Gateway MC7803u

Desktop replacement laptops just keep getting cheaper and cheaper. Gateway has always lead the pack when it comes to making cutting-edge technology more affordable for the masses. Unlike the Sony VAIO series, or say, Apple’s Macbooks, Gateway’s laptops stick with old-fashioned plastic and steel cases. You won’t be blown away by the space age look or neofuturist aesthetic of the Gateway MC7803u, but when you compare Gateway’s power to penny ratio, you’ll be truly impressed. We were. The Gateway MC7803u offers more bang for the buck than just about any other desktop replacement laptop out there.

Standout Features

• 4GB of RAM
• 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 video card
• Bargain $999 price tag
• 16-inch display with 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio

Features

The Gateway MC7803u isn’t nearly as handsome as the Sony VAIO AW290 or Macbook Pro, but that’s not to say it’s an ugly machine. The semi-reflective lid is divided by a leather strap that functions as a handle. The interior of the Gateway MC7803u is, for lack of a better word, cool. The keyboard is backlit and features a row of incandescent media buttons. The display itself features a smooth pane of glass that really adds to the cinematic effect created by the 16:9 aspect ratio. The only downside to the 1366 x 769 resolution display concerns the tendency to catch reflections and glare in well-lit environments.

Considering that the Gateway MC7803u will only run you a grand, it’s packing some surprisingly solid hardware. 4GB of RAM is becoming the standard in mid to high-end notebooks these days and will allow you to open tabs to your heart’s content without any slowdown. The Gateway MC7803u’s most shining component is its video card. The Radeon HD 3650 has 512MB of dedicated video memory so you can watch HD video without ever experiencing a hiccup or slowdown. Looking to do a little online gaming or try out Spore? The Gateway MC7803u will produce stellar frame rates on of this year’s games.

Gateway does save some real cash on going with a somewhat outdated 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 processor, but the average user can expect adequate processing power for medium-core gaming, everyday app use and multimedia. The video card and RAM configuration more than make up for the lackluster processor.

Summary of Reviews from across the Internet

Many users find 16 inches to be an ideal compromise between a giant 18.4-inch display and a 14-incher. The Gateway MC7803u also managed to impress when it came to battery longevity—expect 3.5+ hours from a full charge.

Daytime users rail against the highly reflective glossy screen: it’s great for evening movies, but aggravating for daytime work.

Summary

Bargain laptop hunters unwilling to sacrifice quality and reliability to will want to give the Gateway MC7803u a long hard look. Superior video processing, an attractive 16-inch display designed for movies, and all-around excellent performance make the Gateway MC7803u about the most laptop you can get for under a thousand bucks.

How does the bargain Gateway MC7803u compare to other hot laptops? Take a look at our side-by-side breakdowns of tech specs and price on all the latest high-performance laptops.

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