http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... =39&loc=01

Features
•Laptop with AMD Athlon™ II dual-core processor, 3GB DDR2 memory, 320GB hard drive with MyBackup Button and high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n); NightSky design with a subtle pattern
•Laptop also features a double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW drive, 15.6" Ultrabright widescreen, ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics, built-in webcam with microphone, multi-in-1 media reader and Windows 7 Home Premium
•Compact Microsoft wireless mouse with optical technology, scroll wheel and ambidextrous design; snap-in receiver attaches to the bottom of the mouse for easy travel
•Solo Slim convertible laptop case can be used as a bag or a sleeve; touch-fastener front pocket with organizer features, plus front and back pockets for accessory storage; removable, adjustable shoulder strap

A friend of mine came over last night right after she had just gone to Bestbuy and purchased the above Gateway Laptop. She has 14 days to return without any restocking fees. Looking for feedback on whether she should keep it (xmas gift for her mother) or return it for a better deal.


Saw this on Yahoo the other day and am thinking an Asus laptop would be the way to go, but doubt I could find a good price. I have 3 HP laptops and am beginning to think they are pretty much pieces of crap (major over heating and wireless problems).

1 in 3 laptops die in first three years
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/154921 ... t_count=20

They also sold her Kaspersky anti-virus, and from what I've read it is fairly decent.

Suggestions/comments/Links to better online-tax free deals?

Best I come up with so far is still $200 more

http://www.amazon.com/K50IJ-X8-15-6-Inc ... B002Q8HNFO

Reviews

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptop-reviews/ ... 035_117983

I'll take a look at it when I get back from physics.

I was reading over that Yahoo! article too.

If it's a Christmas gift for her mother, keep it.

That Yahoo! article looks like a piece that was thrown together to fill a spot on their news site. The only real reference it lists is a PDF file that says essentially the same thing with some graphs and then sources the following:

1. "We're only guessing."
2. A Pricegrabber.com purchasing trends PDF.
3. An article about how Dell is the no. 3 PC retailer now.


I'd venture to guess that for what her mother needs the laptop for, it's going to be just fine. If something does actually happen, there's guaranteed to be a local PC repair store that'll fix it up for her on the cheap.

I'll provide my input on this topic: Kaspersky, is the next best thing to NOD32...which is the best, even though I use AVG free w00t!

I tend to agree with Kitten on this one.

gateway sucks

AngryKitten is right. News outlets picked up crumbs of a shitty-ass study that came to no reasonable conclusions on laptop reliability.

For you statistics-heads, here's a great summary:
http://tumbledry.org/2009/11/20/when_in ... overwhelms

Gateway still makes PCs? Holy shit I need to get out of this rock

I've got a hard place you can get on.