Gateway One review roundup

The first reviews of the Gateway One are starting to trickle in, and while the sexy all-in-one is garnering universal praise for its sleek, accessible design and innovative power brick breakout box, it looks like beauty's only skin-deep in this case: both Computer Shopper and CNET found the machine's performance to lag behind competitors like the 20-inch iMac, with Computer Shopper saying that looks aside, the One is just a "regular midrange PC." Other annoyances included the smallish 1440 x 900 19-inch screen, which CNET says lacks "pop," and the odd decision to break the webcam out into an easily-lost attachment. All that aside, however, both reviewers found it hard to argue with the direction Gateway's gone with the One -- it seems like the iMac finally has some serious competition.

Read -- Computer Shopper review (7.9 out of 10)
Read -- CNET review (7.1 out of 10)

[Glancing Aft @ Sep 27th 2007 10:50PM]

My iMac is looking as beautiful as ever right now.

[Zoe @ Sep 27th 2007 11:23PM]

Is it just me or does this look a awfle lot like that 20th Anniversary Mac? hmmmmm...


http://www.apple-history.com/?page=gallery&model=anniversary

[Qsat @ Sep 28th 2007 12:13AM]

@ZOE ; yes , it's just you

[John @ Sep 28th 2007 11:59AM]

Here's what Engadget had to say about the iMac:

"Unfortunately we're not too partial to the MacBook square-key grid layout, and we really, REALLY wish Apple would get rid of the Jay Leno chin on the iMac already, but check out the pics and see for yourself."

Yet they mark this puny-screened monolith as "sleek" and "sexy?" The "chin" on this monstrosity is TWICE the size of the iMac's! The whole thing looks like it's bound to fall over at any moment, surely to smash into pieces under its own weight. The fact that you can't even adjust the screen's angle is ridiculous, and I'd be afraid to even move the thing from side to side after i balanced it on what looks to be a McDonald's toy-grade piece of plastic! The crowning failure is the fact that its 19" screen only has a pitiful 1440x900 resolution, the same screen resolution i'm using right now on my laptop (which doesn't have a 6-inch chin, mind you). Compare this to the 20" iMac, which, for $100 less, gets you an extra inch of screen and a 1650x1080 resolution.

In short, Macs are LESS expensive, better looking, higher performing, and don't get viruses. I wonder why there are so many Apple fanboys?

Oh, and just in case I didn't offend enough tech nerds: Yes, EVERY Linux distro sucks, and yes, EVERY version of Windows sucks. No, you're wrong. They suck.

[GoreTEX @ Sep 27th 2007 10:52PM]

Looks like one of 'em new an iPod Fatties (nano) ... although, no Apple Tax.

[osalom @ Sep 27th 2007 11:02PM]

Imac still rules.. sexier, better and cheaper

What Apple Tax are you talking about?

[bob @ Sep 27th 2007 11:20PM]

its more expensive than the iMac

[kevinm @ Sep 27th 2007 11:22PM]

Looks like the Gateway Tax much higher to me.

[Tom @ Sep 27th 2007 10:52PM]

aw come on, it doesn't seem so bad...there's a market for midrange PCs!

this is a real alternative for people who want a PC instead of a mac, but still an all-in one solution

[manfesto @ Sep 28th 2007 12:08AM]

iMac + OEM copy of Windows + Boot Camp = Gateway One in performance and specs

If it were cheaper for the same design or had better specs at the price, I think we'd collectively be more excited about this (and I'm sure both of these things are coming in future iterations, luckily).

[manfesto @ Sep 28th 2007 12:12AM]

Comment system broke my comment. I meant to say than an iMac plus a copy of Windows running in Boot Camp is equal-to-or-less-than the Gateway in price, equal-to-or-greater-than the Gateway in performance.

[Rowdehaj @ Sep 28th 2007 3:58AM]

Manifesto, don't forget to add 120 bucks onto the Gateway's price because you're getting both OS X *and* XP with the iMac.

Fair comparisons, please!

