Gateway NX570X

With a focus on durability, performance, and affordability, Gateway's NX570X has a lot to like. Starting at $649 (though our tested configuration would cost $1,203), this system doesn't skimp on design, battery life, or performance. Aside from a couple of minor quibbles, we think the NX570X is tough to beat for the price.

The NX570X doesn't look like your typical bargain-bin, mainstream laptop. The textured gray lid, brushed-metallic interior, and glowing blue status lights lend it an elegant, contemporary look equally appropriate for the home and the office. Both the scratch- and fingerprint-resistant lid and palm-rest case are reassuringly inflexible and feel much more solidly built than the average laptop.

At 14.1 x 10.4 x 1.3 inches and 6.4 pounds, the case is average sized and a little light for a mainstream notebook, though it's still a bit too heavy for regular travel. The firm, serviceable keyboard is unremarkable, but we're fond of the NX570X' textured touchpad, with its horizontal and vertical scrolling zones and its two very large, convex mouse buttons.

The 15.4-inch widescreen glossy display with a standard 1280 x 800-pixel native resolution isn't the brightest in the mainstream class, but it delivers enough screen real estate for most productivity tasks, including editing documents side by side and working in multiple windows. And while the NX570X' integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics card doesn't have enough muscle to run today's hottest games at full power, our Gladiator DVD looked lush and detailed, even during the fast-moving battle scenes. The two front-mounted stereo speakers project clear but not particularly loud audio.

In addition to a dual-layer DVD burner, which can read and burn all of the major DVD and CD formats, the NX570X has four USB 2.0 ports clumped on the right edge, and one four-pin FireWire port for connecting accessories. You'll find S-Video and VGA outputs for connecting to an external display, one Type II PC Card slot, and a 4-in-1 media card reader. The ports are clearly labeled, making them easy to access from above, but we wish the USB ports were spread out a bit. A/V aficionados will rue the absence of the dedicated multimedia controls commonly available on competitive mainstream systems.

Also included is Windows XP Media Center 2005, although you can now get the NX570X with Windows Vista Home Premium for the same price. This system is fully capable of handling Vista and includes enough graphics power to support the Aero interface. Basic users will find pretty much everything they need in terms of connectivity. The built-in networking features include Gigabit Ethernet, modem jacks, and 802.11a/b/g; our test unit also had integrated Bluetooth (a $49 upgrade). The NX570X' Wi-Fi throughput of 14.6 Mbps at 15 feet and 11.8 Mbps at 50 feet was quite good.

Gateway offers a fair degree of customization options for the NX570X, and our test unit included a competitive array of hardware. In addition to a high-end 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor, we got 1GB of DDR2 RAM (upgradable to 4GB) and a small but speedy 80GB, 7,200-rpm hard drive.

These components delivered strong results on our benchmark tests: 276 on MobileMark 2005 and 1,617 on 3DMark03-proof that the NX570X will easily shoulder any productivity or processing task. That said, its integrated GPU makes it unsuitable for serious gaming and demanding graphics work.

After hours of use, the laptop became very warm, but the fan remained quiet. The NX570X' eight-cell battery, a worthwhile $40 upgrade from the standard six-cell, lasted for more than five hours on our drain tests-exceptional for a laptop in this weight and price class.

Though it lacks dedicated multimedia controls and discrete graphics, the NX570X delivers vigorous performance, terrific battery life, and a high-quality design for a fair price.

Specifications:

RAM Included:  1GB

RAM Upgradable To:  4GB

Hard Drive Size:  80GB

Hard Drive Speed:  7,200rpm

Optical Drive Type:  DVD+R DL

Optical Drive Speed:  8X

Display Size (inches):  15.4

Native Resolution:  1280x800

Graphics Card:  Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Video Memory:  224MB

Wi-Fi:  802.11a/b/g

Bluetooth:  Bluetooth 1.0

Operating System:  MS Windows XP Media Center

Ports (excluding USB):  Firewire; Gigabit Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; Modem; S-Video; VGA

USB Ports:  4

Card Slot(s):  4-1 card reader; Type II

Warranty/Support:  One-year parts and labor/one-year 24/7 toll-free

Size:  14.1 x 10.4 x 1.3 inches

Weight:  6.4 pounds

Gateway T-6836

Most budget-friendly midsize laptops feature 15.4-inch screens that, while good for watching movies, can be a burden to schlep around campus. For the truly mobile student, a system with a 14.1-inch screen will be slightly more portable but is still big enough to use as a primary computer. The 14.1-inch Gateway T-6836, available in a fixed configuration at Best Buy, is one of our favorite budget-friendly midsize systems for the back-to-school season. Its sleek, colorful case design looks more expensive than its $799 price tag, and it comes stocked with components that helped it outperform similarly priced systems on CNET Labs' tests. Our complaints about the T-6836 are minor: its key travel feels a bit shallow, and its speakers produce tinny sound. Those quibbles aside, the Gateway T-6836 represents an excellent value proposition for students headed to campus this fall.

