Calling all computer gurus.

[SpecialK47150]

I just bought this laptop, is it any good?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4636887&SRCCODE=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03ORDER-_-Deals

Also, what upgrades, if any, can I do to it?

And the video lies, it says it has an illuminated keyboard, this model doesn't, the MC does.

[RavenBrother]

It's a nice laptop only limitation would be gaming if that is your thing since the graphics won't be able to push most games to thier best.  Other than that it is a good buy with enough horse power under the hood 

[Silicon Wolverine]

upgrades on laptops aer extremely limited unless you overhaul the entire system, in which case its cheaper to just buy a new one.  Gateway is middle of the road hardware wise, like RB said gaming is going to be limited with what you have availble for graphics power and a 800mhz FSB isnt going to help either.  looks like a good overall general use laptop but if you were expecting high performance processing or gaming you may find it lacking.

SW

[47_MasoN_47]

+1 to SW.

You can play WoW or Guild Wars or other games from before 2007 I'd say just fine, but after that you may have to cut the graphics down severely to keep any type of framerate.  If you want a good general purpose laptop, that looks like a good one for that.

[SpecialK47150]

I don't really play a lot of computer games, I was considering getting into Aeon, and I do plan on doing a lot of graphics work on it with photoshop.

[47_MasoN_47]

Photoshop isn't very intensive on a graphics card, so I don't think you'll have anything to worry about there.  If you get into 3D rendering or video editing or something then this laptop is going to let you down, but if you are going to be doing that sort of thing I'd recommend a desktop.  Both the video card and the processor are a bit weak for doing any serious rendering.

[ajole]

Man, I don't know...you could have got the same basic system with a smaller Hdd and less RAM for $1100 from Apple...
Nah you did OK.  Personally, I don't like Gateway and don't usually do the refurb route...but the bang for the buck is decent on that one.

[Silicon Wolverine]

yeah i dont go the rfurb route nless its something i dont intend to use for an extended duration.  usually they fail rather rapidly IME.  for laptops im a toshiba guy. 

SW

[47_MasoN_47]

Toshiba makes good stuff.  Can't beat their prices either.

[SpecialK47150]

Refurbs are just as good as new, they are treated like new warranty wise, etc.

I've always known toshiba to be garbage, my fiance has a toshiba laptop, its junk.

[47_MasoN_47]

I prefer Toshibas over every other brand except IBM, simply because I've NEVER been able to get an IBM to fail.  I've dropped mine out of moving vehicles, down concrete stairs...all sorts of crap and she still keeps on a goin.  I don't own any Toshibas simply because I have only bought 1 laptop new, and all the rest are salvages I've gathered up lol.  My rank of laptops based on personal experience goes like this:

IBM/Lenovo
Toshiba/ASUS/Acer (though I have only worked on 3 Acers, as opposed to 10+ of the others)
Dell
HP/Compaq
Gateway
Sony (all of the Sony desktops and laptops I've worked on have had overheating problems and/or multiple hard drive/hard drive controller failures.  Crap PCs with crap components, don't ever buy one.)

[godlessdustin]

My friends family has a toshiba laptop thats lasted for years and put up with tons of their abuse.

[compmanio365]

Refurb has 2x the QC new stuff has cause it has to be rechecked for functionality before it goes back out.....most new items have one item pulled out of a batch to test then they all go out.  But, most refurb items only have a 90 day warranty or something like that whereas new items have 1 year.  Now an XBOX360?  You buy new and you get 3 years or something like that, and it extends every time you have to send it in.  For a refurb unit?  90 days, that's it.  I wouldn't buy a refurbished XBOX360......

[SpecialK47150]

30 day manufacturer, 2 yr extended.

[Howie]

I think it's a good deal. I like cheap computers.  There is no since in buying top of the line when in six months your top of the line computer is in the bargain basement.  Now on laptops it has been my experience for the most part there is not a whole lot of difference in the sub 500.00 laptops.  I have had Asus, Dell, Toshiba, and HP and they all seem about the same. You can get a bad one under any name. I generally tend to buy from a store like Best Buy because when something is going to go wrong with a computer it generally happens within the first 90 days. And when you buy it from a local store you can just take it back and not have to deal with all the customer support crap. Just my 2¢ worth.