Gateway MC7803u hands-on

If you're looking for something with a little style and refinement in the PC world, you have a few options -- and Gateway has added another with its latest laptop, the MC7803u. The handsome 16-incher isn't just looks; it packs a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5800 CPU, a 16:9 (1366 x 768) glass display, 4GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive, an ATI Mobility Radeon 3650 with 512MB of memory, 802.11a/b/g/n, gigabit ethernet, an HDMI port, 4 USB jacks, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Besides housing other niceties like a 5-in-1 card reader and ExpressCard 54 slot, the system also sports illuminated multimedia controls down either side, a backlit keyboard, synthetic leather palm rests, and comes in either high-gloss black or burgundy. After playing around with it for a bit, we can honestly say we're fans, though just like some other glass displays we've seen recently, that glare is a bit annoying. The device goes on sale November 1st, and will retail for $999.99. Not too steep a price to pay for the respect and envy of your peers, is it?

Gallery: Gateway MC7803u hands-on

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[Knives_Out @ Oct 20th 2008 12:05AM]

mmmmmm .. glossss...

[Wii60 @ Oct 20th 2008 12:36AM]

I called Dell to ask if one of their laptops had a matte screen. The rep said that there are no longer ANY dells with a matte screen. I'm afraid every friggin' laptop out there will have these monstrosities now.

It's a sad day indeed when my number one concern for getting a new laptop is whether or not it has a glossy effing screen.

[rickhamilton620 @ Oct 20th 2008 1:13AM]

@ Wii60 there's always the Vostro and Latitude lines...

[Knives_Out @ Oct 20th 2008 2:18AM]

Dell offers matte on *some* models, but if they are available it's only for the lower resolutions (1280x800)

[Knives_Out @ Oct 20th 2008 2:20AM]

One of the great things about a notebook is you can turn it however you want!

[ChrisM @ Oct 20th 2008 8:53AM]

"It's a sad day indeed when my number one concern for getting a new laptop is whether or not it has a glossy effing screen."

You're right, that is a sad day.....for you.
For every gloss screen hater, there must be thousands who don't care. Otherwise every laptop manufacturer would not be migrating to gloss only.

[Major4Play @ Oct 20th 2008 9:39AM]

The only reason everyone is switching to glossy screens is simple. Cheaper screens have a much better contrast ration with a layer of gloss over them. Sadly the truth is every manufacturer wants to save cash and doesn't really care what you think about it.

[jOEfRO @ Oct 20th 2008 12:07AM]

The touch pad looks like an iPhone, at first glance.

[Ray @ Oct 20th 2008 12:11AM]

You have just ruined this computer for me.

But this is one sexy laptop if i must say so myself.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 20th 2008 12:13AM]

You mean the rectangle with black borders? Oh, yeah, it definitely looks like an iPhone, not just a rectangle with black borders, or an LG Prada.

[jOEfRO @ Oct 20th 2008 12:18AM]

The LG Prada has silver lining on the edges?

[derX @ Oct 20th 2008 1:23AM]

OMG, stop putting his damn balls on the grill. He just said that's what it looked like to him at first glance. And it's a touchpad not an iPhone or any other cell phone for that matter so what's the use in correcting an already wrong statement.

Some people. They always feel a need to correct people for saying "iPhone" like it's the newest ethnic slur.

iPHONE

Urgh, damn trolls of "correctness."

[Paul Chapel @ Oct 20th 2008 1:57AM]

Agreed. People like Saad hate Apple so much it's embarrassing and a little strange.

[who? @ Oct 20th 2008 2:40AM]

iPhone iPhone iPhone! It actually looks more like the new iPod Touch.

P.S. If I get low ranked to death, bury me in the pet graveyard.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 20th 2008 6:04AM]

Some people. They always feel a need to compare every single thing to an "iPhone" like it's their first godly sent prophet.

"Oh, look at that freaking cow, it has the same colors of an iPhone"
"OMG, I just bought a book; it was in a rectangular shape, just like my iPhone"
"Is that my mom or an iPhone??"

God, I hate you trolls of "Appleness."

[Major4Play @ Oct 20th 2008 9:40AM]

You see iPhones everywhere don't you ?

[kyle @ Oct 20th 2008 12:08AM]

all that width and no numpad? for shame.

[iofthestorm @ Oct 20th 2008 12:12AM]

Seriously, why do companies always do that? Even the huge laptops have almost the same keyboard as my 12" laptop. Ridiculous.

[ran @ Oct 20th 2008 12:09AM]

Nice mirror.

[Silicon Siren @ Oct 20th 2008 12:18AM]

Yes well your average coffee shop goer who this is likely targeted towards doesn't need to worry about glare, they aren't actually doing anything important on those laptops.

[1234321 @ Oct 20th 2008 1:09AM]

I was wondering why there are no straight shots of this laptop, someone is shy

[Nova @ Oct 20th 2008 12:10AM]

Looks like, a bad mix of a Asus U series and the new macbook with a cheap touch.

[drunksaru @ Oct 20th 2008 12:40AM]

I think it looks like a bad combination of HP and Sony. Sony was i believe the first to give it a leather type texture on their laptops and before apple, HP did their brightview infinity screen setup which is technically their version of edge to edge high gloss glass screen. Anyway, when i look at gateway now I think of Sony and HP. I think the past few design changes on a gateway, HP and or Sony did the same thing a generation before..

[Scythe @ Oct 20th 2008 8:54AM]

It looks exactly like my Asus U3S, but with a flush lcd.

[phanbouy @ Oct 20th 2008 12:14AM]

1366 x 768 on a 16" (16"?) laptop is ass.

[Chin-Poh @ Oct 20th 2008 1:28AM]

They'd be wise to give it at least a 1920x1080P option as the other higher end 16" Vaio FW, Acer 6920 and HP HDX16 have them.

[Anticrawl @ Oct 20th 2008 12:14AM]

That leather, synthetic or not, is a bad idea. I can imagine that getting all discolored and curling up from the heat the laptop will likely put out. Looks really tacky too.

[phanbouy @ Oct 20th 2008 12:15AM]

yeah but doesn't it remind you of the Atari 7800? =D

[Anticrawl @ Oct 20th 2008 12:22AM]

Not at first heh, but then again I went from the 2600 to an NES, never got a 5200 or 7800.

[phanbouy @ Oct 20th 2008 12:28AM]

5200.... i meant 5200, not sure why i keep confusing it with 7800...

[Connor @ Oct 20th 2008 12:16AM]

The screen looks VERY familiar....
I mean....
the over-glossy screen...
seamless-boarder...
web cam setup..
HMM.

[Phoenix @ Oct 20th 2008 6:30AM]

Yes. There's a webcam centred above the screen. just like EVERY OTHER LAPTOP WITH A FUCKING BUILT IN WEBCAM.

And how can you be an apple troll whilst calling their screens "Over-glossy"?

[Evangelion @ Oct 20th 2008 12:25AM]

[= ˙ǝɔıu ʎʇʇǝɹd sʞool

[Snitch @ Oct 20th 2008 12:48AM]

Wow it comes with 4GB or super slow 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM for $999= fail

[thethirdmoose @ Oct 20th 2008 12:59AM]

RAM speed matters for nothing but gaming...

[Ridgecity @ Oct 20th 2008 12:49AM]

Those plastic cows must be very rare to cost so much...

[Snitch @ Oct 20th 2008 1:14AM]

got that right, lol. This machine is crap all the way around, 1st is the price $999, 2nd bullshit screen, no LED, 3rd slow ass 800mhz bus speed, 4th slow ass 667mhz Ram and, 5th it looks like crap. These manufactures better step up their game before pointing their finger at Apple and saying their shiet is over price

[lost..civantares @ Oct 20th 2008 12:50AM]

Sorry, I'll never buy from gateway, I've had terribly computers from them, they fall apart dramatically faster then any other company out there.

[ppjohnson @ Oct 20th 2008 1:25AM]

If laptops had been around in 1985, this is what they would have looked like.

[Adam @ Oct 20th 2008 1:29AM]

WOW this is a cool looking laptop!

I really like how it looks and if I had already not bought one I would consider this one!

[derX @ Oct 20th 2008 1:41AM]

Finally! Yeah, people are blasting it for how ugly and outdated it looks. I think it looks pretty damn awesome. I mean, am I a fan of the orange lighting? Not in the least bit, but that's completely forgivable. There is a generous share of the market to which those specs appeal--myself included. And again, those aesthetics totally appeal to me and the price isn't that bad.

I'd definitely give that a pass.

[Adam @ Oct 20th 2008 1:58AM]

I find it really funny that people blast the specs for PC laptops and desktop's, but are more than happy paying $1,300 for the Macbook and $2,000+ for the MBP for decent specs at best lol.

Whatever we all know that Vista is a great OS once you use and there is no reason to switch to a mac!

[who? @ Oct 20th 2008 2:40AM]

iPhone iPhone iPhone! It actually looks more like the new iPod Touch.

P.S. If I get low ranked to death, bury me in the pet graveyard.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 20th 2008 5:00AM]

Another piece of Apple inspiration... The edge to edge glossy screen and curved edges....
Come on, Gateway. You do not have to imitate Apple in all possible ways!!! (except the tiny little touchpad)

[Kanon @ Oct 20th 2008 5:25AM]

This looks just like the new MacBook/MacBook Pro!!

[al @ Oct 20th 2008 5:56AM]

they mirrored it.

[Si @ Oct 20th 2008 5:48AM]

Paint that table, would you Engadget? Have a little respect for the gadgetry.

[mang0es @ Oct 20th 2008 6:12AM]

This is a ripoff of Apple and HP.

[mirakutea @ Oct 20th 2008 6:27AM]

Making it hard for people to get what they want (matt screen) wheres the logic in that?

[poppadot @ Oct 20th 2008 10:16AM]

ditto on the glossy, ticks me off too and I'm hacked at dell for dropping it.

the leather is a nice touch! most gateway users must be into self abuse to survive their customer service so I wonder if they'll do a vinyl with matching whip package? BAD customer, You have been NAUGHTY!