I am doing some research on all Desktop and Laptop computers before I go right out and buy one. In the passed, I had a desktop computer. However, I had to take it back directly to the store because the sound was not working at all, and the amount of memory wasn't there that they promissed it had.

I do not know if they had changed. I am just wondering if Gateway Desktops or Notebooks are better than in the passed? And, if this one is any good?

The hard drive speed is 2700 which was recormended for high intensive memory programs and can be upgraded in the memory, too. This service is from bestbuy, where most likely is there I will be purchasing a computer or Circuit City.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....6&type=product

The Hard Drive speed is 4200 RPM. The 2700 you are referring to is the memory bandwidth. I have a 7405GX (the predecessor to the 7422), and it's been a great laptop so far. It handles games, photo/video/music editing without a hitch, and the screen looks very nice.

The memory issue you were referring to was likely because of "shared memory". If your machine's GPU using shared memory instead of dedicated memory, it takes from the system memory. In other words, if you have a machine with 512MB of RAM, and 32MB shared video, the end result as far as what software will report will be 480MB of memory instead of 512. The 7422GX does not used shared memory for the graphics, so you will see the full memory amount.

Where can you get the laptop you have and look at it Online? I am assuming Bestbuy probably doesn't offer it?

Here is where you can go to look at 7406gx online:

http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=58747

Several other pictures posted within

Best Buy does carry the 7422 - here's a link to it on their website:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....4&type=product

How is the battery life? I spend a lot of time online, more than 5 hrs per day. Since I do a lot of Computer Graphics and Web Design, I need a laptop that can handle this.

Can you upgrade the Hard Drive to a different, higher one than they offer? I also would like to watch movies on it and play a few games here and there. Not a big gamer, but I do play once in a while.

Yes, both the hard drive and RAM are upgradable. The max ram is (2GB) one inside and one outside. The hard drive is pretty much upgradable to whatever is on the market at the time. Right now 100GB 5400RPM drives are the fastest, in a few months there will be 100GB 7200RPM drives out. IF it were me, I would wait for a few months before getting a bigger hard drive.

does the 7422 suffer from the same stupid hinge crack problem? i was about to buy this notebook last week but when i looked at all the emachines and gateway models they have at BestBuy, ALL HINGES WERE CRACKED!!!! needless to say, i stayed away!

I've got a 7422gx as well.
No hinges cracked over here
Love the laptop. Great speed overall. The design is ok.
Couldn't beat the price (1250 when i got it).

I still don't know how the battery life is. I guess I can ask the salesman when I visit BestBuy in a month. I will look at this laptop, since I am able to upgrade the Hard Drive, I may consider purchasing a laptop instead of a desktop.

What is hinges cracked?

its a design flaw in this family of cases. while only cosmetic, they can get pretty nasty
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=29937
people do put tape over their hinges, and they seem to be helping

as far as battery goes, i get 3 hours off a full charge, the battery went through 4 conditioning cycles.

also note that the 3400+ will run at 2.2ghz while on AC power, then drop to 800mhz on battery. if it ran fullstride on battery power, youd last 30 minutes tops.

3 hours is pretty much max. If you want battery life, you are going to have to look toward Pentium-M or Sempron-M for now.