The Gateway NV5214u is really a finances all-purpose laptop computer, and happy with it. For your sticker value of $529, it provides the common drill: lackluster speakers, minor in the way of bundled software, as well as a rather hefty footprint. But it really is very a able device, supplying a respectable bang-to-buck ratio and seeking rather excellent from the method.
For its plastic casing, the NV5214u took some design pointers from its bigger siblings. A glossy finish, sleek curves, and a row of slick touch-sensitive keys give it an air of class. It can be also fairly significant, measuring 14.6 by one.five by 9.eight inches, and weighing 6.8 pounds.
So the technique is really a minor on the hefty side--but it is what is on the inside that counts, right? Microsoft's Windows Vista Residence Premium resides on the 320GB challenging drive. Powering the NV5214u could be the dual-core, two.1GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64, as well as 4GB of RAM. The DirectX 10-capable ATI Radeon High definition 3200 graphics processor drives the screen, but do not count on miracles: Although a title for older, refined tastes like Doom 3 will chug along at thirty frames per second on the greater settings, newer games like Crysis will balk. The ensemble scored a 64 in the WorldBench 6 test suite, which puts the NV5214u behind marginally a lot more high-priced opponents these kinds of because the HP Pavilion DV4-1465DX or even the Dell Studio 14Z. Vehemently opposed to Vista? A flyer packed with the machine casually reminds users to choose up their free duplicate of Windows 7 Residence Premium, which should enhance things--particularly the battery existence, which currently clocks in at a less-than-spectacular two.five hrs.
The fifteen.6-inch, LED-backlit display screen is easily vivid inside the standard office or in a fluorescent-lit dwelling, however the visibility suffers the moment you venture outside. The 1366 by 768 resolution is simply proper for 720p video clip, with a sixteen:nine facet ratio that will make sure you film buffs and bored college college students alike. Color reproduction is good, and also the exhibit is evenly lit.
Gateway makes enough utilization of the machine's footprint, providing a spacious keyboard using a total number pad. While the individual keys are vast enough, they are also flat, and arranged uniformly, which may be disconcerting for touch typists. In low-light circumstances, you might find your wayward fingers becoming misaligned with all the keys; and with practically nothing to differentiate the keys, you would possibly make the occasional typo.
Nestled between the display screen as well as the keyboard are 7 touch-sensitive buttons for managing the amount, toggling the trackpad and Wi-Fi, and triggering the MyBackup computer software (much more on that in a bit). The device also includes a programmable button that will launch any application, file, or Web page you command it to. So far as touch-sensitive buttons go, they're pretty attractive, lending the NV5214u a few of the style-consciousness of more-expensive machines. However they are also nigh invisible in low-light problems, which may end result in some haphazard display screen finagling should you desire to turn the volume down even though viewing a motion picture.
The trackpad is very good: It has a nice, sleek texture which makes for at ease pointing. However the trackpad button is usually a bit bothersome. It is just one, reflective bar--tap the left aspect to click, faucet the right aspect to right-click. The middle, nonetheless, is unclickable. This really is nitpick territory, but when you happen to be accustomed to pressing both the left and appropriate buttons for any middle click on, or even the single bar on most older MacBooks, put together to get a little bit of a studying curve. Stretching your fingers to faucet the opposite ends in the seesaw-like bar is awkward enough to draw unfavorable attention to an otherwise beautiful fixture.
All the regular laptop computer facilities make an appearance inside the NV5214u: Four USB ports, a Webcam, a multiformat card reader, a DVD burner, and ethernet, modem, mic, and headphone jacks are all arranged neatly along the sides with the machine. Users looking for a bit far more display property will value the included VGA and HDMI ports; even though the GPU might not have the ability to deal with much gaming, the method ran effortlessly when multitasking on the 1900-by-1200-resolution, 24-inch display.
The NV5214u's speakers suit the budget-machine mold, as well. Crank the amount up, and they'll fill a place with sound--the bland, tinny type of sound. If you would like to have any semblance of bass, you'll need to make investments within a proper set of speakers, or more probably, a decent pair of headphones.
The package isn't going to provide you with a lot from the method of bundled software. The MyBackup method is exactly what its identify suggests. You press the touch-sensitive hotkey to fire up Gateway's simple backup-scheduling utility. Just pick which folders to sync, after which pick a vacation destination as well as a timetable, as well as the software will take treatment from the relaxation. The tool isn't robust, but informal end users will enjoy the one-button accessibility to a modicum of data-loss prevention, which is a stage inside the appropriate direction.
You'll also uncover the normal 60-day Microsoft Workplace trial, ad-supported Microsoft Performs, and a handful of casual games and demos inside the Gateway Video games console, a digital storefront.
The Gateway NV5214u has quirks, a short battery daily life, as well as a groan-inducing 7-pound bodyweight that may ward off some shoppers. But at $529, it is a stylish bargain, and everyone (specifically a pupil) who wants a good, cheap machine--and who does not mind the lack of bundled extras and frills--would do nicely to seem it about.
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