Gaming Laptop Review – Gateway P-7808U FX

Gaming Laptop Review – Gateway P-7808U FX

Gateway, Inc. is noted for its innovations that helped shape the technology industry. The company pioneered the ‘built to order’ production system and direct sales model which allowed it to sell computers at low costs. Gateway is also noted as the first computer company to sell its products online (in 1996).

Founded in 1985, the company grew into one of America’s best-known brands and during the 1990s consistently appeared on the Fortune 500 list. By 2000, however, the company saw its finances take a drastic turn as it slipped out of Fortune’s list. In October 2007, Gateway was acquired by Taiwan-based Acer Inc., and the combined entities now comprise the third-largest PC company in the world.

Design-wise, the Gateway 7808u FX Edition follows the same pattern used in previous gaming models particularly the P-7811 FX. The orange and black color combo remains ditto the chassis, keyboard, trackpad. Many users point out this design needs to be updated or even replaced.

The 7808u FX Edition’s biggest offering is in its use of the Core 2 Duo Q9000 quad-core processor. That processing capability is combined with 4GB of RAM, a GeForce 98000 graphics chip with 1 GB of VRAM and a 500GB of hard disk space. That combo assures the user that this laptop can take on today’s most demanding games.

The 7808u FX Edition features three USB ports, an HDMI port and an eSATA port. There is also an eSATA external hard drive and other ports that include VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, modem, an ExpressCard/54 slot, and a 5-in-1 memory card reader.

Like the display, we were also disappointed with the quality of the speakers in the 7808u FX Edition. SPECS AVAILABLE OPTIONS (From Gateway’s website)

CPU – 2.0-GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000

RAM – 4GB

Screen Size – 17 inches

Operating System – Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit with SP1)

Battery Life – About 3 hours

Graphics – 1GB Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTSPros

The use of the Core 2 Duo Q9000 quad-core processor combined with 4GB of RAM, a GeForce 98000 graphics chip with 1 GB of VRAM and a 500GB of hard disk space is one great combination we would recommend. That combo assures the user that the Gateway 7808u FX Edition can handle today’s most demanding games with ease.

Cons

The Gateway 7808u FX Edition’s 1440×900 display is a disappointment from a gaming perspective. At the price the unit is being offered, we expected a 1920×1200 resolution. We also felt, like many users that the design of the 7808u is getting outdated; time for Gateway to bring in new ideas. The sound system on the 7808u also leaves much to be desired.

Conclusion

Performance-wise, the Gateway 7808u FX Edition passes with flying colors. For the not-so-serious gamer, that criteria alone can be a basis to go out and get himself a unit. However, serious gamers look for the total experience – the processing power along with the audio and visual treat that a gaming device offers. It is in the latter two criteria that we felt the Gateway 7808u FX Edition disappoints.