Gateway CX200X (10/05/2005)

Review:

Review:

Review: I bought this product in Nov 05 and have had problems every since. The system has crashed three times in 8 months causing me to do complete system reinstalls. The service and help from Gateway is worthless.

Review: I bought one and love it! It just only has a few downsides. I was going to rate it a ten, but the website warned me!

Review: Great for school & work. I used this as my notebook while I was in school. Comes equipt with Microsoft OneNote which stores all your class notes in one place, also has the ability to convert your handwriting to text or search your handwriting notes for words.

Now that I'm done with school and in the professional world, I use my tablet to capture signatures and either print or email directly from it. One drawback is that it can be slightly heavy to use on-site & carry around if you work out of the office. Another CON is the wireless internet, since laptops use the screen as an antennae, if you move the screen or change orientations from landscape to portrait, you may loose your internet connection. I'm not sure if it's just mine but I've had quite a few issues with the internal LAN card. In addition, mine didn't include internal bluetooth, which now is an available option.

Review: I have had two Gateway CX2618's that I bought at Bestbuy, with an extended warranty. I had to bring the first one back, because dust was collectiing under the protective glass of the monitor, so after consulting Gateway, I brought the machine back to Bestbuy, and was charged a $225. dollar restocking fee, because they claimed it wasn't defective, though Gateway said it was...

My next CX2618 was just a bad, first the digitizer pen went haywire, until it finally gave up it's spirit, which forced me to buy two new back-ups, again from Bestbuy, because I assumed that I must have done something wrong... Little did I know, that others were having the same problems with this digitizer pen...

Not even two weeks into owning my CX2618, did I once again start to notice the same exact dust collecting under this protective glass also. I called Gateway, to try to get these issues resolved, basically... I have found myself paying for another digitizer pen, because they require that I send the malfunctioning one back, which I threw away... duh. And this issue with this dust collecting under the protective glass has yet to be resolved, each support technician continues to talk around this issue, even though this is definitely a defect in manufacturing, that they even admitted when I was going to return it to Bestbuy... Now that I am looking to them for a fix, since I don't want to pay this restocking fee at bestbuy again, because I still have to the the 25th of April, to return it, they suddenly don't have an answer for me, on how to get this situation resolved, so... My advice is to avoid buying Gateway's Tablet pcs, because their have been several issues with this digitizer pen and monitor, but they seem to be unwilling to repair the situation, without screwing one out of more money to do so...

Ironically enough, the machine would be absolutely fantastic, if not for these two very important issues, because without a functioning monitor or properly working digitizer pen, one is basically left with a laptop pc, that's screen will eventually become one big dust container.

What is worse, is that Gateway is unwilling to resolve this issue without putting one through the ringer first, even though I have noticed from several boards, that several individuals are facing the same exact issues, and have actually been put through hell to get them resolved also... So the finally decision is yours, believe that this is an absolutely great machine, or take into consideration the fact that when something goes wrong, which it will... You are basically on your own after spending almost two thousand dollars...

Review: Mine is the Best Buy version cx2618 but basically the same thing. I read where people have trouble with the latch, just means the screen is not rotated to the right position, not a big deal. Hand writing recognition is great, love the tablet features. I type faster than I write so I use it as a notebook a lot but taking notes in a meeting is much quieter using the pen. MS Onenote is great. Battery is good. Have had no problems so far. If you're getting a notebook, think about a tablet.

Review: This is a very functional tablet for a student. When I first bought it I thought that I would sacrifice power and performance for the tablet design. But in fact it is more like a full blown laptop with tablet functionality. The software that is included is amazing for the price and the widescreen is very useful. On top of that it is the best looking laptop I have ever seen, it even surpasses Apple and the Sony Vaio series in design. I would definitly buy it again.

Review: Makes presentations w/ graphics much easier. Linktivity Presenter is must use add on. Really didn't know what to expect but was definitely pleased w/ how it handles graphics intensive applications.

Review: I just got my CX200X yesterday. Gateway estimated arrival at 10 days. It took less than 5 days to get to me. I have spent about 10 hours getting aquainted with and setting up the computer. So far, I am impressed with the machine. I would highly recommend this tablet PC. I have been waiting almost two years for a good tablet with a large screen to come out. Twelve inch screens are just too small to get any work or play done. It seems that people are stuck on the idea that tablet PCs have to be ultra light and have infinite battery life, but all that means is that the tablet PC would be just an small electronic piece of paper. I think most people that own a tablet PC use it in conjuction with a desktop or as their sole computer. This means more than basic features are needed, and the market shows it. This is why convertibles are more popular than slate style tablet PCs. I understand that industry originally targeted businesses and professionals as their main market segment. This is why smaller and lighter where major design criteria (although I would argue that only small number of business segments require this, such as, healthcare and warehousing. The rest have desks or tables to put their tablet on most of the time). Only recently have manufacturers come around to realize the student and home user markets. These markets do not care as much about weight as they do features. I would prefer a tablet with a 15" or larger screen. If you cringe at the thought of that and say, "what about battery life?!", just remember, a larger screen equals more room for batteries.