[Loki @ Sep 27th 2007 10:55PM]

@Glancing Aft
your iMac is looking as beautiful as a Gateway One right now

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 27th 2007 10:57PM]

"it looks like beauty's only skin-deep in this case: both Computer Shopper and CNET found the machine's performance to lag behind competitors like the 20-inch iMac"


IS THIS REALLY SUPRISING?

I am not a mac fan at all but in my office I have my own MAC G5 Dual-Core 2.8Ghz with which I run a MAc Lab of 35 eMAC computers.

I hate using the Mac and I can't get used to the learning curve when you move from PC to Mac but, what I can say is Macs are SOLID computers which are very stable so long as you are using APPLE software. I hate them cause I perfer Internet Explorer over Safari/Firefox and it feels as if IE is intentionally allowed to run poorly on Macs when compared to Vista-PC's.


How can you compare a GATEWAY to a MAC?
I wouldn't compare this thing with any other system but a DELL or an ACER.

HP makes better all-in-one PC's.
SONY makes better all-in-one PC's.

Even Japanese NEC computers could kill this thing.

[Dave B @ Sep 27th 2007 11:16PM]

Dude, you did not just say you prefer IE over Safari and FF. Are you kidding?! As a web designer/developer this is about the most insane comment I've heard! You may hate the Mac right now cause you're getting used to it, but in a few months I think you'll be happy.

Oh and hey, if you want a nice midrange PC that's rock solid, get an iMac. It runs XP, and better than most PCs. Not be an Apple fanboy or anything, but um I am. When I see some real competition, I'll be interested (Amazon MP3 has caught my eye as an alternative to iTunes, thought the UI still sucks. iRiver makes a nice lil MP3 player, and well even this Gateway is purty!)

[funkyou52 @ Sep 28th 2007 12:26AM]

You should try Camino out... it's Firefox written for OS X (as opposed to a port).

[t-bone @ Sep 28th 2007 1:10AM]

Why are all the BRANDS in your post in CAPITAL LETTERS?

[CapnVan @ Sep 28th 2007 7:30AM]

IE *is* intentionally allowed to run poorly on the Mac.

I'm not sure if you're trolling, or what, but it's not even available for download from Microsoft anymore. It hasn't been updated since 2000. Microsoft admitted that they weren't going to do any additional work on it back in 2003. Their official policy is to recommend that you use Safari or another brower.

In other words, if you're honestly using IE on the Mac, now is the time to erase it from your drive.

[Kevin @ Sep 27th 2007 10:59PM]

sexy.

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 27th 2007 11:02PM]

For $1799 I'd buy a Quad Core from HP with 4 GB of Ram and a 3D Video Accelerator.

[jack @ Sep 27th 2007 11:04PM]

I love my 24" Al iMac :)!

[jack @ Sep 27th 2007 11:05PM]

I really don't like the gateway 1 look...

[Ryhan @ Sep 28th 2007 2:15AM]

@Dick

Sir, you obviously do not know squat about internet safety.
Go browse your p0rn with IE 5.0 ... i dar you :D

yay, Firefox!

[neale @ Sep 28th 2007 7:57AM]

me neither. its too tall. looks nice from the side but front on, that is ugly

[KnockHardDick @ Sep 28th 2007 9:05AM]

@DickHardknocks

You, sir, are extremely uninformed or just ignorant. That is the stupidest statement I have read this week. Step away from your unfounded biases & see what else the world has to offer. I am a professional that uses Macs, but my kids, who are all under 10 have a choice between Mac or Windows at home. Let me just say that the 18 month old Dell is always clean, and off, and the 6 year old Mac gets fought over daily. ANd they aren't wasting all their time playing games (although they do play them) they are making music with garageband, movies with iMove, cartoons with Toon Boom, converting movies with handbrake to use on thier iPods, and playing in Photoshop. They do this on their own, almost zero help from me. And they are good at it.
On a professional level, what I do daily at work could not be done using Windows (at least not without major, production hampering & time killing issues) The rig I use could not be replaced by a PC, but it functions on their networks better than most of the PCs (there are over a thousand PCs, and about 60 Macs)
On a daily basis, I get the question "how did you do that?" a question that is very common for Mac users to get from PC users.
You just do not know what you are talking about.

