Need to make a laptop choice between Gateway or Toshiba
Don M
Posts: 1,652
I have some premium points to redeem and I have a choice between a 17.3" Gateway or a 15.6" Toshiba.
Unfortunately most of the specs and model numbers are rather vague so I don't have much information to go on.
Toshiba:
15.6 Active Matrix TFT Color LCD display with LED backlighting
1366 x 768 screen resolution
Intel Celeron Dual-Core processor
500GB Hard drive storage
4GB DDR3 SDRAM
3 USB 2.0 ports
Bluetooth® compatible
Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n)
DVD SuperMulti drive
Integrated Webcam, Microphone and Speakers
Windows® 8
Gateway:
17.3" LCD display
Intel® Core processor with TurboBoost technology
750GB hard drive
Integrated HD webcam and microphone
Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Intuitive touchpad
Three USB ports
One HDMI port
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Includes Windows 8® operating system, power cord, AC adapter and software
I like the idea of a larger screen but I also like that the Toshiba has Bluetooth already built in.
So assuming that each is configured somewhat similar is there a general consensus preference between a Toshiba or a Gateway? I don't care about Windows 8 as I would probably put Windows 7 in which ever one that I got. I have always had Dell in the past with good luck.
Unfortunately most of the specs and model numbers are rather vague so I don't have much information to go on.
Toshiba:
15.6 Active Matrix TFT Color LCD display with LED backlighting
1366 x 768 screen resolution
Intel Celeron Dual-Core processor
500GB Hard drive storage
4GB DDR3 SDRAM
3 USB 2.0 ports
Bluetooth® compatible
Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n)
DVD SuperMulti drive
Integrated Webcam, Microphone and Speakers
Windows® 8
Gateway:
17.3" LCD display
Intel® Core processor with TurboBoost technology
750GB hard drive
Integrated HD webcam and microphone
Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Intuitive touchpad
Three USB ports
One HDMI port
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Includes Windows 8® operating system, power cord, AC adapter and software
I like the idea of a larger screen but I also like that the Toshiba has Bluetooth already built in.
So assuming that each is configured somewhat similar is there a general consensus preference between a Toshiba or a Gateway? I don't care about Windows 8 as I would probably put Windows 7 in which ever one that I got. I have always had Dell in the past with good luck.
Comments
Screens and keyboard are very personal preferences. If possible, try both out in a store and see what works for you. I have seen complaints about Toshiba keyboards, not sure how valid they are. FWIW, I have a new Win8 Toshiba laptop and like it, but I don't use it much. My older Compaq desktop is my main workhorse.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-Bluetooth-V2-0-EDR-Dongle-Wireless-Adapter-for-PC-Laptop-PDA-Phone-D1-/300928925358?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4610c2feae
Hello!
Neither. Gateway was sold to Dell. (When the company went out of business, their assets were sold probably for pennies on the dollar to Dell via the bankruptcy courts.) Your choice should be Dell. Staples claims that they still have a few machines running Windows Seven left, ask them if they have any Dell systems left. Failing that bother the 800# for Dell directly on that subject.
Q: A or B?
A: Neither, by all means C!
Pretty sure this means there are only two possible choices.
Hello!
Funny you should mention that particular problem son of Robbie, I knew the commanding officer who discovered that the CO of that freighter was a clod. I also knew the one who solved the problem based on it, he cheated.
It comes from the Earth Romulus Wars of the period immediately after Star Trek Enterprise, and just before the start up of Star Trek.
But thank you for thinking of that.
Oh and that simulator doesn't always get used for that particular problem. It frequently gets used by specific classes on the classic problems from each period in time. That's right its a general one, that one is what it does best.
As it is, I wouldn't touch any of them.
I would want:
More than 4GB RAM, or at least a firm promise that there are free slots easily accessible.
USB3 and possibly eSATA
built-in BT
'bog standard' touchpad. Trust me, you don't want any 'intuitive' or any other buzzywordy tech.
No Celery included, please.
No Webcams or built-in mics. They're usually Smile, so ignore those and get some decent kit.
Flash! Either a straight SSD, or a large Hybrid drive(spinning platters of destruction with a large Flash-based cache) Lappys are slow, so lets give them at least THAT to keep them fighting...
According to Wiki, Gateway was sold to Acer.
They have some sort of 'smartpad' touchpad. And if the Gateway uses the same sh!t, stay away from it. It's so unresponsive and error-prone that you can't even play solitaire without constantly looking at the pad instead of the screen..
Based on that I would go with the Gateway. You can always add a bluetooth adapter, but you can't change the screen size.
It looks like both of these are "consumer" machines like you see in the Sunday paper at places like Best Buy in the $399 - $499 price range.
C.W.
I am definitely not favorably impresses by Toshiba. I have only used the NB250, which is a bottom of the line notebook. But when I broke the screen, the local Toshiba pretty much refused to replace it and told be to by a new notebook. After a rather intense argument, they replace it and here I am typing on the it a year and 3 months later.
Now the hinge is shot and it is on its way out as I doubt their service will do any better with a second request to save it. I have already purchase an ASUS notebook to replace it.
Bluetooth is not really a big issue as you can use a USB dongle. And from what I understand, Bluetooth has been a bit of security risk due to being capable of a remote actuation.
Gateway NE72207U http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/model/NX.Y33AA.003
Toshiba C55-A5246 http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/C50/C55-A5246/
Looks like the Gateway would be a nice model.
All I'm going to use it mainly for is the casual internet browsing, Propeller programming and Logic analysis using the Saleae Logiq Analyzer.
The Intel Core i3 in the Toshiba is better than the AMD A-Series in the Gateway, but pretty much everything else in the Gateway is equal to or better than the Toshiba.
The Gateway's display difference (1600x900 17" vs 1366x768 at 15"), more RAM and larger HDD are notable.