Entered CNET Catalog: 11/01/2005
SKU: 3501609
Manufacturer: Gateway Inc.
Manufacturer description
Slim and light for powerful computing that won't slow you down. The Gateway 200 series delivers breakthrough mobile performance.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Mediocre notebook with poor quality components.
Pros: Its weight vs its size
Cons: Thin housing causes multitude of problems.
Review: I was attracted to this notebook because of its size/weight. When I purchased it I was unaware of the known issues with the the unit and bought one second hand on eBay.
Paint: The plastic casing actually has a metallic coating on it that scratches off easily. Not sure why they would choose this over a straight grey plastic but it sure makes the notebook look like crap in no time.
Flimsy: One of the main features of a laptop should be portability. To cut weight someone made the choice to use micro thin plastic. The result is a notebook that has to be handled very gentley or you risk working the components inside loose. Kinda defeats the porability feature as I like to be able to grab my notebook on the corner and lift it with one hand.
HDD: The HDD itself has never been a specific issue. I believe that the flimsy case is the root problem here. I've had to open up the HDD cover and resecure the ribbon cable as it works itself loose periodically. Last time I had an epiphany and folded the ribbon back over itself and underneath the HD opening. It acts like a little spring that keeps the connector in place. I haven't had a problem since.
Adapter: Great design if it would last. I've replaced the apapter twice and the same thing happened to each. The outside casing on the wire breaks near the adapter tip under the plastic molding and at the base of the adapter itself. After this happens the covered wire inside breaks through it's housing and comes in contact with the ground. My first adapter lasted 6 months and my second barely made it over a month. I finally bought an off brand replacement and resolved the problem!
Speakers: Does this thing have speakers? Actually, it does but they are such poor quality that the only time I can hear out of them is when I'm in a room all by myself. Like to watch the occasional movie or listen to music. Forget it, not without a set of headphones.
CD-RW/DVD: Louder then most but it works. Be aware that the firmware from Samsung cannot be used to flash this drive even though it has the same serial number SN-324.
Monitor: The hinges on the monitor were loose when I got the notebook. I don't know if it came this way new. In the two yrs that I've owned it, it hasn't gotten any worse.
Overheating: Never. I work with the unit on my lap and even propped up on a cushion, cutting off any airflow. The fan seems to do it's job even though it is oddly placed.
Keyboard: All the keys have stayed put and the letters have not worn off.
I put up with this notebook because it's light and I can treat is like crap because it is! That said, it has continued to work through all the abuse I've put it through, so I suppose that's a positive. The only tweak I've had to do was the trick with the ribbon cable.
Bottom line, I fix all my own computers so I think that I put up with alot more then the average consumer. I can't recommend this notebook for anyone who isn't afraid to smack it around a little bit. I definately wouldn't pay anymore then couple hundred for it.
Paint: The plastic casing actually has a metallic coating on it that scratches off easily. Not sure why they would choose this over a straight grey plastic but it sure makes the notebook look like crap in no time.
Flimsy: One of the main features of a laptop should be portability. To cut weight someone made the choice to use micro thin plastic. The result is a notebook that has to be handled very gentley or you risk working the components inside loose. Kinda defeats the porability feature as I like to be able to grab my notebook on the corner and lift it with one hand.
HDD: The HDD itself has never been a specific issue. I believe that the flimsy case is the root problem here. I've had to open up the HDD cover and resecure the ribbon cable as it works itself loose periodically. Last time I had an epiphany and folded the ribbon back over itself and underneath the HD opening. It acts like a little spring that keeps the connector in place. I haven't had a problem since.
Adapter: Great design if it would last. I've replaced the apapter twice and the same thing happened to each. The outside casing on the wire breaks near the adapter tip under the plastic molding and at the base of the adapter itself. After this happens the covered wire inside breaks through it's housing and comes in contact with the ground. My first adapter lasted 6 months and my second barely made it over a month. I finally bought an off brand replacement and resolved the problem!
Speakers: Does this thing have speakers? Actually, it does but they are such poor quality that the only time I can hear out of them is when I'm in a room all by myself. Like to watch the occasional movie or listen to music. Forget it, not without a set of headphones.
CD-RW/DVD: Louder then most but it works. Be aware that the firmware from Samsung cannot be used to flash this drive even though it has the same serial number SN-324.
Monitor: The hinges on the monitor were loose when I got the notebook. I don't know if it came this way new. In the two yrs that I've owned it, it hasn't gotten any worse.
Overheating: Never. I work with the unit on my lap and even propped up on a cushion, cutting off any airflow. The fan seems to do it's job even though it is oddly placed.
Keyboard: All the keys have stayed put and the letters have not worn off.
I put up with this notebook because it's light and I can treat is like crap because it is! That said, it has continued to work through all the abuse I've put it through, so I suppose that's a positive. The only tweak I've had to do was the trick with the ribbon cable.