Some say that the CX200 too heavy for mobile users. I would disagree. Unless you have to hold it in you arm for extended periods of time, the weight is more than worth it for the extra features in this tablet.

OK, enough sales pitch. What don't I like about it. The 14" screen is larger than than most tablet PC screens and has great resolution, but the I don't think 14" is big enough for a widescreen format. I find that I am scrolling a lot, up and down in landscape mode and left and right in portrait mode. Also, the external monitor connector doesn't have any screw-ins to hold the cable in. It's a small gripe, but why wouldn't you put them in?! Last, it seems that the digitizer sensing area is only as big as the screen, which makes it hard to get the taskbar with the pen (unless you have it calibrated correctly). It would be nice to have some extra area around the screen to ensure edge-to-edge accuracy.

A quick note about the hinge. I evaluated the hinges of several different tablet PCs from Acer, toshiba, and HP. The Gateway hinge is definately the most sturdy and rugged hinge that I've seen. The Toshiba (R15) and the Acer (don't remember) hinges were pathetic. The screens rocked side to side very easily. The appeared plastic. The Gateway hinge is metal covered in plactic and a bit wider than the others.

I hope this opinion helps.

Review: As a retired teacher I now need a personal computer that can also operate successfully in a part-time job, college professor. It satisfies both needs, having the versatility of the tablet function and mobility of wireless. It is much lighter than my pervious laptop. The wireless function also works successfully inside and outside my home as well as on the college campus. I'm not a tech person so I need a computer that does what I ask and this one is winning my praise so far. I have had a Gateway desktop and other brands in the past. Gateway seems to produce a good product.

Review: Gateway put together a computer that has great features and software included with it. The screen is great for watching movies and is viewable even outdoors. The keyboard is fullsize and feels good to use.

On average I get about 4.5 hours of battery life with medium LCD brightness and no external peripherals attached. Some people may have an issue with the hump the bottom of the battery pack that puts the pc at a slant when sitting on a table.

I ran into problems with the computer breaking down.

First thing that happened was a defective stylus had to be replaced twice. After about 2 months of use, the digitizer stopped working meaning the pen couldn't be used anymore. Now I'm trying to get this replaced by Best Buy with a Toshiba R15 instead.

Review: I purchased this computer back in November. It's an outstanding computer, but turns out the accidently charged me $200 extra for the computer, took two and a half months to clear that up and they cleared up the problem.
Now I'm having an overheating problem because I got the 2.1 processer. I would with large databases and when I put a heavy load on the processer it overheats and shuts the computer down. I called and they sent out new parts, took 12 days to get here because I only got the extra 3 year warrenty and drop protection, not the speedy warrenty as well. I spent $350 on the warrenty and now if I want reasonable service it will take an extra $150. After they installed the new parts it did not fix the problem so they want me to send the computer in to them but they don't pay for the shipping, for only $45 I can ship the computer in to them and it will take about 2 to 3 weeks to get back.
To sum up the computer is nice, but if anything goes wrong with it don't expect much help from the company.

Review: Works great, plenty of horse power for doing just about anything. I run Photoshop, Illustrator and many other things and it preforms as well as many desktops. To top it all of Gateway has made it look fairly sharp.

CNet should do more than just look at the box and actually use it.

Review: This is a quality machine for the price you pay for it. Beware, it is heavy, so use it on a desk when in tablet mode. It isn't meant to be a run-about type laptop, even gateway admits that on thier website. This machine is a powerhouse though. I paid extra for the ATI X600 video card and it is worth it. Battery life isn't terrible, but it will be worth your intrest to get the multi-bay battery if you are in meettings longer than 2 hrs. Also, the main system battery is thicker than the unit, giving it a tilt. I assume this is for ergonomics and also it seems to be adjusted so if you are cradling the unit the tilt makes the screen/writing surface flat. However, it is too heavy to cradle in a meeting unless you work out alot or just drank 5 Starbuck's and are buzzed like crazy.
But, truth be told it is worth the money, a real bargin.
P.S.
Pay for the upgraded warranty and you don't get the infamous crappy Gateway cust. serv. I've had some questions and gotten answers in 10 minutes since I bought the uber-warranty from Gateway).

Review: Mine, a CX200X, was sent back for repair due to a number of things: a dead pixel, a missing drive bay lock screw, loud and vibrating dvd burner. So the system builder rushed on XMas I suppose.

IT's really heavy with the 12-cell battery. But the battery has a rubber grip so it won't slip out of your hand.

With the best screen among tablets, the LCD is wide-screen sporting a res of 1280x768. The screen cover is glass so it's more durable then plastic.

I wish the pen have an erasure tip because I hate to move my hand to the erasure button on any proggie and move back to erase a mistake. A friend's HP tablet has a double ended function that you just flip to the erasing end erase. THe right click using the pen button has to be held down and the pen tip has to tap on the screen in order to activate it. It has no option for hover and click on pen button. Instead, there is an option for tab and hold the pen tip to the screen for a set time to active right mouse click.

So which way do you turn the screen? Well, you need to raise your ass, lean over a glass cover pit (well) at the hinch to see a white arrow pointing right. Why not an LED lit arrow instead? Oh, and having rotated the screen into a slate mode, I find it difficult for the screen to close tightly on its magetic latches (of which there are two). Also, my screen has a dead pixel. How do you check? Use a checkboard image of pixel size for each black and white (or some other contrasting colors)--Or, Google for more info.

I didn't like the placement of the Fn key at the lower left corner. I use Ctrl + Shift, but its position there makes me press Fn + Shift. It should be on the right of Ctrl. And I find the mouse buttons on the point pad hard to press. (TIP: use Fn + F1 to turn off LEDs on the LCD. This is not documented in the manual.)

As for the graphics, you have to option for an ATI X600 SE. A page from Gateway says you have the option of 128MB but when you order there is no such option, only the 64MB is available. ATI's site says they have three variants of the X600: a discreet sharing system memory, a 64mb and a 128MB dedicated memory. I can't seem to find where in the specification of the X600 that it uses virtual memory when the application requires it.

I gave up my Sony TR3A for this one. With it's evolution slow, tablets are far from perfect. Teh same can be said of the tablet functions of the OS.

Review: I absolutely love this notebook. It's the ideal model for anyone looking to have desktop replacement and tablet functionality in the same computer. The best part is that it's also under 2K!

I would honestly give this notebook a 10, but the model came with a defective pen. I guess it's not that big of a deal now that the replacement pen works perfectly, but I was really disappointed when I had to wait for 5 days until I could play with my tablet. The optical drive couldn't burn when shipped, but that was also replaced along with the pen (same day actually) and works fine now.

That said, I'm really disappointed with the CNET review. This is where google brought me when I searched for reviews on the CX200X and although this page is probably very popular, I find it rather inaccurate.

First of all, there is absolutely no problem with the latch. I don't understand what everyone is talking about. You just make sure it's lined up (since the screen can obviously rotate, it's a convertible for crying out loud) and press down. As for how short they claim the battery life to be, just get the 12 cell and there shouldn't be a problem. I bought two 12 cells and I've never completely run out.

I feel sorry for the other person who had the bad experience with gateway's service if that's true, but I have spoken with several techs and had 2 parts replaced (which only took one time and shipped in 5 days even though it was smack dab in the middle of christmas) and have had nothing but a positive experience.

Also, the pen works just fine. The thing about the pen is that there are actually two models. One shipped with the first CX200's and is terrible. They fixed many of the pen's problems and now have a new model. They are now trying to phase out the old pens, but some people are still unfortunately getting the old ones. All you have to do is ask for a replacement to guarentee that you have the new model and then, as I said above, the pen works perfectly - not one hitch.

This is nothing personal, I just know that I was really worried by these statements when I was considering this model, but I now know from first-hand experience that these aren't big things. Yes, it could happen to you, but it's not an actual design flaw of this model.

As for performance, it's great for the price. I don't even have the fastest processor and I get decent settings and framerates on Fable and BF2. Good gaming on a tablet is not something that you will see everyday.

If you're already considering this model, I'm assuming that you're looking for something with performance and tablet functionality. Basically, there are only three models in this category at the moment: the Acer C314, the Toshiba Tecra M4, and the Gateway CX200X. I admit that the Acer has the best performance, but that's if you can get it to work. Acer's are known for their poor reliability and support. The M4 has a better digitizer, but has a horrendously short battery life, a slow graphics card (geforce 6200, bleh), and a known problem of dust getting in between the protection layer and LCD. The obvious choice is the CX200X.

If you're really interested in buying a tablet, I suggest that you check out other sites for more information, especially various tablet pc forums. That's how I made my final decision anyway.

