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Gateway 610XL Media Center PC

REVIEW DATE:  02.03.04

  • Product: Gateway 610XL Media Center PC
  • Specs: 3.0-GHz Intel P4, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 200GB hard drive, multiformat DVD burner, ATI Radeon 9200 graphics, 17-inch WXGA LCD display, wired Ethernet, 802.11g wireless, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004
  • Price: $2,000 direct
  • Company Info: Gateway Inc., www.gateway.com.
  • Music:
  • Photo:
  • Video:
  • Gaming:

    • Ratings

    EditorVery Good

    ReaderGood

    Rate This Product

    Gateway 610XL Media Center PC

    Enlarge

    The Gateway 610XL Media Center PC is just about the best desktop PC/media player you could buy for a space-constrained environment such as an apartment or condo—especially if style matters. Clad in matte silver with black accents, it's attractive, functional, and easily moved.

    The 610XL is best described as a 17-inch, wide-aspect-ratio LCD panel with a small, high-performance PC affixed to the back. As much as possible, it's meant for wireless operation: It includes a cord-free keyboard, mouse, remote control, and networking. The speakers, two on the side plus a rear-firing subwoofer, are superior to what you'd get on a Media Center notebook (the 610XL's logical competitor).

    With the 610XL, there's really no need to have a CD player in your apartment or den. The combination of the 200GB hard drive and the proven ability of the included MusicMatch Jukebox to create and use playlists makes this machine simpler and more versatile than a CD changer. Photo viewing and DVD playing are equally desirable, thanks to Windows XP Media Center Edition.

    That leaves TV tuning, and here's why the 610XL, for all its inherent goodness, falls one star short of perfection. As with virtually every other Media Center PC, the quality of live TV (and of shows recorded off live TV) is no match for a standalone TV.

    A multi-format DVD burner slides out of the right side of the LCD panel, ideal for archiving video. There's a four-socket memory card reader on the left side and a slew of USB, FireWire, Ethernet, and AV ports on the base of the tilting (but not turning) stand.

    The 610XL offers a decent array of software based on Microsoft Works Suite 2004, Sonic Solutions' PrimeTime for archiving TV to disc, and the Napster music service. Performance is more than adequate thanks to the 3-GHz P4 CPU, but gamers will be turned off by the ATI Radeon 9200 graphics card.

    If you want the style and space savings of an all-in-one PC and the added utility of Windows XP Media Center Edition, the Gateway 610XL is a fine choice.

     MEMBER RATINGS Rate it Yourself 

    myyellowlabs
    Member rating: 
    March 18, 2007
    Somedays I think I should have stayed away from Gateway. Lets start by saying it took them 1 1/2 to link the serial number of my PC to my name!!! How hard can that be? I have sent it back to Gateway 3 times now. First was the power supply, I can't remember was the second time was, and 3rd again for the power supply. It's crazy. I will never buy Gateway again, mainly for their customer support.

    stepwebb50
    Member rating: 
    January 30, 2006
    I've had the same problems as everyone else. My computer dies and won't reboot, as a result of a bad power supply. I, also, have talked to everyone in India working for Gateway about this issue with no resolution except "sending my computer to Gateway to be fixed" for approx. $400 (give or take), and there's no telling how long it would take to even get fixed. Anyway, I've talked to Gateway, Gateway's supplier of power supplies (Skyline Engineering), and even the original manufacturer of the power supply (Delta Electronics, Inc.). I have successfully taken apart my Gateway media center and extracted the power supply, and once they begin manufacturing the newly revised power supply, I will purchase it and re-install it myself. This will easily save me atleast $300. If you find yourself in this same situation, please e-mail me so that I can provide you with the detailed description of how to do this, along with ample pictures so that you don't have to go through what I did. DO NOT SEND YOUR COMPUTER TO GATEWAY, AND GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!! It's not hard to get to the power supply, especially after you read my directions. Gateway is not owning up to their mistakes on this design, and I'm considering pursuing a class-action suit as a result. Their ethics are unacceptable, by charging such a horrendous amount for what probably takes them about 10 minutes to do, maybe less.


    mdbassman
    Member rating: 
    January 28, 2004
    My 610XL is 30 days old and I am frustrated. My purpose for buying this was mainly music,photos, and movie/music cd-dvd burning. My understanding from the Sales Chat log prior to purchasing was that WITH the included software I would be able to download,copy,burn music and video. I soon found out that this was not entirely the case. The Nero and Sonic software included will not do most burning without purchasing upgraded software. This revelation is contrary to GW Sales sales pitch. Napster is fine BUT you must pay-to-play(burn) also contrary to GW Sales pitch. The setup documentation is poor at best. Since most of my problems were 3rd party, Nero, Sonic, Napster, I would have to pay to get any problems resolved. GW Client Relations does not feel it is Gateway's responsibility to properly inform the buyer exactly what the MC2004 will do software specs wise.

    Lumpydog
    Member rating: 
    January 22, 2004
    I bought this MCE PC to replace a 9 inch TV/VCR combo in my kitchen. It's fantastic. My wife, kids and I can listen to internet radio or one of our 600 ripped-to-mp3 CDs while we're in the kitchen. The TV in 4:3 format is over 10 inches, so it's actually a little bigger than our old 9 incher. My kids love watching their DVDs (in 16:9 format), and I've actually recorded their old VHS tapes to the hard drive using the DVR functionality - we can now simply select from a list of their favorite VHS tapes and instantly watch - no more rewinding and no more piles of VHS tapes in the kithen. My wife uses a recipes software program to bring up her recipes - very cool. The form factor of this PC can't be beat - great sound with the subwoofer attached in back. A small handle pops up in the back for carrying. Best of all, only 2 wires: the plug and the coax TV cable. It has built in 802.11g for internet access. It's a thoughtfuly built machine - perfect!

    lbrock
    Member rating: 
    January 16, 2004
    I purchased the unit for my wifes daycare center so the children would have an all-in-one entertainment center that was compact and attractive. The Gateway is all that and more. Its processor is fast and the Media center software is top notch. The only thing I dislike about the computer is the in-ability to adjust the graphics settings for the PVR. You are locked in to the factory settings and are unable to adjust brightness,contrast, or anything else. Thus the TV picture looks washed out and unclear. Otherwise, the unit is perfect for what I bought it for. I can record and burn TV programs with ease, browse the web wirelessly, and have plenty of speed and performance. It has an excellent sound system too and I love the portabability. Its almost as convient as having a notebook.
     
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