The laptops in Gateway's T series come in multiple colors, depending on where they're sold. Our Gateway T-6836, currently available at Best Buy, features a gray-blue lid and wrist rest (Gateway calls it "Pacific Blue") with a black display bezel and silver keyboard. The color is subdued, but it also provides a distinctive look that will stand out among a sea of black systems. Our only criticism is that the glossy case finish is particularly prone to fingerprints; after handling the laptop a few times the lovely lid was marred with plenty of smudges.

Aesthetics aside, the T-6836 feels sturdy, and we like that the lid attaches to the base via two extra-wide hinges. Its case is also a hair smaller than similar systems, such as the Dell Inspiron 1420-123B and the HP Pavilion dv2915nr. The Gateway T-6836's 14.1-inch screen also gives you a weight advantage over such 15.4-inch mainstream models as the Dell Inspiron 1525-122b and HP Pavilion dv6915nr. In exchange for sacrificing an inch (but no pixels) of screen size with the Gateway T-6836, you'll save a half-pound of weight.

We really like the displays on Gateway's budget systems, and the T-6836's 14.1-inch screen is no exception. It features a typical 1,280x800-pixel native resolution, and it displays such rich colors that movies and photos look great. The slightly glossy finish strikes a great balance between making colors pop and keeping reflections to a minimum. (Because this is a fixed configuration for sale in retail stores, there is not a matte-screen finish option.) It all adds up to a better media experience than we'd usually expect from a laptop that costs $799.

We're slightly less enthusiastic about the keyboard on the Gateway T-6836. It is full-size, and we were able to type without errors, but the key travel was a bit too shallow for our tastes. Typing comfort can be subjective, so we strongly suggest giving the keyboard a try before deciding to buy the T-6836. The keyboard is framed in brushed aluminum; above the keyboard are a button to launch Windows Media Center, a row of keys to control disc playback that are cut into the brushed aluminum, and a touch-sensitive slider to control volume. Handy but unobtrusive port labels on the keyboard deck let you know where to plug in peripherals.

Gateway keeps things simple with the T-6836, offering just the basics when it comes to ports and connections. Some users might miss the mini FireWire port we've come to expect on laptops of this size, but there is a multiformat memory-card reader for transferring photos and video. Unsurprising for a laptop at this price level, the T-6836's built-in speakers produce grating, tinny sound.

The retail-only Gateway T-6836's fixed configuration is built around a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 CPU, which is typical for a mainstream budget system (and also found in the Dell Inspiron 1420-123B). What's not typical for a mainstream budget system is the Gateway's 4GB of 667MHz RAM, plus the 64-bit version of Vista to take advantage of the full RAM allotment. Those features were enough to carry the Gateway T-6836 to the head of the class on all of CNET Labs' performance benchmarks, making it the highest performer among back-to-school laptops in the $730 to $800 price range.

The Gateway T-6836's included six-cell battery ran for 2 hours and 58 minutes on our video playback battery drain test. That's an impressive score for a mainstream system, especially one priced this low. Among similar back-to-school laptops you'll find at Best Buy this season, only the Dell Inspiron 1420-123B outlasted the Gateway, while the rest of the systems failed to make it past the 2.5-hour mark. Our battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and office use.

Gateway backs the T-6836 with an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty, with 24-7 phone support during the warranty period. The company's Web site includes the expected driver downloads and FAQs, as well as the opportunity to send e-mail to a technician. Every T series laptop also comes preloaded with Gateway's BigFix diagnostic software

Gateway M675CS

Overview:

The laptop computer is rapidly replacing the standard desktop for many users. The power of these small computers is now able to rival their big brothers. Now a new class of such machines is becoming popular - the portable workstation. Case in point is the Gateway M675CS. The M675 is the top line of Gateway notebooks with the CS basic model at the lowest of the three rungs of this series. Don't let its relative position fool you; this is a powerful machine that will exceed almost any use you have. The fundamental difference between the CS and the higher end X and XL models is the screen size. The CS has a 15.4” screen where the other two models come standard with a 17.1”.

First Impressions:

The first thing that you will notice about the M675CS is that it is larger than most laptops. You find out why when you pop open the lid on this notebook computer and take a look at the keyboard. Unlike every other notebook keyboard, there is a fully integrated 10-key numeric pad to the right of the main keys. This feature has always been standard on desktop units and now comes to the portable. If you do a lot of numeric entry this is a must. It also makes a lot of games easier to play, since many gamers use the number pad for movement.

