Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hplsla!kens
From: kens@hplsla.HP.COM (Ken Snyder)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Gateway 2000
Message-ID: <13000004@hplsla.HP.COM>
Date: 16 Oct 90 19:19:59 GMT
References: <1291@beguine.UUCP>
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA
Lines: 44

comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware / pokey@uncmed.med.unc.edu  asks:

> I'm considering a Gateway 2000 25 mHz machine for purchase, and I'd
> like to hear from anyone whose had dealings w/them, good or bad.      
> Also, if it is wise to make any specific upgrades at the time of
> purchase (video card, monitor, drive controller, etc.).  Should I go
> the extra bucks for the 33 mHz or retreat to the 20 mHz?

  My 25MHz Gateway is a year old now and I can say without any reservations
that Gateway is THE most customer oriented mail order company I've ever
dealt with.  When I ordered my system it was promised within 2 weeks.  1
week later they called me and said it might be delayed because the disc
drive vendor backordered a bunch of drives.  A few days later they called
to say the drives had arrived.  A day after that they called to say my
system was in the mail.  All in all it arrived 2 or 3 days later than
promised.  Problems I've had with the system have been dealt with
immediately and well.  A few months ago when I heard ATI had upgraded the
bios on their VGA WONDER card I called them to ask about an upgrade.  With
no questions asked, 2 days later I had a new ATI VGA1024 card.  In the
past they did have some problems keeping up with technical support but their
biggest problem (as seen on the net) has been not being able to keep up
with demand in shipping their products.  I personally would prefer to wait
for delivery than to wait for service parts.  They have bent over backwards
and done things for me that I consider to be above and beyond the call.

  As for upgrades, I got the 512k memory upgrade ($50) on the ATI card and
the monitor upgrade to the NEC 3d ($100).  I also got the cache upgrade on
the cpu board.  When I got my system I was told I could upgrade at any
time within the first year at the cost when I bought the system.  I under-
stand now that you cannot later do a cache upgrade because they use different
motherboards for the cached and non-cached systems.  I've also heard that
the monitor they use as standard is very good.  You'll have to read the
reviews and talk to Gateway about that.  BTW, their sales people (mine
anyway) was pretty straight up about performance improvements/reliability
etc.  They were also more flexible about substitutions of equipment than
many other vendors I called when I was doing my search.  Most of the 
vendors I called said you took the package offered or nothing.  

  Enough raving,

The usual disclaimer:  No affiliations with Gateway, I just love the heck
out of the way they treat me and their machine.

Ken