How are Gateway computers?

[Killarney]

Good, bad, ugly?

[Worst Username Ever]

1. bad/ugly

[Downtown Hound]

2. They suck

First computer I ever had was a Gateway. It was a complete piece of shit.

[freedom_to_read]

3. my experience with gateway has been negative

I bought a laptop from them in 98... it never really worked properly. I tried repeatedly to get useful technical support and never did. It eventually stopped working altogether and I had to send it back to them, and pay another 200 bucks to get them to fix it. It came back and wouldn't boot up! Then they tried to charge me another 200 bucks to "fix" what they had broken... fortunately by then my rage had taken over and a couple of requests to speak with supervisors later they agreed to fix it without the extra money.

I used to work technical support, so I know it's not an exact science. It's a frustrating job to say the least. But I still felt they did a piss poor job helping me out.

So my advice is not to buy a Gateway. Go to your local computer store -- preferably independently owned and operated -- and buy one there. Or if you're reasonably savvy and adventurous, go to pcsforeveryone or another website and buy parts and assemble them yourself.

--ftr

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. I just built a machine this weekend.

For a customer who had a 2-year-old Dell. I scavanged the usable parts out of the Dell, put them in a case with a new MB and RAM(The Dell had RAMBUS, which is crap) and a new HDD. It runs beautifully, best damn computer I have ever built. I am sure the Chaintech MB I used has a lot to do with that.

Avoid Dell and Gateway like the plague. Get your computer built locally or build it yourself. You can do that. I like to buy parts from:

http://www.newegg.com

Because they are best of breed in price, support and shipping.

[freedom_to_read]

11. my computer is called HandMeDown

because virtually every part of it has been scavenged from something else. it's definitely not top of the line but it runs solid and boots up quick (none of the stupid bells and whistles).

hoping to upgrade the CPU/motherboard this winter, the P-3 is getting just a bit too slow.

doin it yerself is just the way to go. plus you are supporting the local economy.

[Village Idiot]

5. They are truly bad until you have to get it serviced -

then they are just fucking awful...get a no-name clone...best bang for the buck.

DO NOT BUY DELL!!!

[KurtNYC]

6. Gateway pioneeered the direct marketing of desktop units

but that was a LONG time ago. They are on the skids finanically now and quality and service seem likely to suffer. I have a Gateway laptop which works reasonably well but I wouldn't buy another.

[NYC Liberal]

7. Crappy.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Want to save money...AND get exactly what you want?

http://www.ibuypower.com/mall/lobby.htm

Start with a base computer, then scroll through and upgrade or eliminate anything you want. The price changes accordingly.

It's like building your own, but they do the "dirty work" for you.

I was going to build my own, but this Calif company was actually CHEAPER. Mine's shipping next week...My friend bought one, he says service is second to no one.

[Tempest]

10. Damn, those prices are great

I build my own, but I'll start directly friends to these guys.

[Tempest]

9. Good, bad and ugly

Good for a massive headache, bad for your state of mind and ugly if you ever have to call for tech support.

Stay as far away as possible from these POS'.


Find a small reputable local company and have them build you one.

[Bunny]

12. I have two Gateways.

The desktop sucks, the laptop is great! Tech support is very good, I have found. They are able to dumb down their instructions so that I can understand what they want me to do.

I had an old Gateway, years ago, that needed to have the hard drive repaired. I had to take it to a Gateway store (which no longer exists) and leave it there for ONE MONTH!! ONE WHOLE MONTH!!! They would not let me make an appointment to bring it in for service - I had to take it there and leave it there for one freaking month!! And they wouldn't give me a loaner or anything! This was back before I had a computer at work, so I was totally un-connected for a month. Thought I was gonna die! Glad those days are over!

I'm considering buying another laptop in February - I'll probably get another Gateway.

[DemExpat]

13. Our Gateway has been great - going on 5 years, on day and night

with no problems whatsoever.

Husband says he wouldn't buy one now, though, for they have gone downhill..

DemEx

[Atlas Mugged]

14. I've been through 3 Gateways

And I'll absolutely, never, ever, under no circumstances buy one from them again. Used to be good back in the early 90's and I even had stock in them. But, my last purchase (2000)was a total nightmare. Wrong computer was sent, and it took 2 months to straighten out. A horrible experience.