Review: If you've done even a little research, you know this is an extraordinary machine. For a slight markup from laptop retail, you can have all the extra functionality that a Tablet PC offers, including creating text-searchable handwritten notes/documents, as well as annotating documents with customizable ink & highlighter. That ink can be converted to text or left as handwriting. For more on the Tablet OS, go to www.TabletPC.com.

The CX200X has been a fantastic investment for me. I've been a Tablet owner/user since 2003, and have thoroughly enjoyed my Toshiba M200/M205, which is a 12" diag, 4lb wonder. The CX200X offers all the options I missed in my Toshiba, but at an understandable cost of portability.

With the CX200X, I now have a gorgeous & bright 14" screen that WOWs onlookers and is perfect for multi-media presentations (with a Tablet, you can swivel the screen to face the audience- very handy!). It also features an on-board DVD-RW/CD-RW drive which is a great plus! (No more hunting for USB cables and external drives). This machine also features a multi-card reader which I routinely use to transfer info to & from my DigiCam, Smartphone & cell phone.

A quick 1.83MHz Intel Centrino Processor offers great speed as well as Power Management, yielding fast multi-tasking and over 5 hrs use on 1 charge of the larger 12-cell battery. The batt charges quickly, despite its massive AC adapter (which I'd budget for replacing with an aftermarket model- see www.Kensington.com for universal laptop adaptors).

I also opted for the enhanced ATI video chip, which truly delivers on movie-playback, presentations & more. However, the stock system is sure to wow even picky users, so the upgrade is quite optional for most.

With 1GB RAM installed, my system is quick & responsive. With over 1.25GB, one runs into the MS Windows flaw that Hibernate may not work, but the word is that a fix is on its way for this... Just search MS Knowledge Base for "hibernate laptop" and you'll likely find what you need to know.

Wireless networking is very powerful on the CX. I've been thrilled with the connection speeds & reliability using the on-board Intel B/G card. It can be managed either by Windows (lightly customizable) or the Intel software (DEEPLY customizable). FYI, I use a WPA-secured dynamic network key, and the on-board card handles this flawlessly.

In all arenas, I've been pleased with this Tablet. I owe my pleasure in large part to a great deal of research before purchase. However, here are some notes on its less-glorious facets, so you're well-informed in advance:

1) This is a large & heavy system, at just under 7 lbs (same as Tecra M4, essentially). Some may find this too much for daily carry/use beyond the office desk. For me, it's livable (then again, I'm 6'3").

2) There is no option to add internal Bluetooth. I'm one of apparently few users for whom BT is a big deal currently. Though many seek it as an option, PC makers quote surveys that say it's actually used by very few. Well, count me among them- I connect with 4 peripherals by BT, and miss the functionality on this machine. I was thrilled to find a PC card with BT antenna by ZOOM that added BT without a "dongle" hanging off the USB ports. It also leaves my USBs free for other devices, and works while on Battery power. I highly recommend that add-on if BT is important to you.

3) The CX-series, like all Gateways, has a reputation for a highly-caffeinated fan, meaning it's often on. Personally, I'd prefer an over-active fan to a melted processor anyday, but the silent-pc types might disagree. I use this Tablet in meetings everyday, and have never had a complaint.

4) The keyboard is set quite a ways back, so I take my watch off when using it to avoid scratching the surface. A minor thing, but feels a bit impractical.

5) Some report ink-lag issues, though I've never experienced them on my system. The later the manufacture date, the better, and apparently I lucked out! Gateway offers a new improved pen/stylus for those who have any issues, at no cost.

6) The magnetic screen latch takes some getting used to. My first 3 attempts to lock the screen into tablet mode only resulted in frustration. Hey- i thought- Maybe I should actually read the manual! Indeed, that sorted things out quickly, and I now think the magnetic catch is a wiser design than any other Tablet I've tried (many!), b/c if dropped or ding-ed, it would allow the most "give".

7) There is no built-in fingerprint-reader on the CX-series. Since data security is important to me, I've password protected my login, as well as added a USB-drive with fingerprint security to encrypt my files/folders that need the security. The drive is by Lexar, and has worked reliably.

8) If xD cards are of importance to you, double-check that your system can use them. Mine was marketed as a 5-in-1 reader, but actually is only a 4-in-1 reader, lacking xD support. Gateway is willing to help address it (3-yr enhanced warranty), but I don't know it'd be worth the time sending in to the shop.


