| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Gateway M505X Notebook (1.4-GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) |  | |
Gateway M505X Notebook (1.4-GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)
Compact and battery efficient yet more powerful and versatile than many larger, bulkier portable computers, the Gateway M505X Notebook is a smart choice for those who put equal emphasis on performance and portability. Not surprisingly, the unit features Intel's new Centrino technology. Built upon a triad of interconnected elements -- an Intel Pentium M CPU (with 1 full GB of Level 2 cache), an Intel 855 chipset, and a cord-free network connection -- Centrino-equipped notebooks deliver more power and more perks than their comparatively diminutive size and rated processor speed would otherwise indicate. In the case of the Gateway M505X, that processor is a 1.4 GHz Intel Pentium M, which works hand-in-hand with the system's 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory and impressively punchy ATI Radeon 9600 graphics controller (64 MB dedicated video memory) to efficiently handle all but the most complex 2-D and 3-D business and leisure notebook applications. Measuring just 14 by 10 by 1.4 inches and weighing a mere 6.7 pounds with optical drive and battery installed, the Gateway M505X is nevertheless crammed with impressive mobile features. Though the unit's 40 GB hard disk is only of average size, its optical drive permits CD playing and burning and DVD playing. Its display offers a surprisingly generous 15.4 widescreen inches of viewing area at crystal clear 1280 by 800 resolutions, and its on-board stereo speaker system features a miniature subwoofer for added audio depth. Moreover, its communication options include not only a standard 56K dial-up modem and a 10/100 Ethernet network adapter, but also an integrated 802.11b wireless connection for those times when you can't or don't want to plug in. Other important amenities include three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast interaction with external peripherals such as scanners or digital cameras, two IEEE 1394 FireWire ports (typically used for digital camcorder downloads), a VGA port for external monitors, a parallel "printer" port, and an S-Video TV-out. Bundled software includes Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works Suite 7.0 and a 90-day trial with Norton AntiVirus.
Manufacturer: Gateway
Price: $1,538.00
 Gateway M505X Notebook (1.4-GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)
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| User Reviews |  | Great sound, great screen, BAD wireless, bad A/V panel
rating: 3
Got this laptop second-hand. Was missing the slot-loading combo drive, but when I knew it, it was mediocre at best. The slot-loading drive is a GREAT show-off piece, but impractical and can't read many discs. It can't use smaller discs (the 8cm discs) and it had trouble reading DVDs.
The wireless was missing its antennas when I first got it so I bought replacement antennas on eBay. After installing them I was presented with sub-par range and EXTREMELY unstable and MASSIVE drivers. The "hardware switch" kept switching itself on and off, so the wireless link went up and down countless times a second. "B" wireless is outdated and slow. The Intel software sucks. I'm going to buy a replacement card on eBay, a 108G card, and use that one for access. It doesn't have easy access to the card. Most laptops have it on the bottom of the PC and this one is under the keyboard and a heatsink/protective cover.
Sound is excellent, though, if a little quiet. The speakers have so much potential. It's got a huge, full subwoofer (in place of a secondary HDD port) that has SO much potential for loud volumes, but alas, it doesn't perform. The maximum volume is completely drowned out in a car on the freeway or a loud building. My previous laptops have all outperformed it, but not at as good a volume. It did seem to have an issue with "wobbling" idling sound where the subwoofer "wobbled" while the computer was idle, but that issue was solved by removing and reinserting the subwoofer module.
The hard drive internal layout is screwy. You're pretty much unable to install third-party optical drives because they must be configured as a "slave" drive. The hard drive and optical drive are wired on the same channel, and the secondary hard drive is on its own controller. It's configured for fast performance for drive-to-drive copies, but if you only have one drive? Where's the benefit? You can change master/slave options on hard drives, but not optical drives; it's hard-coded in the firmware. It would be nice if they put the secondary hard drive as "slave" to the primary and put the optical on the secondary channel, but they didn't.
