Gateway 550GR Desktop PC (3.20 GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW Drive, CD-ROM Drive) | List Price: $999.99
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Platform: Windows XP Home Edition
Brand: Gateway
Binding: Personal Computers
A fantastic deal [Posted on 2004-10-31]
I've had the Gateway 550GR for about three weeks now, and I'm completely pleased with performance and, especially, value.
After all, this system has a LOT going for it: A fast processor, Pentium class, with hyper-threading; a rather large hard drive; a DVD writer plus a second CD-ROM bay; a good video card (the ATI Radeon X300 SE PCI-Express, with 128 MB of memory -- it's not top of the line but it's a good solid card for the average user or even the occasional gamer). All of this plus your basic software packages (MS Works, MS Money), trial versions and basic versions of a few others. The DVD writer (dual-layer capabilities, no less) and the large hard drive alone, at this price, make this unit a bargain. Another perk: a bountiful amount of USB 2.0 ports, onboard FireWire, and a multi-format multimedia card reader, built in.
If I had to name a flaw here, it's RAM -- the system comes with only 512 MB of RAM, which is really the bare bones for new systems today. 1 GB would have been a huge improvement. The system's mainboard is constructed to support RAM upgrades to 2 GB, but of course this is an added expense for the buyer.
Obviously, with emergent technologies moving at light-speed, soon this model will be outdated and outpaced. But for right now, it's one of the best bargains on the market.
Still a nice PC [Posted on 2007-02-03]
I've upgraded the RAM to 2GB, Power Supply to 500 watts and the video card to 256MB.
This will be good to go for a while still, although I am planning on adding an external drive to support the demands for vista.
This system modified as above rates as a 4.3 core for vista.
BTW, Vista costs way too much and is too demanding for most people's PC's,
and if you're looking for a new computer, I would suggest taking a look at a Mac before you make your decision, particuarly after the new Leopard OS X 10.5 is released.
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