OK, I think I've addressed the major details, and even a few minor ones. Lastly, I'd encourage anyone looking at a Tablet PC to TEST-DRIVE the systems they're considering, and even a few others. You'll be amazed at how many different implementations there are of the Tablet OS, such as the screen-side buttons, etc. Just getting to know these differences will make you a much-more informed user, and you'll appreciate it when looking for features & options down the line. Thankfully, with a full desktop-replacement system like this, there are very few options you'll actually need to look into! Best of luck in your search & feel free to email for any additional details.

Review: Though cNet usually does a great job, I think they messed this one up; Gateway's CX200 is perfect for students or those who need both power and tablet functionality.

The CX200's size and weight are not issues. I use it roaming around on a daily basis. It would only be too much if one intended to use in in one's arm as a tablet for more than half an hour a day or so. Also, cNet says the battery life is paltry, but, with the system all but maxed out and with the best battery configuration, I can get eight hours out of the system. I think that's pretty good. Her problem snapping the display down does occur occasionally, but a firm push will solve the problem.

The CX200 has all the standard tablet features, but also can perform big tasks without struggling. I use it for working in Adobe Creative Suite 2 all the time. It even buckles down for video editing. I really like that it can do all of this without getting really hot or maxing out the fans very often.

I mention IBM/Lenovo-like construction in the pros list. More can be found on Gateway's website, but 802.11g connections are stronger and a magnesium alloy frame make this really a very solid system.

The port replicator is very well designed. It is neat and clean, of a normal size. It connects via a cable and proprietary port on the side of the system. The cord is nice because it allows one to move the system around on a desk and to use it in tablet mode. I do wish, however, that it had a DVI plug to use an external monitor with the newest connection.

A few other bullet-point pros: loud and sharp speakers, dual layer DVD-RW drive, power button lock, flash drive reader.

The largest drawback to the CX200 from my point of views is the lack of integrated bluetooth. However, one can buy an adapter to plug into a USB port or to slip into the PCMCIA slot for about $40.

I love the CX200. It's few drawbacks make it a 9.5 rather than a 10, but it is a wonderful system for students who want a tablet for class and a media system for fun and those who need power and tablet functionality. Happy shopping!

P.S. Call Gateway and ask for a discount. My impression is that their agents have some negotiating room.

Review: I am a high school math teacher and I use my CX200X in my classroom. I have been looking at buying a tablet pc for over a year, so I have be researching for a while.

My configuration is: Centrino 1.86 GHz; 1 GB RAM; ATI Radeon X600 SE 128MB.

At first, I had to uninstall a lot of unwanted software (AOL, virus, etc.). Once I cleaned that out, I was able to install what I wanted. This took the better part of one day to configure. The wireless connection was easy to setup. To date, I have had minor problems running certain software.

I teach computer science, so I un Java and BlueJ. For some reason, BlueJ responds slowly to typing and mouse interaction. Possible conflict with other software? I have not been able to figure this out, yet.

My tablet runs non-stop from 8AM to 3PM and I use a Targus chiller underneath to help cool. I have noticed that the bottom corners of the screen get very hot. When I place my hand on the screen to write, it is hard to keep my hand on those areas because they are too hot. Sometimes the fans are running for long periods and other times they do not run, so the fan noise is not really an issue for me.

My biggest gripe about this tablet pc is the pen. Since I am using this as a teaching tool (I project the screen in my class for my students to see), it is a chore to have to "undo" my writing several times because the pen adds half inch lines to the end of my characters (for no reason). Also, I notice the mouse jumping around when I hold it about .25 inches above the screen. Sometimes, it will write without my even touching the screen. This gets frustrating while teaching, but the class finds it funny at times. I have talked to Gateway (a toll call for me), and the tech person was not very impressive. His knowledge of this tablet pc was limited. He basically went off of my diagnosis that it was the pen and they shipped my a new one. The new pen reacts the exact same way, so it must be something else. I will be contacting Gateway again about this issue. I know that when I was shopping around, the Toshiba's did not have this problem.

I went with the Gateway over the Toshiba because it had a better warranty. I purcahsed it through Gateway online and got the 4 year full warranty for $400. No other product had this to offer. Maybe I should have gone with the Toshiba? The jury is still out.

All-in-all, I have been happy with this new addition to my class. It has made my teaching more interactive and engaging. I can save all of my lessons and post them to the web. It is easy for me to go back and adjust my future lessons based on my past ones. I love the technology! I wish the pen behaved! That's my only real gripe.

Review: Given that I did my research before spending my money on the cx200X I decided to share this review with you because I don't believe the editor rating does it justice!!!

First and foremost you should know that this is by far the best deal for the parts that you are getting. The same configuration will cost you more if you go with Dell, HP or Asus. That is a matter of fact!