Bottom line, I fix all my own computers so I think that I put up with alot more then the average consumer. I can't recommend this notebook for anyone who isn't afraid to smack it around a little bit. I definately wouldn't pay anymore then couple hundred for it.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 4 user reviews
It has known problems and is more trouble than it's worth.
Pros: Very light; great keyboard
Cons: Inefficient ventilation; known hard drive issues; poor customer service; unreliable; battery life much shorter than claimed
Review: After using this laptop for 1.5 years, I feel confident in giving it a rating of Abysmal and I strongly discourage people from buying it. CNET's rating guide describes such a product as one which never should have been produced and can harm me or my productivity. I believe all of these things to be true. I am definitely a disgruntled, angry customer, but I am not writing this review to seek revenge on Gateway; I simply wish I had been warned of the known problems this model has before I bought it, and think other people deserve that courtesy.
In under two years, I have gotten a new hard drive FOUR times, a new power cord, a new CD/DVD drive, a new fan, and am currently having sound card problems. Also, keys began falling off soon after I received the unit.
The ventilation system is illogically constructed and therefore inefficient. There is one tiny fan on the side, and a larger one right on the bottom of the machine, so that hardly any air gets out. I was told by Gateway Tech support to use what they called the "Two Pencil Approach": propping my machine up on pencils. I had not expected only to be able to use the machine when it is propped up on a desk; its versatility is compromised. A Tech Support person actually told me the entire set-up was "stupid" and he couldn't understand who would have designed such a thing. Unless the machine is set up very carefully, it becomes so hot it literally could burn me.
I have had consistent hard drive troubles, and the first three times I had to send the computer in for a new hard drive. The fourth time, Tech Support finally admitted to me that this was a known problem with the 200ARC and many similar cases had been reported. I am not a computer expert, but will try to relay what I was told. The problem, they told me, was that the ribbon which connects the motherboard to the hard drive is constantly coming loose due to the way it was constructed. Their solution was to send me a small piece of rubber to paste onto it to anchor it down, but now the covering over the hard drive doesn't fit properly. They could not verify to me that this wouldn't cause further problems. Because of these problems, during which I couldn't even access the operating system, I went for weeks without being able to use my computer.
After just a few months, some wire came loose in my power cord and began to spark. Even though I cared for the cord just as prescribed, Gateway claimed it wasn't covered under my warranty. The replacement cord they sent was different from the one that came with the computer and no longer worked with the surge protector they had persuaded me to buy; no restitution was offered.
The headphone jack has never been entirely functional, and sometimes will not put out sound when I plug in headphones or a speaker. After removing and reinserting the cord, or wiggling it, it sometimes works. The CD drive is extremely loud and sometimes shakes the whole machine; it has always been like that.
The batteries do not last nearly as long as I was told by the company. They last 45 minutes to one hour (I was told 3-4 when I bought it; I'm not sure what they're claiming now.)
It has a large screen, but the resolution is very low.
It makes a poor gaming computer. The video card is sub-par. For example, I cannot run the game "Age of Empires III" on it, even though I have Windows XP.
Overall, I am extremely dissatisfied with this product, as it has never worked as expected and it seems wholly unreliable. I have had to reformat my hard drive more times than I can remember, and have lost valuable information even though I am diligent about backing up information. I handle my machine with extreme care and am confident these problems are Gateway's fault, and this has been confirmed by Gateway's employees. I have had many things replaced, and new problems always seem to arise. I operate as if my computer will crash at any time, for this seems likely, given its past history.
The only good points about it are the excellent keyboard set-up and how light it is.
I will add a few words about Gateway's customer service because that seems relevant here.
The Tech Support people are nice, but not very helpful. I called at least a dozen times about my hard drive problems and was told something different almost every time; further, each time I called they would have me run the same tests (which could take up to two hours) even though my case file should have showed them I had already performed them. Even though they would give me case numbers to use when calling back about certain problems, most of the time they couldn't find me in the computer, even though I've called dozens of times. Every fourth time or so that I call, the computer system is down. They would lose my information and my case information. There seems also to be a disconnect between the Tech people and the shipping people, because sometimes things they were supposed to send never arrived, and someone in shipping would not be able to locate any order.
In under two years, I have gotten a new hard drive FOUR times, a new power cord, a new CD/DVD drive, a new fan, and am currently having sound card problems. Also, keys began falling off soon after I received the unit.
The ventilation system is illogically constructed and therefore inefficient. There is one tiny fan on the side, and a larger one right on the bottom of the machine, so that hardly any air gets out. I was told by Gateway Tech support to use what they called the "Two Pencil Approach": propping my machine up on pencils. I had not expected only to be able to use the machine when it is propped up on a desk; its versatility is compromised. A Tech Support person actually told me the entire set-up was "stupid" and he couldn't understand who would have designed such a thing. Unless the machine is set up very carefully, it becomes so hot it literally could burn me.
