Gateway/Emachines M68xx series still #1 Bang for the $?

[gtd2000]

I'm possibly selling my M6810 and getting the new Gateway version with the DVD burner and 80GB HD.

Is there anything that compares to these machines for the money and gives the same or better performance?

I do game on the laptop so gaming is a priority.

 

[gtd2000]

Anybody?

I'm back in the USA next weekend and need to pick one up

 

[Jassi]

I havent found one yet. I am leaning towards HP/Compaq now but the only thing holding me back is their sucky GPU.

 

[gtd2000]

One thing about Compaq that I did not like was the feel of the keyboards a very minor but extremely irritating point actually.

I'm sure I'm going to pick up a new Gateway machine in early December and come January (no doubt!!) something even better will be on offer with a faster GPU for the same cash...

Still, the Gateway/Emachines options are pretty good overall.

If you want to cut costs, check out the Gateway (7xxx) on offer at CompUSA which is a stripped down version of the M68xx series with 256MB RAM.

I'm all out for a DVD burner now though.

 

[wjgollatz]

I don't think the 6811 are being made anymore. For the longest time - no one was selling a 6811 - and now - some unknown is for $2000. Gateway announced some new release of laptops with the same features and about the same price as the 6811's.

I bought a notebook from ibuypower.com - and a good buy too - smae price - a few less readers, no dvd burner (rather have a faster extrernal one) - but a mucho upgraded video card.

 

[fbrdphreak]

The 6811 can be had at some Best Buys, but you are correct wjgollatz: Gateway is replacing the 68xx line with there 72xx line which is the same damn thing except cheaper & has a BrightView (or whatever Gateway calls it) screen. At Best Buy all Gateways have insant rebates (usually $150USD +) and they have an A64 3200+ 512MB DVDRW Radeon 9600 setup that is pretty nice, IIRC it sells for around $1100-1200 when on sale. :thumbsup:

 

[T2urtle]

why do you keep refering to gateway/emachine? are they the same company ?

 

[imported_haris]

Gateway bought emachines, but the CEO of emchines is now the CEO of Gateway They are now using the Gateway name together for better name recognition, so they are the same company or will be in a matter of time.

 

[T2urtle]

interesting stuff i never knew. So will the quailty be the same or will be like Lexus and toyota type. Where gateway has the better stuff compared to emachine being entry level stuff.

when did the buy out happen?

 

[imported_OrSin]

Emachines are the entry level.
But I like the emachince PC's better then the gateway.
Little better look and wiht less models easier to configure what you want.

 

[T2urtle]

i never reallyed like emachines due to the parts quatily on PC's i never seen how laptops do tho. But aren't all gateways custom built with like options.

 

[imported_haris]

Emachines did a 180 with quality. They are basically rated better than most manufacturers right now according to a survey I saw on notebookforums. Can't remember if it included desktop models though.

Their laptops are the best bang for the buck right now IMO. The main prolem with their laptops seems to be a cosmetic hinge crack that seemed to plague certain serial numbers that were manufactured, but other then that I'd put my machine against any Dell/Sony/HP. The only machines that can really match/outperform it wind up costing hundreds more(or even a thousand if you are willing to shell out the bucks for something like a voodoo envy or alienware).

 

[T2urtle]

the crack hinge is that with just all emachines or just a certain series

 

[ChuaChua]

i think all of the m68xx series have it.
I have the m6809 and i still haven't gotten it fixed.
oh well...
I heard that it's just cosmetic, not structural damage...hopefully.

 

[bigal40]

There is a thread here for all M68xx posts
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...AR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear