mine broke!! ) the last couple days and HANDS DOWN this is the cheapest one for the options. I looked at Dell, Sony, HP, Alienware, etc... and the Gateway one is the most for the money. I haven't purchased it yet becuase I am worrying that there is a REASON the Gateway laptops are cheaper? Is the quality horrible?

There is a $200 off coupon that EXPIRES TODAY so if you were thinking about buying one I would hurry up!

And if anyone was wondering, the HP dv9000t was the second cheapest.

 

Well, that $200 off is still there, and at $1500 + $50 shipping this is tremendous deal. However, I am kind of concerned with mentions of low quality of the system here. At least with Dell, they are a known factor (not too good, not too bad, usually ok cs when you get to supervisor level).

 

I have been with gateway for almost 6 years now. My last lappy was a solo 9550 and it lasted me almost 5 years. Thats awesome for a laptop. I had to send it back a couple of time and it was returned promptly with no unrequested changes being made. I have never had an issue with their customer service either. Most problems are with software and/or os which if youre reading these forums you may be able to fix yourself or find out how to fix it. I have a "budget" laptop that is awesome. Now I can't update the grahpics card but it's not a gaming laptop for me. I can however update my processor since it is socketed and not soldered like alot of OEM's do. I also got a recovery dvd with all of the "extra" programs on it and they gave me a clean install Vista Hm Prem disk giving me the choice of which I want to use. Keep in mind, just because something is affordable doesn't mean its bad. I bought their FDP 19inch lcd for my external monitor for 199.00 from a local retailer and its awesome. Hope this helps!

 

yo, enter GWENT001 and u can save another 50$ on top of that 200. I think it expires today

 

Well i ordered mine tonight.. came out to around 1598 w/shipping (I added the 1 year accidental dmg so that added $99, so would have been 1498).

 

How is Gateway CS? That's my big concern here, read some bad comments on other forums.

 

Due to USPS loosing my laptop (**See note @ end) I just ordered my second NX860XL in a year. So I recently (May 07) I compared a NX860XL (I was going to buy) to similar Toshibas and Dell’s XPS. My comparison is based on what is important to me, the “hardware”. All prices were taken from their web sites.

Gateway NX860XL (As ordered) / CPU 2.16GHz, 667MHz, 4MB L2 / 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM / 100GB 7200rpm Serial ATA HD / 17.1" WUXGA TFT Active Matrix (1920x 1200) / nVidia 7900 GS 256MB Graphics Card / 8x Multi-Format Double Layer DVD & a Warranty Total Protection 4yr Parts/Labor/Onsite.

The DELL, XPS-M1710 was configured “exactly” the same as my Gateway. However, Dell does have a cool looking cover and offers CPU or Graphics Card upgrades, but you will pay $big$ for the upgrade.

The TOSHIBA -P100-S9772 ~ $ value of differences, like items not shown
CPU 2.0 GHz; ~Subtract $175
160GB 5400rpm HD ~Same value “I rather have speed”
Widescreen SXGA 1680x1050 ~Subtract $25
nVidia 7900GTX512MB ~Add $300

BOTTOM LINE PRICE
Gateway------------~ $2,451.81
Toshiba ------------~ $3,462.78
Toshiba adjusted----~ $3,362.78
Dell XPS------------~ $3,270.22
Toshibas price difference~ $ 911
Dell XPS price difference~ $ 818
Sure, I wish Gateway offered a higher end video card, but the 7900 GS is still pretty good. To me, the bottom line is you are going to pay around $800 more for the same, but cool looking, Dell XPS laptop or $900 more for a Toshiba with a better video card. So if you are willing to pay Dell $1,200 more or Toshiba $900 more for a better video card be my guest.
Personal Note: I have owned several Gateways over the last four years and found their Tech Support very good to excellent. Also, Gateway will give breaks to loyal (return) customers. I dealt directly with Gateway via phone and a knowledgeable Sales Agent named “Tyson” who took care of me by making a great deal even better and by making sure it met all my needs.
So to me YES, Gateway NX860XL gamer laptop is a good deal, if not the best for under $2.5k.

