Full Review - More Testing and Conclusion
Duality Denied Video quality is very good - minimal pixilation and artifacting was experienced when playing DVDs full-screen. The Bourne Identity, chock full of very dark and high contrast sequences, looked very, very nice, however there was one notable downside. Deep blacks rendered as very dark grays. The backlighting just doesn’t go dark enough. It’s a little disappointing, but luckily it’s only obvious to the very attentive. The Gateway One is a super sleek all-in-one computer that will appeal to a wide audience. It’s incredibly easy to set up and use, which makes it perfect for folks who are new to computers or who want simplicity. It’s fast and efficient - great for Photoshop, games and all kinds of productivity applications. It’s sexy and thin, excellent for use in studio apartments, hip dorms, high-class businesses, etc.
An unfortunate fact for dual-monitor enthusiasts, the Gateway One computer does not have a video port allowing for a second monitor. Unless you have a USB-based external monitor, the Gateway One is a single-screen system.
The LCD Screen
The LCD screen on the Gateway One has a resolution of 1440x900, typical for 19” LCDs. For typical computing, 1440x900 is a very satisfactory resolution - good for Microsoft Office, web browsing, picture viewing, etc. It’s also fine for most video games and for watching DVDs and TV. It begins to get cramped when using programs like Photoshop where a lot of screen real estate is essential.
As for screen quality, the Gateway One gets a big thumbs up. The screen is very nice, clean and crisp. The glossy front of the computer helps bring out vibrant colors and enhances color contrast. Photos and video images look rich and lifelike.
Conclusion
The Gateway One is an all-around great computer, but it certainly isn’t flawless. It won’t appeal to professional photographers or those who want dual monitor setups. Pros will want a more hardcore machine with dual DVI out. For everyone else, the Gateway One is a very worthy system.
Pros:
• Super sexy design with no ugly cables
• Very fast hardware
• Rare dual-hard-drive upgrade option
• Easy to set up and use
• 802.11b/g/n wireless built in
• Affordable and cool
Cons:
• Fans can sometimes be noisy
• Super reflective screen & bezel
• Video shows deep blacks as dark grays
• Only one screen size available
• No external monitor output
• Webcam picks up loud hard drive noises
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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...