Well, Gateway fans, I finally decided...

Thanks for all of the feedback. I just ordered the M210MX. We will see how this works out. Feel free to ask questions once I get it (Jan 28).

 

I hate to do this to you, but that model might be replaced on Feb 10th. That's the day Gateway will announce their Sonoma product(s).

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

After 3 days of trying to contact Gateway and finding that they rescinded an offer, very disappointing in a company that touts 'Service', eh?

I don't think they are the company for me. Furthermore, I don't see CNET or ZDNET reviewing their PCs which makes me wonder about their performance.

 

What do ya mean they rescinded it? Is it still available?

 

It is still available but the offer or 'deal' that they offerred was not. I even told them that my first PC was a Gateway showing some degree of loyalty. How unprofessional to withdraw the offer. Just a bunch of clowns in my opinion.

http://www.notebookreview.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11817

Titanium...The metal of choice.

Dell Inspiron 6000
Sonoma 1.6 GHZ
WUXGA 15.4" WS
512 MB RAM
60 GB HD
Wireless B/G
DVD/CD-RW

 

titaniummd, what happened with your deal? I really don't want to buy a Gateway now, but I think the M210X is still my first choice. The HP is a little busy for my liking, too much shiny plastic.

Anyway, one bad apple doesn't spoil the bunch, but I wonder what your experience was and if there isn't a trend at Gateway. I thought I would try again with the eSales and the results were better but still not very helpful; just a bunch of inane questions that had little to do with what I was trying to get, and really led nowhere...

 

Don't get me wrong the M210 X and M210 XL are good deals for what it has to offer. I milled around for 16 days on this site and everything else under the sun (anandtech, tomshardware, pcmagazine, computer shopper, PC labs, etc). I was determined that for the price, it was the best value for its features. I was a little hesitant that there were no reviews by ZDNET, CNET or Anandtech even thought the lappy was out for over 3 months. There have been reviews on PCs that haven't even come off of the assembly line (e.g. Inspiron 6000). I thought, "What gives?" No media coverage for what has to be the "best deal for a laptop" (8x DVD burner, 80 GB HD, WXGA, at around 5 lbs and less than $200 of its nearest competitor?)

By then I was convinced...So I called Gateway.

I was negotiating with a dealer by phone who gave me a very good offer. I was told I had time to think about the offer. 4 days later, I called back to order. He/she gave me a tentative ship date and said he would call me the next day. The entire next day, he/she didn't return my call or email. He/she replied one day later by email that the offer was withdrawn. Best offer: Free shipping. Woo Hoo.

In the meantime while waiting for him to call back, the Dell $500 off internet coupon was expiring. The clown had taken my information and I didn't want to order a Dell if a Gateway was on its way. I held off having some "faith in Gateway" however, the Dell coupon expired. I tried calling his manager the next day and she never called back. I tried a different operator who sent me back to the original clown (since he dealt with me originally). With that exercise in getting the runaround, I was frustrated. However, you're right "two clowns a whole circus does not make" . Do they make a good computer? I don't know, and I never will.

Considering the HP had a faster HD option (5400 RPM), I opted for the HP. The graphics didn't work out for my purposes so I returned it.

I ended up ordering a Dell which turned out to be a lot better deal. In the end, I got a computer for a lot less than I "needed" to spend. I stayed under the budget I figured that I can get a computer to do what I needed...nothing less, nothing more for under $1200.

Just WIFI It!

Dell Inspiron 6000
1.6 GHZ Centrino (Sonoma)
WUXGA 15.4" WS
512 MB RAM
60 GB HD
Wireless B/G
DVD/CD-RW
--
Still looking for a case....
---
Palmone Tungsten C/WIFI

 

Nightmare On Gateway Street!
Sorry but had to strip the rest of my comments...

Weldwirez[8]

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by titaniummd

 

I love the Dell. No second thoughts about its performance which is FAST for me. I have the 1.6 Ghz Sonoma (533 mhz FSB) with WUXGA. It has been reliable thus far and takes every multitasking challenge I have put it through. I do recommend taking off the 'extraneous software'. The performance has been excellent ever since I took McAffee off for the Norton Antivirus/Zone alarm software.

The customer service has been excellent.

Check out www.techbargains.com or the tabs at the top of this site for the latest promotions. It won't reach $750 for some time ($750 off for >$1999) but the promotions are excellent deals. Don't buy for anything less than $500 off. I got nearly $700 off.

The 9300 would be a nice choice as would the 6000. It appears you want a 17 inch screen. I have to say that I was happy with the HP DV1000 except for the fact that it was limited to WXGA. In the end, the most important thing for me was Screen resolution, then battery life, and performance (initially, it was Size, performance and battery life).

I was sorely disappointed with how Gateway handled my "Deal" that supposedly had no time limit. The lack of professionalism by two individuals turned me off completely. I hope it is not a reflection of the company as a whole but I can say this for sure...I will NEVER buy from them again. Now they are having a TV promotion for the same computer I wanted for the same deal as I was offered. I would hope they would 'hold up their end of the bargain' this time.

Dell Inspiron 6000
1.6 GHZ Centrino (Sonoma)
WUXGA 15.4" WS
512 MB RAM
60 GB HD
Wireless B/G
DVD/CD-RW
9 Cell Battery x 2
Mozilla Firefox Browser
Targus TL Deluxe Notebook Case
Targus Gravity Notebook Backpack
---
Palmone Tungsten C/WIFI

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by titaniummd

 

If you want a Dell, I believe that there is an $800 coupon out but it expires tonight.

I purchased an HP but was not happy with the resolution. I am not looking back with regret after buying the Dell 6000. The 9300 looks nice but quite heavy. Not a factor if you won't be travelling.

Dell Inspiron 6000
1.6 GHZ Centrino (Sonoma)
WUXGA 15.4" WS
512 MB RAM
60 GB HD
Wireless B/G
DVD/CD-RW
9 Cell Battery x 2
Mozilla Firefox Browser
Targus TL Deluxe Notebook Case
Targus Gravity Notebook Backpack
---
Palmone Tungsten C/WIFI

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by titaniummd

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by heartofgold

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by titaniummd