**USPS claims process (anything over $350) can take up to FOUR months from the day you ship and they loose your item, until they pay your claim and even then you better hope you have insurance. Also, you can buy 2k in insurance, but they will pro-rate your item. BEWARE

 

You can easily land a 7900GS based E1705 with a Dell Coupon for less.

 

Sorry Night 2004, I followed your link and found the E1705 and built it to match my Gateway (GW) NX860XL as close as I could, but the GW was still a better deal; The E1705 as configured was $2,670, which is darn close, but still a little more than a GW. Head to head, I like to know how each one would do on 3DMark06 and PCPitstop benchmarks. I included my results below, so if anyone has a similar Dell, I'd love to know their results.

I actually only paid $2, 200 for the Gateway configured below as a returning customer, which I will consider Gateway’s version of a coupon deal. Can you really build and order, shipping, tax, handling the Notebook configured below to your door for $2, 200? Let me know...

NX860XL
Vista Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7400 (2.16GHz, 667MHz, 4MB L2)
2048MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2-1024)
100GB 7200rpm Serial ATA hard drive
17.1" WUXGA TFT Active Matrix (1920x 1200)
nVidia 7900 GS 256MB Graphics Card
120 Watt AC Adapter
Int. Intel 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wireless Networking (Vista)
Bluetooth Wireless Networking Module & Intel WLAN to Bluetooth Cabling
8x Multi-Format Double Layer DVD
Primary 8-Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Total Protct 4yr Parts/Labor/Onsite/AccidentalDamageProtection/Tech

FYI Benchmarks
3DMark05 Score = 5616.
3DMark06 Score = 3380.
PCPitStop Score = 2880.

 

I too have seen horror stories posted about Gateway Customer Service, but I have also seen other sites and reviews stating they are far better than average. My own experience with gateway and e-machine tech support over the last 2-3 years has been good to outstanding. They will even send you out parts before you return the broken one (must have credit card hold) . I like this because you get a replacement for a broken or DOA part weeks faster than a lot of other companies who will wait until they get the suspected broken part back….first.

 

I too placed an order for a Gateway NX860XL. Price is unbeatable for the performance. The Dell and the Toshiba are both more expensive and if you look for deals the Dell will be somewhere between $350 to $400 and the Toshiba even more.
I think that the Gateway offers better performance for the money given its components, however the Dell and Toshiba have better multimedia features. They also have the newest ExpressCard which seems to be the way of the future. They also have DVI or other digital audio features that are lacking in the NX860XL. Also internal TV tuner for the Toshiba. The HP would be the hands down winner if it had a dedicated grapgics card with similar performance to the Nvida 7900 GS. The Toshiba comes with lower resolution and you pay dearly for the model with higher resolution. Still not the 1920 x 1200 that you can get on the Gateway.
Hopefully if I need any of these, in due time there will be accessories for a decent amount that I can purchase. Customer service so far from Gateway has been very responsive and helpful. If I had the extra $600 to $800, I would definetly go for the Toshiba. Hopefully Gateway will come out with a decent docking station that can provide DVI and digital audio, plus an ExpressCard slot. Relly wonder why they do not have an ExpressCard. I did notice that they are not part of the PMCIA group of manufacturers that were involved in the specs for it.
I'll let you know how things work out once I receive it. Good luck!

 

I see that the Gateway NX860XL has when down of $1699 to $1499 with 200 off. That a good deal.

 

Just got mine in today... so far it seems really fast. I got the 2.16ghz with 2g, 7200rpm drive etc. I made a special request and paid $70 extra for windows xp pro; their site only allows for selecting Vista by default.

 

I also went with XP Pro and I don't regret it at all. For my setup, VISTA is not fully compatable with some of my external hardware and some software requirements. This is the reason why I stayed with XP Pro. Also, I can make better use with my 2 GIG of RAM on the NX860XL. - VISTA requires more RAM.