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 28th 2007 12:01AM]

And what are the benefits of Firefox/Safari over IE?

Safari unexpectedly cancels on me all the time when I try to open multiple windows. And worst yet I get that STUPID RAINBOWY SPINNING THINGY.

On a good PC with Vista IE runs just fine.

I would never buy a Mac to run Windows Operating systems because the only reason I'd be using a PC would be for online gaming or net use.
And MAC doesn't offer anywhere near the amount of games I can get on PC.

Macs are for nothing more than proffessional users.

[Jeff @ Sep 27th 2007 11:17PM]

Oh noes!!! someone compared an obvious iMac competitor to the iMac!

where are the haters now? wasn't it just a few hours ago that they came out in droves to try to chastise someone for commenting on the similarities and differences between the two right here in the engadget comments? i believe it was!

ANYway, if nothing else this is nice for when morons scream that the iMac is overpriced. :) good to have competition / something to compare.

[SteveMB @ Sep 28th 2007 12:04AM]

Yet, the iMac is still overpriced.

[Alex Padilla @ Sep 27th 2007 11:25PM]

this is a step in the right direction for Windows-based computers. a lot of people are initially drawn to Macs because of their design, and the Gateway One might just take some of that attention back to PCs with this design.

however, the specs are ridiculous as is the price. I have a feeling these won't sell well at all except with ignorant people who like Windows but want something that looks like a Mac (note: not saying windows users are ignorant, I'm saying that people care about aesthetics more). Gateway needs to drop the price or boost up the specs.

but like I said, a step in the right direction nevertheless

[StyleSubstance @ Sep 28th 2007 9:25AM]

"a lot of people are initially drawn to Macs because of their design, and the Gateway One might just take some of that attention back to PCs with this design.
"

Yes, the design - so what happens when they turn on the Gateway & get smacked in the face with 'Mircosoft design' (that is an oxymoron, by the way)? Sort of like opening the door of you new Mercedes to see all that you have to sit on are a couple of milk crates and rusty handlebars to steer with. The appreciations Mac users have goes far beyond the hardware design. The function is even more important.

[Christian @ Sep 28th 2007 9:49AM]

DUDE WINDOWS OWNS YOUR SOOOUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. ITS ITS 1337 HAXORZ5000 ATRON. seriously its not just a mac look alike it has superior components. Macs suck. alot of floppy vagin.

[AntiChristian @ Sep 28th 2007 10:43AM]

See, too much PC usage and no Mac usage turn people into incoherent, unintelligible idiots - like Christian here.

[Alex Padilla @ Sep 28th 2007 2:51PM]

the funny thing is, Christian has a Mac and knows fine well what they are capable of and even likes them better than windows computers (Christian is my friend in college and gave me a heads up about his comment)

still...Gateway One is a good step but not enough to combat the iMac, I suppose

[kevinm @ Sep 27th 2007 11:27PM]

It looks all shiny, but somehow not really attractive. Looks like a huge hunk of plastic on the back. For that price, actually less, Apple went with an solid hunk of Aluminum for the iMac and a built in web cam, not an ugly thing plugged into the top. Come on Gateway.

[michael @ Sep 27th 2007 11:56PM]

I don't think people are really giving a fair look at the Gateway One, than they should be.

Of course, the most obvious noticeable thing, is that it's similar to an already well known all-in-one computer: the iMac.

It may not look as nice as the iMac, but that does mean it's inferior? Has anybody even given this a fair test drive before making comments? No.

While this One, is somewhat lacking, it's not necessarily a copy-cat dud. It's at least a start for Gateway and other PC makers to do better.

Plus, if nobody noticed, Dell also already has a all-in-one computer, in their XPS line.

So stop with the "I love my iMac" comments people.

[Aaron Rooney @ Sep 28th 2007 12:29AM]

But...I love my Mac!