Also don't believe the pictures on the Gateway site that you can be a girl and carry this thing rested on your arm and walk around your office taking notes like it weighs less then one pound.Of course you can certainly do that if you are on steroids and you are buff.
It's really not that heavy, but it's not that light either.

After using this computer for one week I can't imagine why all laptops are not tablets??? There is really no good reason for them not to be. Chatting on messenger by writing your messages is wicked cool.
Handwriting emails and notes? )) Supercool!

The CX200X looks very flashy. With blue leds and cool functional buttons. You can rotate the screen in 2 landscape and 2 portrait views with a simple push of a button. So: rotating your desktop by 90 degrees with every push. That pretty much eliminates the complaints of people that would like to hold it in a different way, because: Hey hold it any way you want!

I read that some people complained about the locking of the screen?! What? It works great. The screen is not loose when you are not in table mode. It will stay in the position you set it. The cool thing is that if someone sits next to you, you can say: Hey check this out and turn the screen towards them! Exciting!!! haha j/k

Now lets switch to tablet mode and talk a bit about that.

I was somewhat of a tablet virgin in a sense that I haven't had the opportunity to play with one before I got mine, but I really LOVE IT! The pen is on the left bottom and pops up with a slide of a button. Neat! It has a button on it which is used for right clicking. You can also touch an icon and hold your pen over it for a second and then when you release it's counted as a right click. You can really configure this any way you want. (how fast you tap for double click, area of recognition, blah blah blah)

There are 3 modes for writing when using the pen:

1. Freestyle (and pray to God that your handwriting will be recognized)
2. Letter by letter (there are areas where you write your letters separately [works for me since my handwritting is plain horrible]}
3. Touch symbols and letters on a virtual keyboard (kind of beats the purpose)

I suggest you bookmark your websites that you visit often so you don't sweat when the computer recognizes grooming when you write google. You can practice your handwriting and get better. There are PLENTY of Tutorials of how to really make use of this computer. The Tutorials are interractive and they are Great!

Sometimes the pen will throw in a dot and a line here and there (rare) that you didn't put. It's kind of annoying, but it's not a big deal.

Can you use the pen to draw in photoshop, flash etc??? Yes you can. The pen is really like a mouse, except it's way cooler. The moment you come close to the screen, a pointer comes out. The moment you use it to type something it will show you a button that you click to open the pen panel for writing etc.
Don't get me wrong. When I try to write nicely my handwriting is recognized 100%: it's freakin amazing.

The software that comes with the notebook is really good. You get some nice thingies like One Note which is wicked for utilizing the power of the pen. I hope that this will replace my lab notebook. Journal is another neat program: you push a button on the computer and the program is launched immediately so you can write, highlight, erase, put images and more and send it to onenote or send it as an email to your friend. It's amazing really!

The Pen and Paper Feel is bull! Let me tell you what my eye doctor said when I got my contacts: "You will always feel like there's something in your eye, because Guess WHAT?: There's something in your eye! ". If you want a pen and paper feel, get a pen and paper. It's different!
I'm not saying it's bad. I like it. There is enough resistance for you to be happy when you write.

Anyway, if you are buying a laptop: GET A TABLET! It's much cooler, it is as fast as a normal laptop and it's very enjoyable!


This is my configuration:

1.86 ghz Pentium M 750
2X512 DDR2 Ram
ATI Mobility X600 64MB
12 cell battery

You could go up to 2 gigs of ram or get the 2.1 ghz processor , but you will be paying too much for performance you will likely not need from your notebook.

Obviously, this is not a gamer laptop, but it also doesn't weigh as much as the Alienware monster laptop you can build. This is a perfect day to day, office-home machine which is powerful, not very heavy and really, really, really, ridiculously good looking.

VIDEO CARD:

I was a bit dissapointed that the highest graphic card you can put in is the 64 mb X600 (given that X700 is a 128mb card and it's better). However, the fact of the matter is: If you are a gamer - Get a Desktop! If you are not: Get the ATI card because the ones that come in stock with the notebooks are really crappy. Pay the 100 bucks. It does make a difference!
Also, another cool thing is that the video card is on a PCI express SLOT!!! AAAAAND sometimes along the way if you decide to put a better one - you can replace it yourself.

S-Video Out

Like there is no space on the darn thing to drill another hole?!??! I don't know what Gateway was thinking when they didn't include this port. Most people that have laptops love to connect them to their TV and watch a DVD or some video download etc. Duh!