The screen is great. Bright, clear, and readable in daylight. The widescreen layout is really nice. But that's one of the two displays. The "A/V panel" off to the side of the keyboard is... well, it's had problems since the start. The software has absolutely no configuration, blocks standard multimedia keyboard calls (to configure external programs -- who uses Windows Media Player anyway?!), and guess what? The cheap LCD screen falls apart. The bad connection design broke and I'm left with partial segments on the screen. It's totally useless now. It only worked right with Windows Media Player anyway and, well... that sucked. Wish they had a better design there.
Battery life is decent, about two and a half hours. The Pentium M CPU helps but it's offset by the horrible wireless card, wide screen, and high-end graphics chip. It could be better if I could slow down or stop some of those devices, or have more granular control over the internals (e.g. CPU speed, GPU speed, disabling devices, etc).
Anyway, I think it's a decent computer with some design flaws. They all do. Companies try catering to the computer-illiterate idiots and end up screwing the techies over. Making everything automatic and eating up HDD space just because it's there. I don't think it'll get any better though, so hey, it's a decent computer!
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Bad Screen
rating: 1
I bought this computer and about a month later, the screen started messing up!! it starts turning all different colors and i cant play games or watch dvds because it gets worse!
Never will i buy a gateway again
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nice
rating: 5
Very fast. I like the buiilt in cd control on the left. I own this computer. Very nice for the price.
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M505X Seventh Month Update
rating: 4
I previously reviewed the M505X in January 2004 when I initially purchased it, comparing it to the Toshiba M35-S359, and giving it 5 stars.
Since then, I have had a few issues. The most annoying problem has been the resolution when attached to a projector. Neither I nor Gateway support was able to find a setting that allows the screen to be viewed properly, and I've tried a few different projectors. The image is always to big for the viewing area. This is important to me since I make presentations frequently and bought the laptop for this purpose.
Also, the subwoofer developed a sound problem, and wasn't as clear and vivid as when new. Gateway promply sent a new one however, and it seems to be working better.
I still feel that the M505x has the best screen (except for Sony's xbrite), the best keyboard, and the best sound compared to all the competitors. If it weren't for the projection problem it would be outstanding.
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This is one SUPER computer!!
rating: 5
Greetings - I ordered this laptop from Amazon in May - and it was forwarded to me all the way to FOB Dagger, Iraq (Amazon will not send lots of technology products overseas so I had to have it forwarded). First of all, my full-time job is computer support so I have quite a bit of laptop/notebook experience. This M505x is a super, super machine. Build quality is great - no 'flexy' case, cheap plastic (think "D*ll") or crooked lines here and there - its top-notch in this respect. It is made in the Phillipines vice mainland China by the way. The display is bright, responsive and not grainy (and the case lid appears to be aluminum). No dead pixels on mine by the way, quite a feat considering how far it traveled!! One of the greatest features of this laptop is the ATI Radeon 9600 (64mb DDR) graphics. It absolutely rocks with the games I've played. Raven Shield looks great - and the Far Cry demo is awsome. Oh, also by the way, in view of all of this praise, you might think this is either a vaporware review - or that I'm somehow connected to Gateway. I really ordered and possess the system and I'm not in any way connected with Gateway. One little downside is that it came with a 4200-rpm hdd - but I had pre-ordered a spare Hitachi 40-gb 5400-rpm drive (not from Gateway or Amazon). Here's another M505x advantage - Gateway didn't take the cheap way out with a garbage-software-infested restore CD - the "restore" CD appears to be a relabeled XP Home CD! No problems with the restore to the new hdd - and the software/apps CD gives you the option to pick and choose what to install. All of the buttons/SD card slot/graphics worked perfectly after the restore. I cannot say enough good things about the M505x - I am thrilled with mine!! One last comment - I am sending this review from an Army morale computer in an internet cafe. I had never cared much for Gateways until I arrived here at FOB Dagger. The 20 Gateways in this Cafe take an enormous beating from GI's, heat, dust, viruses - you name it. Most of them have a few bad pixels now - but they are running very well considering the use and abuse they get. The only thing they all need is 256mb of ram instead of the measly 128mb that they each have. Ok - last but not least - there has to be some negatives: Gateway uses cheap cardboard for shock protection in their boxes - although my system was not damaged. And, to be honest, some users have reported dark areas in their displays (not mine, though) - as reported on notebookforums.com.
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Gateway M505X Notebook (1.4-GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)
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