NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Gateway Notebook Forums › Gateway Notebooks › Silverwolf0's Gateway M680 Review
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Silverwolf0's Gateway M680 Review

post #1 of 17
7/8/05 at 6:05am
Thread Starter 
After a long delay, my review is finally up. You can read it at my webspace. It is kind of lengthy. Yes, I did create it in word so sue me.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/kenjisamu...680_review.htm
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 17
7/8/05 at 7:34am
Great review. Thanks for adding a little humor to it.

Oh, do you think the wi-fi card is at the top left hand corner of that first photo?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 17
7/8/05 at 3:50pm

gateway

Geeeez good review but the laptop isn't everything it's cracked up to be is it?Mine is due to arrive in a week and now I'm a little uneasy about it.Shoulda gone with the Sager 3880.You sent it to Ohio for repairs?what was turnaround and did they tell you specifically what they did?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 17
7/8/05 at 4:34pm
Thread Starter 
In my review I said it arrived a week later, so not that long. They only gave me a sheet of paper saying something like "acceptable temperatures, not repaired" and all the boxes near each problem (there's a list of em to choose) were all blank. I am not sure if they actually did anything or if my notebook needed a break-in period. Something like that in the review. By the way, I am overcritical of the machine, so you can add maybe a couple of points to the scores for a more realistic representation.

Haha I dunno if that is the wi-fi card.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 17
7/10/05 at 4:43pm
Regarding SilverWolfs experience with heat issues on the M680:

Soon after getting my M680 (2.0 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM) I noticed a lot of heat in the left-palm area below the keyboard and the underside. I checked with the chc program and saw idle temps in the 55 range, and 60+ when watching DVD's and/or running Photoshop and Web browsing (I'm not a gamer).

I waited a week or so, and eventually the heat dropped significantly to below 50 idle, 52-53 DVD watching, and 55-56 when adding Photoshop and/or Web browsing. I've seen it spike up to 60 just once briefly.

A month later, the machine remains at these lower levels, so with the corroboration of your experience I would say there is something to your statement about a break-in period for the thermal compound.

Hugo
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 17
7/10/05 at 6:35pm
My M680 is normally around 58C. But the left side palm rest is only warm. My ambient temperature is normally around 83F.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 17
7/11/05 at 4:29am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Hugorand. I will add your statement to the review if you don't mind. I have seen my M680 idle at 40C several times already right after startup. Maybe mine has more thermal compound to heat up, I dunno. Cheap bastards probably has some pink pad in there that needs melting. I wish I had the guts to disassemble and put AS5. I actually asked the tech rep if it would void my warranty and they said no. Take that with a grain of salt though as they aren't too trustworthy. BTW, my temps are maybe 5C higher than normal as my room is quite warm even with air conditioning. It is probably somewhere in the low 80s.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 17
7/11/05 at 7:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverwolf0
Thanks Hugorand. I will add your statement to the review if you don't mind.
No problem. I really like the M680, the screen is the biggest plus for me, but I concur with your comments about the build quality and materials under the hood. I bought the accidental damage insure after a couple of weeks and taking a look inside. If I dropped it or it fell off the desk I would be worried.

Hugo
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 17
7/14/05 at 1:53am
I'm sure several of you use your M680 for watching DVD's so my question is does the shiny screen bug you when your not sitting directly near your comp?
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 17
7/14/05 at 4:12pm
Thread Starter 
Well I can't really say. I usually watch DVDs in a dark room so there is very little glare to begin with. I have yet to actually use it outside my house.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 17
7/15/05 at 2:24pm
Is there any way to change the DVD burner? I haven't been able to burn anything but coasters with both -R and +R discs. I have gone through 3 each and with the prices on these things, it's getting expensive
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 17
7/15/05 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 
I think you can just buy a slimline dvd burner and replace the QSI one. I haven't done it myself though.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 17
8/19/05 at 4:59am
I am wondering what is the differences in the screen options for the 680XL model. I am looking at the two and I am wondering what is the difference. It is the same format screens but one is labeled Ultrabright. Is this the glare or glossy screen? These are the screen options:
17" Ultrabright WSXGA+ TFT Active Matrix (1680 x 1050 max. resolution) (limited time promotion) [ +US$0.00]
or

17" WSXGA+ TFT Active Matrix (1680 x 1050 max. resolution) [ +US$0.00]

I have a M460XL that I am returning for the M680XL. I just want to know anyones opion on the diff. screens. I really like the M460XL standard screen. It is really awesome. I want something that is not glossy and wont lower my battery time on my 12 cell battery. I am going to be using it for school at all and odd hours of the day. Like right now. I want something that has no glare and is easy on the eyes like the M460XL. Please help me out b/c I am purchasing this laptop tommorow so it gets to me in time for school. Thank you in advance!!!
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 17
8/20/05 at 2:11pm
anyone?
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 17
8/21/05 at 2:16pm
Thread Starter 
Ultrabright means glossy. M680 has good battery life. If you don't like glare, don't pick the ultrabright one.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 17
8/21/05 at 10:36pm
Silver what is wrong with the DVD Burner on the M680XL? Did you ever have problems watching a dvd movie? Is there something wrong with the burning part of the drive? Right now I have a M460 laptop that the DVD Burner is giving me problems when I want to watch a movie. So I am returning to purchase a M680XL.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 17
8/24/05 at 2:27am
Thread Starter 
The dvd burner has read problems. I have burned good quality ritek dvds that all my drives can play, even my old 4x compaq dvd drive, but this piece of crap can't. Also I tested the system restore dvd on my liteon. It had PI errors over 1000. The norm is like 280. Thats 4 times the norm. Also, I burned a dvd rewritable that can't be read by any drive. However, if I burn it with either my nec or liteon drive, it can be read. It sux in other words.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Gateway Notebooks
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Gateway Notebook Forums › Gateway Notebooks › Silverwolf0's Gateway M680 Review