The good thing is, the ATI card does support TV-out function through the VGA connector. They claim that all you need is the cable adapter. Search ebay for VGA to tv converter. Please, please, please keep in mind that I did talk to 2 Gateway tech support reps and they said that this IS POSSIBLE, but I haven't tried it YET! If it is, the cable costs one dollar on ebay.
Either way, it is stupid not to have this port on a new model notebook.

Now, I have to share this with you:

I made the mistake of asking the S-video question to a sales rep because I was too lazy to call a tech support guy and he told me: No you can't do that, but we have a tv tuner card that you can use to watch TV on your notebook. Would you be interested in that?

Hi, we don't have any oranges, but you can use this grinder to grind your beef if you like?!!?? It's so annoying when you get the feeling that you know more about the product then the person who is selling it to you!!!

Anyway, I called tech support and they said that you can get the cable and connect the CX200X to a TV!

RAM:

How much ram do you need? 1 Gig of DDR 2 ram should be good enough for anyone. This is anticipating that 256 is a bare minimum for a good Windows XP performance. That's what I think anyway.

Hard Drive:

I got the 80 gig HD. The price difference was not so big for the extra 20 gigs. And now I'm going to quote my roommate and say "People say that your computer is as fast as your hard drive".
Not that I'm not going to get any sleep over it, but there are faster speed hard drives. It should be an option to put one of those in. (of course you can do this by yourself if you buy it separately).
And yes you can put all the software back on they do give you all the CDs.

Battery:

The 12 cell Battery lasts for about 6 hours with normal - surfing, word processing stuff. I got the bigger battery because I didn't care much about the extra weight and I want to have the computer working when I travel.

So far, I've been very happy with the CX200X and with Gateway customer support and the sales rep that sold it to me was very pleasant and knew her stuff. I recommend it without reservation! I hope that you will find my review useful in making your decision.

cheers!

Review: Well. They keys skip, so i find myself retapping keys on the keyboard. The latch is magnetic. And it has a 60-70% 'latch' success rate. It's heavy (but then again, if you are in class taking notes who cares).

I turned on my computer @ 10:30 am and it lasted (being used for notes) until 2:30 pm. I have the 8 cell battery (2.5 hrs of life). So maybe i got lucky, but that was day one. (i took an hour off for lunch however.)

When 'click drag' with the pen, it has a horrendously(sp?) slow drag rate. It can't seem to drag a scroll bar in Firefox... ah well, who cares i guess.

The pen sometimes 'offsets' about 2 inches to the right. I have to stop writing, wait a second, and resume. (meaning i write 2 inches to the right of where i mean to, when taking notes)

I got mine @ best buy for 1200. With roughly 250$ off their 'regular price.' (probably the price they paid a year ago for it!)

The backspace key has a much louder click noise than the other keys.

The center latch (i read) is the weak point for the laptop. if you are willing to 'baby' that area, i think it should be fine. I also read elsewhere that the gateway support can give you the runaround.

The scroll area on the touch pad NEVER worked for me. The volume control on the monitor NEVER worked for me. Brightness control works, (doesn't on my dell 9300!).

Please note that i am able to watch 1 movie without changing the battery on this computer with a 2.5 hr battery. And on my dell 9300 i am unable to get halfway through a movie with its 2.5 hr battery.

Overall i'm pleased, Yea there are some setbacks, but for the price and functionality -- i feel like i got value in my purchase -- and that's what its all about..

Oh yea, the battery bumb on the bottom is great for hanging the laptop on my knees when i type. (or write)


(the backspace button sounds like a bongo drum)

I had an averatec tablet pc. The battery life was 45 minutes. (each 5 hour external battery added 30 minutes life). It was so terrible i had no choice but to return it. It was an AMD processor made for desktops (earlier than their newer laptop line.) and it ran incredibly hot.

The fans on this laptop are not intrusively loud, like the other laptops i have.

I think the pen charges when inside the laptop. That's way cool. It's an RF pen, not touch. so it does have a battery inside. Though i can't seem to open it up to look at the battery type. The 'right click' button gets in the way, so when i'm writing i accidentally erase everything because right click drag means delete, or something that goes by so fast..

I got this laptop for movies, notes @ school, and homework. So far with the longer battery life (comparable to my 9300 programming machine) i'm pleased. Again, i've had 4 laptops over the last few years. Returned 1, retired 1, and actively use 2. This laptop is <overall> one of my fav's -- probably because of the benefits/functionality it gives me -- instead of outstanding gateway specific qualities.

