Question:
Gateway mx6421
I posted something earlier but it seems to have dissapeared...
Well I purchased a mx6421 at a local Best Buy 4 days or so ago. Overall I was generally dissapointed in the build quality of this and the other laptops. Flexible screens, keyboards, and an overall feeling of cheap plastic, after putting that aside I settled on the gateway, mainly for price at first.
When I got it home I noticed the corded power supply get's extremely hot after a while and that concerned me. I also am a bit dissapointed in the battery life on this unit.
I keep using it but in the back of my mind im wondering if I just scratched the 1k price point would I be able to step into something better? I was looking at the "platinum edition" gateway, mx6450 model, but what are the main differences, is it worth the upgrade, since Best Buy would take this back if I upgrade, more $$$ in their pocket.
Also, what's up with the stickers on my keyboard, when did they stop making key's with actual ink on them?????
Thanks in advance,
-Shaun
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
ThinkPad R or Z series would be some other choices if you are looking to return for better build quality. Best Buy will take it back, but may charge a restocking fee. They are the last place I would buy a laptop. The HP dv5000 also is good budget notebook and sold at Best Buy, but like the Gateway, has a plastic case.
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
I purchased the MX6450 2 weeks ago. I'm very happy with it. The battery life is great, the hinges fell sturdy and it is an overall very good machine. The keyboard has real painted keys no stickers and the finish is really beautiful. I am very impressed with this machine. The wireless range is great and the it seems to work very well. I got rid of Media Center and installed XP Pro. I user Firefox and often have 10-12 tabs open, this would bog my Sager 5690 with a 3.0g P4 and 512 mb of ram, this new machine narry a hickup. I can't tell if it is the extra 512mb of ram or the processor, but this machine handles task that would seem to bog the P4 down. I am most impressed with battery life, I leave it unplugged most of the day and let it go to standby and not worry about plugging it in. Just browsing the web I can get almost 5 hours and this is a 8cell battery, there is a 12 cell available and that should do six hours easy. I stays quite cool and the fan is hardly noticable. It is relatively light and thin compared to my 9lb Sager and is not to bad on the shouder. I was looking for a 14" widescreen but all the ones I wanted were over $1300 and this was $100 LESS. I a pound lighter worth $100+ ? It was'nt to me. I really wanted a Thinkpad Z60 or a MACbook Pro, but both were more money than I was willing to spend. This is a good bit of notebook for $1280. I think you will be happy with it.
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
Thx for the input! Here is where I am at now. Nearing the end of my upgrade date. I have been using the laptop and so far I have been happy with it. I just saw that it is now on sale at Best Buy for 799.99, I can either get a refund of 150.00 or put up an additional 250.00 and get the platinum edition.
From what I have seen between the mx6450 and the mx6421 is
Processor 2.0 w/1mb cache vs 1.8 512k cache
Ram 1gb vs 512mb
Battery I think it's a 6 cell vs a 4 cell
HDD 100gb still 4200rpm vs 80gb 4200rpm
Appearence Shiny vs not so shiny..
Now im scratching my head as to weather or not it's worth it to pay even more for the platinum edition... ARRRGH I wish I could just be happy when I make a purchase rather than scrutinize and analyze every little thing, and it's driving my wife crazy cause im more concerned about the laptop than I am about lookin for a new home :)
A bit more feedback/input would be greately appreciated.
-Shaun
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
I'd get the Platinum, if you can fork out the money. 1gb is a good boost in performance over 512, as with the processor. The battery is a significant increase too. Both are good deals though.
What will you be doing on it?
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
Im basically using it a bit on the road, checking email, uploading some files. When im home, it's usually plugged in, im using macromedia dreamweaver 8, photoshop CS2 for some small rendering/editing. That's about it really.
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
The 6450 has a 8 cell battery and i think the 6421 has an 8 but prob a 6. Ill check. BB sells the replacement battery for 150 in the store i fyou want an extra its 8 cells and will fit any MX6XXX series
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
The 6450 has a 8 cell battery and i think the 6421 has an 8 but prob a 6. Ill check. BB sells the replacement battery for 150 in the store i fyou want an extra its 8 cells and will fit any MX6XXX series
There is a 12 cell battery also for the MX6XXX series.
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
When I got it home I noticed the corded power supply get's extremely hot after a while and that concerned me.
i noticed this too, and have written to gateway. here's what they responded:
"Please be informed that notebook AC adapters during normal use will get hot and sometimes very hot. While the older processor laptops that use 60 watt adapters get fairly hot, the 90 watt adapters for Pentium 4 laptops will get very hot to the touch. As a rule of thumb, it is normal for the AC adapter to get very hot. However, if you smell any burning of plastic or metal and/or you can see melting in the adapter casing or line, immediately unplug your cord from the power outlet and take your adapter and laptop in for immediate servicing."
the power brick also kind of "hums", too. what the heck?! i told them i wanted a replacement power supply, so we'll see what they say. i've never had a gateway before and i am nervous!
my boyfriend tells me i have nothing to worry about, but in all the laptops i've owned or worked with, i've never had one with a power brick this hot!
Answer:
Re: Gateway mx6421
My Gateway adapter gets really hot too. It is when it is charging the battery. Don't worry about it though.
My HP adapter got insanly hot and was almost malluable.
Just stop touching it :P