I have had consistent hard drive troubles, and the first three times I had to send the computer in for a new hard drive. The fourth time, Tech Support finally admitted to me that this was a known problem with the 200ARC and many similar cases had been reported. I am not a computer expert, but will try to relay what I was told. The problem, they told me, was that the ribbon which connects the motherboard to the hard drive is constantly coming loose due to the way it was constructed. Their solution was to send me a small piece of rubber to paste onto it to anchor it down, but now the covering over the hard drive doesn't fit properly. They could not verify to me that this wouldn't cause further problems. Because of these problems, during which I couldn't even access the operating system, I went for weeks without being able to use my computer.
After just a few months, some wire came loose in my power cord and began to spark. Even though I cared for the cord just as prescribed, Gateway claimed it wasn't covered under my warranty. The replacement cord they sent was different from the one that came with the computer and no longer worked with the surge protector they had persuaded me to buy; no restitution was offered.
The headphone jack has never been entirely functional, and sometimes will not put out sound when I plug in headphones or a speaker. After removing and reinserting the cord, or wiggling it, it sometimes works. The CD drive is extremely loud and sometimes shakes the whole machine; it has always been like that.
The batteries do not last nearly as long as I was told by the company. They last 45 minutes to one hour (I was told 3-4 when I bought it; I'm not sure what they're claiming now.)
It has a large screen, but the resolution is very low.
It makes a poor gaming computer. The video card is sub-par. For example, I cannot run the game "Age of Empires III" on it, even though I have Windows XP.
Overall, I am extremely dissatisfied with this product, as it has never worked as expected and it seems wholly unreliable. I have had to reformat my hard drive more times than I can remember, and have lost valuable information even though I am diligent about backing up information. I handle my machine with extreme care and am confident these problems are Gateway's fault, and this has been confirmed by Gateway's employees. I have had many things replaced, and new problems always seem to arise. I operate as if my computer will crash at any time, for this seems likely, given its past history.
The only good points about it are the excellent keyboard set-up and how light it is.
I will add a few words about Gateway's customer service because that seems relevant here.
The Tech Support people are nice, but not very helpful. I called at least a dozen times about my hard drive problems and was told something different almost every time; further, each time I called they would have me run the same tests (which could take up to two hours) even though my case file should have showed them I had already performed them. Even though they would give me case numbers to use when calling back about certain problems, most of the time they couldn't find me in the computer, even though I've called dozens of times. Every fourth time or so that I call, the computer system is down. They would lose my information and my case information. There seems also to be a disconnect between the Tech people and the shipping people, because sometimes things they were supposed to send never arrived, and someone in shipping would not be able to locate any order.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Performs very well but cooling could be better.
Pros: It has performed as I expected a good laptop should.
Cons: The laptop gets really hot if you do not have it ventilated.
Review: I purchased an after market lap or table pad that helps keep the laptop ventilated. The unit gets really hot if I don't use the cooling pad.
I have never had a problem with the 200 ARC and I have received really good service from Gateway techs when ugrading the XP Pro.
The Gateway 200 ARC out performs the Sony Vaio I had previously. The primary memory in the Sony Vaio fried itself after just eleven months of use. The after sales service for the Sony was also not very good.
I have been very satisfied with my Gateway for over 4 to 5 years now.
I have never had a problem with the 200 ARC and I have received really good service from Gateway techs when ugrading the XP Pro.
The Gateway 200 ARC out performs the Sony Vaio I had previously. The primary memory in the Sony Vaio fried itself after just eleven months of use. The after sales service for the Sony was also not very good.
I have been very satisfied with my Gateway for over 4 to 5 years now.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Small but unreliable
Pros: Very light, compact design
Cons: Poor build, poor laptop overall frame
Review: This computer may look cool and may be light, but it's very unreliable. Gateway has a deal with my college and this happen to be the model they offered for my year. I had to take my computer in about 4 times for repair (2 hard disk connection problems and 2 sound card problems). The frame is really light built, but the sound card will error after a few weeks of typing because the sound card is right below a thin layer of plastic under your wrist. The more you type, the more damage.
The wireless adapter seem to be really weak too, it does not perform well and I often got disconnected.
Venting and heating is also a problem. It has one small fan and the vents are conveniently where it would rest on your leg if you have it on your lap. Because of heating problems, i have had multiple hard disk and processing malfunctions-- i had to reformat my HD more than 2 times on top of those other repairs.
After being fed up, I opted over to a larger more reliable HP zv6130us. Way better performance for about the same price.
The wireless adapter seem to be really weak too, it does not perform well and I often got disconnected.
Venting and heating is also a problem. It has one small fan and the vents are conveniently where it would rest on your leg if you have it on your lap. Because of heating problems, i have had multiple hard disk and processing malfunctions-- i had to reformat my HD more than 2 times on top of those other repairs.
After being fed up, I opted over to a larger more reliable HP zv6130us. Way better performance for about the same price.