Review: I bought a laptop in early 2000 but sold it after a year (too heavy, 12" screen, and internet on the road was a pain). Though I travel to clients...I never considered buying another one until the TV ad caught my eye. It has delivered as promised and I love the tablet features and software. While I have not yet toted it around at clients, it seems light compared...and contrary to the reviews, I like the screen and the latch is fine too. I went to Gateway direct which resulted in better deal then Bestbuy, thanks to various promotions. For only about $300 more, my 7200C (small bus version) has a 80 HD, 1024 memory, Office Small Business Software, and a 3 year total onsite service & protection plan (includes everything but theft). The sales person was helpfull and was sitting in America. So have the support techs - called 3 times for minor set up questions. However, 2 of 3 seemed new and had to defer to a Supervisor. Probably just me but the online set was a bit tricky due to the floating tablet keyboard getting in the way. And, the book could be a bit more detailed. I can't wait to get on the road!

Review: I don't know what the review is talking about. This laptop is GREAT. Look at the specs. This laptop boasts a dvd burner, 80 gig 5400 rpm hard drive, 512 ddr2 memory. This is practically the fastest convertible in it's class.

Best buy just had these on sale for $1249. The next laptop was $1500 had no dvd burner, smaller hd, and was slower. You do the math. I researched for a couple weeks before I bought and this machine is absolutely fantastic. You won't be disappointed

Review: I purchased a gateway 200 series computer thinking I was making a great investment. I'll admit the computer is light and sexy, but that is the due to the asian company that designed the computer in the first place. Once gateway gets their hands on it, stamps their name on it and releases it to market, the consumer is screwed. From the beginning my computer did not work properly. Long story short I sent the computer back and forth to gateway 8 times. I would send it again, but I am exhausted by the process. I went ahead and bought a new ibook, more on that later. At one point in the process gateway decided the problem was the hard drive, so they planned on sending me a hard drive installation kit. After weeks of assuring me it was in the mail, finally a gateway representative told me it was never sent as it was on back order. Finally after 1 month, I demanded that either gateway send me a new computer, or a loaner, or a hard drive from a new computer; they sent me yet another box for me to send the computer back to them. I pleaded with them that the hardrive would not fix the problem as during the wait I went ahead at my own cost and bought a new hardrive and installed it with the same symptoms as before. I got the computer back with a new hardrive and the same problem still existed. Then they had the audacity to call me a few months later to ask me where the old hard drive was. I explained to them I didnt get a replacement kit, that they had replaced the hard drive. This went on for months. I would get a call from another unknown number on my phone asking where my old drive was. I lost my mind. Contrast that with the apple experience. I bought an ibook, the pad button didnt work quite as well as i would have liked, so I called apple a month after I got the unit. The insisted I send them back the unit at their cost and they would immediately and that they would send me a brand new computer as soon as the my packaged computer was brought to fed ex. They did just that. My experience with Gateway was so awful that I wish it upon no one.

Review: I bought this tablet last week and have just started using it. My first impressions are very positive. I picked it up at Best Buy for $1399 and am amazed at how low the price was compared to other tablets of equal or lower quality. I bought it for the widescreen and the excellent pressure sensitivity with the pen. There's great resistance when writing on screen--it feels a lot like writing on paper. So far, the only negative is the weight. It's a beast of a tablet.

Review: I now have this tablet pc for more than 2 weeks. First of all it comes loaded with all the software you need. I tried hard but could not find anything on the net which was not in here. Screen size is a real asset. Unlike CNET review reflecting screen makes it more trendy and the battery base provides an ergonomic feel. Wireless utility is fun to play. It automatically registered itself in my netgear setup. battery life is around 5 hrs while studying and wireless on. Never tried with DVD playing. The LCD does not sway while typing. Pen and handwriting recognition works real good. My worst handwriting works with about more than 80% accuracy including all the medical terminology I have to use.

Bad things about this are heavy weight. almost 7lbs makes it almost impossible to carry on rounds ( I am a Neurology resident). I guess this is the price you have to pay to buy a high end computer with all the goodies in it. Also there is no S video out. So i cannot connect it to TV right now. I will have to buy diffrent stuff for that.



Best of all I bought it from BEst buy with a price of 1250 + tax. They had a 150$ rebate deal those days.

Given the price and the functionality I can say this is the best ecnomical PC right now.

Review: This is a great Tablet - the best I've ever owned. The only thing I'm not sure about is the somewhat sharp corners... if I designed it, it would have a slight curve. I really enjoy the widescreen which has many advantages when used as a tablet and you experiment with the orientations. Unlike the CNET review, the reflective screen is an asset, not a disadvantage. The wi-fi range is outstanding and better than any notebook or tablet I've ever had. The machine is fast and the cooling is superb. If you are on the edge about getting a tablet or a notebook, check this model out... I think you'll be impressed.