Full Review - More Features
Mini-USB Webcam High-Definition Audio Windows Vista TV Tuner Remote Control Vista and the "Windows Experience Index"
For Skype and video chat users, the Gateway One has a removable webcam. It connects to the very top of the computer via a mini-USB. It’s easy to set up and use and it has a 1.3 megapixel resolution.
Another neat feature of the Gateway One is the high definition audio built-in. It has the ability to output 8-channel audio to equally-equipped speakers. 8-channel audio is awesome for DVDs and high-bit rate or lossless audio. Not many people have speaker systems that’ll take advantage of the full capabilities of the Gateway One’s sound card, but it’s nice to know that the option is there.
The add-on webcam
The Gateway One comes with Windows Vista Home Premium. Whether that’s a feature or flaw is up to you. As of this writing, Gateway does not offer a Windows XP Pro option, however you can buy a stand-alone XP license and perform your own reverse upgrade.
This version of Windows Vista includes Windows Media center, perfect for watching movies, and watching and/or recording television.
While not built in to the Gateway One, Gateway includes an analog/digital TV tuner with 3-D comb. The tuner connects by USB 2.0, so it can be set on a desk or table, or connected to the power brick and hidden from sight. The tuner box itself has an RF input and antenna, S-Video out.
Because the Gateway One comes with Vista home Premium edition with Windows Media Center built in, Gateway includes a sleek remote control. The remote is designed similarly to the keyboard, with an over-extended Plexiglas face. The buttons control all necessary media functions. Thankfully, the buttons are sized very comfortably - not too big, not too small.
The included remote control
Availability
In a seemingly kooky move, Gateway makes three models of the Gateway One computer, but only sells one directly from their website. The other two models are available exclusively at Best Buy.
Microsoft's Windows Experience Index is a numeric grading system that rates how computer hardware holds up against the rigors of Windows Vista. It's based on a scale of 1 to 5.9, 1 being absolute worst and 5.9 being a hardcore gamers’ dream.
The Gateway One GZ7220, when configured like our test system, rates a 4.5 on the WEI scale. The Core 2 Duo processor gets a 4.9. The 3GB of RAM rates 4.5 and the SATA drive rates 5.9 (excellent). The 256MB ATI video card gets a relatively impressive 4.5.
The folks at Gateway should be pretty happy with the WEI rating and so should consumers.
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by Tony on May 6, 2008:
“I've had this computer for about 4 months now...I LOVE THIS THING!!! This is the first time I'd ever spent this much on a computer $1,810 and I use to be a big Dell die hard fan. For some reason I still have Dell in my heart but I have no regrets with the...” More...