 

I agree; I'm a sotware developer and I could care less about a fancy 3d interface if it takes ram and cpu to do it; i want the fastest possible setup I can get, period...

I've had this laptop over a week now and it is... FAST. I love it. As for the heat, I took the advice someone left here of propping the back of it up on something and that works well. In fact, mine doesn't seem to run hot at all so far unless it's in my lap unplugged.

 

Hey I just purchased one of these and ran across this post and thought I would post here, to possibly help out other ppl looking for an awesome deal on this laptop.

As of right now I actually don't have it, I just purchased it, but I went for a refurbished one. If ppl don't know what refurbished is, basically it is just like new and retested by gateway but can't be resold as brand new.

I got this:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.00GHz, 667MHz, 4MB L2)

Hard Drive: 80GB 7200rpm Serial ATA hard drive

Memory: 2048MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Optical Drive: 8x Multi-Format Double Layer DVD Writer (DVD±R/±RW/CD-RW)

Operating System: Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

Application Software: Microsoft Works 8.5

Video Card: nVidia 7900 GS 256MB Graphics Card

Network Card: Integrated Intel 3945 802.11a/b/g Wireless Networking

Bluetooth: Bluetooth Wireless

Memory Card Reader: 6-in-1 Digital Card Reader

Sound Card: Integrated High Definition Audio

Modem: Integrated V.92 56K

Display: 17.1" WUXGA TFT Active Matrix (1920x 1200)
Keyboard/Touchpad/Pointing Device: Full-size keyboard w/ integrated 10-key pad and EZ Pad® Pointing Device

Battery: Primary 12-Cell Lithium Ion Battery

All for a total of $959 with shipping which is more than $500 cheaper than a new one. If you look on eBay gateway has an "auction system set up" that usually starts these laptops at about $700 and if you are lucky you may even get it for $700 although they generally end at $850 -$900 (without the $50 shipping), which is still an awesome deal. This is direct from gateway and I got a 1 year warranty with it. I should be getting it August 14th. I will let you guys know how it goes.

 

I received my laptop this morning about 8 A.M. Opened it up and the first thing I noticed is how nice it looked. Really! It looks brand new, and works even better. The laptop is awesome, exactly as described on the gateway auction on eBay. It arrived quickly and on time according to it's estimated arrival date.

Very pleased. Just deleted some of the "extras" that companies like to put in their laptops. But man, this thing really flies! Boots super fast, plays games really nice, although it does run hot (when playing games) and I may pick up a cooling pad, most likely in Japan tho since that is where I am going to be in a few weeks.

The construction seems VERY solid. Super nice! Good feel, and it is awesome textured black! Looks nicer than I was expecting.

Customer service was great, although I didn't deal with it except for my transaction. Very quick and not trying to sell me extra stuff (granted this could be because it was an auction).

Only 3 things I can think of that aren't perfect.

1.) It is only a 90 day warranty instead of 1 year, but I really don't care since I am not going to be in the U.S. for a year so warranty issues would be too much of a hassle, I am just hoping nothing goes wrong.

2.) Hard to find a notebook case that fits 17" notebooks in your local store, but it's O.K. thats what the internet is for right?!

3.) My biggest problem really tho is trying to find a cooling pad for this big baby. They generally aren't designed for such a large laptop, but I think that elevating the laptop from the table would increase airflow and at least be a good temporary fix until I find a decent cooler pad.

Overall, very impressed! I always thought I would be buying a Dell laptop, but now I am glad I got this! Great price, fast shipping, and an awesome laptop, what more could you really want?

My advice for anyone looking for a new laptop (to play games and edit movies, etc. especially) is to go to eBay and look for the seller gateway_auctions and find a refurb. You won't regret it!

 

I just found a similar setup to you draxius, for a simliar price on ebay as well, i wasnt to happy with the payment process, but its a great price im glad to hear you dont regret not getting a dell, i was planning on dell too, until i found that deal.

 

I ordered a refurb off ebay thru gateway I should get it soon. I see alot of mixxed feelings on this laptop is it really that bad? Should I get more than the 90 day warranty that comes with it?