Pulled the trigger

Well, after much research and visting many boards I finally ordered a laptop,
it was the first one I was interested in. I decided on the Gateway NX570X. I am sure there are many laptops that are much better but for what I can afford at this time and what I plan to use it for this fits the bill. Mainly, internet, burning DVDS and CDs, pictures, nothing fancy, just somrthing where I am not tied down in front of a desk like I am now as I post this. Still a little bit leary about the Gateway support but with a little luck maybe I won't need them that much. My new laptop comes with McAfee 90 day trial, I was thinking of not using McAfee at all and just install Window Live OneCare which I have install on my desktop never used McAfee don't know that much about, any suggestions will be appreciated. Any other suggestions on Gateway or anything else pertaining to this post will be welcome, Paul/

 

I would get rid of McAfee, but I personally suggest third-party free programs over Windows Live OneCare, too.

For A/V, I recommend Avast ( http://www.avast.com/)
For anti-spyware, use Spybot: Search & Destroy ( http://www.safer-networking.org/) and Ad-Aware Free ( http://www.lavasoft.de)
For firewall, the only free option currently available is ZoneAlarm Free ( http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp), though Comodo should be putting out a Vista-compliant version soon.

 

the reason I was going to use Windows Live OneCare is I am using it on my desktop and I can use it on three different computers, was planning on changing to free ware programs once this subscription expires in April of 08.

 

Well that certainly works, too, then. By then, Comodo should be available in a Vista-compliant flavor.

 

I just purchased the MT3422 last night at best buy $549.00. So far I love it! I was able to put all of my Adobe Creative Suite Web Premium on it. And it installed the first time! I cleaned all the bloatware out first. I installed all my office software too. My old 2004 Norton Works wouldn't work though so I am trying the freeware Avast!. It is a slow boot up but I think I am going to give Vista a try. If I decide it is too much of a pain I might switch to XP.

 

I've used avast for years now, with Spybot to "inmunize" plus monthly runs and Windows Defender for background running, MS integrated firewall. McAfee will kill your laptop with Vista and 1GB RAM.
Gateways are not bad, I owned one, did repair it once but it worked OK for 2 years before I sold it. I would suggest you buy the extended warranty.