The M675CS features very modern blue LED status lights. The screen is also different; the monitor has a 15:10 aspect ratio similar to most high definition televisions. The input jacks and drives are distributed on the back and both sides. In fact, there are USB ports at all three locations for easy connection to your other devices.

Above the keyboard is a large power switch and one-touch buttons to access email, a web browser, the main Windows help page, My Computer (in browse mode) and wireless on/off. While it appears that the fast access buttons cannot be user defined they are useful. At the front edge of the unit are controls for the DVD and media player as well as the usual indicator lights. The battery light is purple when the battery is charging and changes to neon blue when full. There is even one light for writing to the CD as well as reading from it.

The cooling fan is nice and quiet and is barely audible. On the other hand, the CD drive was very noisy when reading a disc

Digging a Little Deeper

Included with the M675CS is a high capacity lithium ion battery, which is rated at 14.8V/6300 mAh and comes with an AC pack. Only one battery can be used in the unit at a time and since the CPU draws a good amount of juice, the life span of the charge averaged just about two and a half hours. That may not seem like much but remember this is one of the fastest, most power hungry desktop processors currently available.

The battery is loaded from underneath saving valuable side real estate for the input/output ports. While in battery mode the screen does dim to conserve power. The downside here is it dims just a little too much for comfortable viewing.

Both the left and right side drives are hot swappable and easy to remove once you get it down. There are little catches underneath the machine, slide them to the side and you can rapidly replace the 3.5” floppy/memory card reader or the CD/DVD drive. This adds to the versatility of the machine and provides an easy upgrade path.

One of the touches that demonstrate that this machine is meant for the power business user is the inclusion of a Gigabit Ethernet port. It also features a standard parallel printer port and an S-Video output. With many laptops doing away with parallel and other legacy ports, the business user may appreciate being able to hook their parallel printers to the M675CS.

With the full size keyboard and complete numeric entry keys, data entry is a snap. It is rare to see a Num-Lock on a notebook keyboard that is actually usable. There may be a bit of a learning curve for your fingers if you are used to a typical notebook keyboard, but the benefits for quick data entry far make it worth the effort.

Considering this machine has a full scale hyper threading CPU, it ran remarkably cool and efficient. Even after many hours of use there was no discernable heat generated.

Specs

Technical Specifications:

Gateway M675CS

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Application Software: Microsoft® Works 7.0

AntiVirus Software: Norton AntiVirus 90 day Introductory Offer

Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz with Hyper-Threading Technology

Memory: 512MB DDR SDRAM (2-256MB Modules) (reviewed 768 1 512MB 1 256MB Modules)

Hard Drive: 40GB ultra ATA hard drive (reviewed 60GB)

Floppy Drive: Modular 6-in-1 memory card reader (replaced by 3.5” floppy for review)

Optical Drive: Modular 24x/10x/24x CDRW and 8x DVD combo

Expansion Slots: One Type II PC Card Slot

External Ports: (4) USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), VGA, Parallel, TV Out, S-Video

Screen: 15.4" WXGA TFT Active Matrix

Video: ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 8x AGP w/ 64MB DDR video memory

Keyboard and Mouse: Full-Sized Keyboard and EZ Pad® Pointing Device and Integrated 10-Key Pad

(Reviewed with optional USB optical mouse)

Multimedia Package: Integrated sound and stereo speakers, headphone/speaker jack, line-in and mic jacks

Speakers: External speakers not selected

Battery: High-capacity lithium ion battery with AC pack and 1 yr. limited battery warranty

Modem: Integrated V.92 56K modem

Network Adapter: Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Internet Service Provider: Six months America Online® Internet access

Wireless Networking Adapter: Integrated 802.11g wireless networking card

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Chipset:

Intel 865PE System Chipset

ICH5

PCI Bus V2.3

Phoenix NoteBIOS 6.0

512 KB flash ROM

SMBIOS (DMI) 2.3 Support

Full ACPI Support

Memory Slots:

Two 200-pin SO-DIMM Sockets on Motherboard

0MB On-Board Memory

Display:

15.4" WXGA TFT Active Matrix Color Display

1280 x 800 @ 18-Bit (262K) colors

Disk Controller:

Supports Ultra DMA and up to PIO mode 4

100 MB/s maximum data transfer rate

Dimensions:

15.75" (W) x 10.63" (D) x 1.52" (H)

Weight:

8.8 Pounds

Ports:

VGA Port

IEEE 1394

ECP Parallel Port

4 version 2.0 USB ports

RJ-45 Port

RJ-11 Port

Microphone Jack

Headphone Jack

Line in Jack

TV Out

S-video

Power Supply:

150W Output External AC Adapter

100-240V Input Voltage

50-60 Hz Frequency

Weight-1.5 Lbs

System Management:

SM BIOS 2.3 Support

ACPI V1.0B Power Management Support

Wake-On-LAN from S3