[tubeplus @ Sep 28th 2007 4:10AM]

Let's face it. iMac is just beat the One in all aspects, and it is cheaper too. Why would anyone want the One when an iMac is cheaper and runs both OS X and windows, with Leopard coming fairly shortly. Gateway, who is your target customer? What is the point of putting this on the market? I only wish this will result in a lowering in iMac price, because not everyone can afford an iMac in other parts of the world outside North America.

[LOVE IT @ Sep 28th 2007 5:24PM]

I love my Mac more than Jesus loves you.

[michael @ Sep 28th 2007 5:34PM]

@LOVE IT: Quite unecessary.

@tubeplus: while Macs do have many great things about them, not everybody shares the same reliablity on Macs. I was a Mac lover too before, but I've had some problems a few months later, and Apple was awful with their tech support on me.

They even suggest I buy a new Mac, with a small discount. What a nice company.

There's also many other computers out there, that are much better than the ones many people buy, but they're not as well known as Apple. It's quite a disappointment, but it doesn't seem fair.

So Macs are the only high-quality computers that do well.

[SpotsOn @ Sep 28th 2007 12:47AM]

I find it amusing when ppl whinge that products have been copied. I couldn't care less who or what copied who. . I'll choose what ever is better.

If product B copied product A. . .yet B is better. . why should I care if its a copy? Bottom line is that it's better.

If you stick with product A just because it came up with a design first. . BUT it's inferior to the imitators. . then sorry, you're a moron.

[Joe @ Sep 28th 2007 1:00AM]

China loves you

[MM @ Sep 28th 2007 4:20AM]

Only if the "copy" is not infringing.

In this case, the copy is also not as well thought out, has less performance, doesn't look better and not priced competitively. To copy yet not improve is stupid and incompetent.

[Product C @ Sep 28th 2007 9:25AM]

"If you stick with product A just because it came up with a design first. . BUT it's inferior to the imitators. . then sorry, you're a moron."

OK then, what are you if Product B was an inferior copy of product A, yet you still went with product B because they had more marketing behind it?

Before you answer, make sure you aren't using Windows to post it, moron!

[MasterCKO @ Sep 28th 2007 1:43PM]

@Product C: did you actually imply that Gateway has more marketing behind it than Apple? Because that is a pretty ludicrous statement.

[Product C @ Sep 28th 2007 3:24PM]

No, had nothing to do with Gateway, it was a Mac OS / Windows reference. I would guess that 95% of Windows users never even tried the Mac OS, or looked into for that matter, before making their first computer purchase.

I would also bet that most of the Mac bashers here have had very little experience with a Mac.
It is easy to tell just by their comments.

[t-bone @ Sep 28th 2007 1:11AM]

"Other annoyances included the smallish 1440 x 900 19-inch screen"

Since when did 19 inches become smallish?

[Jim Campbell @ Sep 28th 2007 8:47AM]

"Since when did 19 inches become smallish?"

Perhaps when the iMac offers a larger screen for less money?

Cheers!

Jim

[Eludium-Q36 @ Sep 28th 2007 1:16AM]

So here's Gateway's Me-Too answer to a similarly priced Apple iMac and HP Touchsmart. I have the HP Touchsmart, I love the HP Touchsmart, and you Mr One are no HP Touchsmart ! Seriously, for about the same price and specs, the HP is far better featured and is still the only all-in-one with a touchscreen. Its full-function remote is much better than Gateway's too. And -- a touchscreen !

[bobeotm @ Sep 28th 2007 1:45AM]

I personally prefer the look and specs of the Sony all in one.

[Brandino @ Sep 28th 2007 3:13AM]

bobeotm: I'm really surprised you prefer the Sony. While I half agree with you -- I too prefer the look of the Sony all-in-one -- Sony's specs are awful compared to the Gateway. It's as if Sony developed the machine 6 months ago and figured they didn't have to remain competitive.

I really wish Sony would upgrade their features to be oompetitive. Gateway beats them on the processor, RAM, video card, hard drive among other things. Sony has a higher resolution screen.

Still, competition is a great thing and I'll look forward to watching the all-in-one space in the upcoming months as agonize over a potential purchase.