Gizmodo
Normally I don't get this jazzed about desktop PCs, but the Gateway One is special. From the sleek yet substantial design to the quiet, powerful core, it's a real statement, especially from the cow-pocked South Dakota underdog.
Let me take you on a guided tour:
Setup is as easy as a laptop. Connect the power adapter to the main unit, and you're rollin'. The wireless keyboard and seamless "river rock" mouse are pre-paired. The main unit has everything you need and nothing you don't. Its beautiful 19" widescreen LCD has a resolution of 1440x900. Beneath the screen are speakers hidden under the glossy plastic face. They are NXTs, but they sound better than any NXTs I've ever heard.
To the left side is a panel with three USB ports, a FireWire port, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, audio output for speakers and microphone in.
There's a USB camera that sits on top, nestled into a mini USB port. It's got a built-in microphone. (I guess I lied. Gateway could have gone even more minimalist: you really don't need the speaker or mic jacks at all!) The camera makes the box look a tad dorky, but you only need it when you're Skyping, so who cares?
On the right-hand side is a disc slot. The drive is what you'd expect on the premium end, a super multi DVD burner with double-layer capability—not that you'll ever use it to its full extent. Blu-ray and HD DVD read and write are not yet available.
The power brick serves a very cool function as outboard media hub. It's got four USB ports of its own, plus SPDIF and optical audio outputs to connect to an A/V receiver (for up to 7.1 surround sound), plus an IR blaster jack and an Ethernet port. In other words, Gateway has smartly hidden all those ugly but essential wires at your feet, instead of letting them stick out of your computer. The One has but one cable, sticking out of its chrome-plated rear end.
Ethernet is optional. Gateway pulled an Apple and integrated serious Wi-Fi in there. It's got MIMO, 802.11a/b/g and even N Dual Band, if you are so equipped. Good future-proofing. Another example of future proofing is the second SATA II drive slot, right next to the first slot, which houses a 500GB 7200rpm drive. (RAM access is just as easy.)
There's more in the box if you want it, including a analog/digital TV tuner and a USB fax/modem. I skipped them for now, but you never know.
The remote reminds you that this, like every other Vista Home Premium or Ultimate system, is also a Windows Media Center Edition PC. So the tuner might come in handy, though I'd prefer CableCard.
For having a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and an ATI HD 2600XT video processor, it even runs fairly quiet. Gateway says under 30dB. It also uses a third less power than traditional desktops.
The premium Gateway One will be sold at Best Buy exclusively for $1,799. Two other lower-powered editions will be sold at gateway.com for $1,299 and $1,599. All of them will feature all of the pieces I've shown in this demo.
I may have some negative things to say later but for now, I am a true fan. It's the thoughtful design elements make the Gateway One unique, and uniquely enjoyable, and I'll leave you with three examples:
• You use the touch-scroll mouse intuitively, without thinking, even though it's not the typical mouse interaction.
• The Media Center remote's d-pad is all one piece, built for full-tilt thumb action.
• In the rear, a chrome hinge rests on a broad wheel. Not only does this allow you to tilt the seemingly immobile body, but it acts to brace the One in the event it gets jarred.
[Gateway One]
Comments
this was cool the first time, when apple did it
Failed attempt #7,681,348,975,232 by the Windows PC industry to make something that looks half as good as a Mac.
I still say it'll fall over if you poke it.
Man, those are some cool features. The only problem they'll need to iron out is the fact that it's a Gateway.
@btumpak: lol, not like johnny cash at all, this remake is worse than the original.
actually - this is an improved design over the iMac - especially hiding the ethernet in the power adapter and adding optical audio out, hdmi would have been cooler though...
Just for the record I am not a PC fanboy or mac hater...
@Maksimir: I'll chalk that up to opinion.
Sticking all those ports in the power brick is brilliant.
Anyone else think it looks like a giant video ipod? Without the processing power. Ba-ZING!!
actually, the "essential cables on floor" idea is pretty neat. that would work well with all desktop computers.
@Maksimir:
Agreed. I actually think this looks better than the iMac. HDMI out would definitely make sense too.
(Similarly, I'm not a PC or Mac fanboy/hater)
@Wilson:
Are there any mics in this thing? Seems like the webcam should have one (or more) built in, but I can't tell from those pictures.
Also, somebody needs to get a chimpanzee figurine and pose it in front of the turned off Gateway One.
I admit the brick-ports idea is neat, but brilliant...I don't think it'll be as usable in practice. Think about all those wires running to awkward places, it's just like a standard PC with running all the wires to awkward places...so not really an improvement.
So bitching about Apple, ladies.
This has nothing to do with Apple, and yet you would love to make it.
The ports in the power brick is absolutely brilliant, but as mentioned about:
1. too bad it's made by Gateway
2. it seriously looks like it will fall over if you even nudge the table it sits on.
WESTHEYETI- If it looks like anything, it looks like a Bang & Olufsen Beovision MX2000 from 1986.
[img.wiki.excite.co.jp]
I dig that this wont make you go out of your mind to upgrade the hd, and it can hold 2 for the shweet. I agree, however, that the power adapter/port brick could do very well to have an hdmi port. Does thing thing have any sort of video out capability at all? I suppose it could be forgone, as this just isn't the type of pc I would hook up to an hdtv, its probably better for the kitchen. Still would be nice to have the possibility though.
I actually think this looks better than an iMac (and I'm an Apple fan boy). Of course, Apple's all-in-one really is, and as such, the stand can be removed for wall-mounting. Which gives the user more options on where to put their Mac. But on looks alone, the Gateway's pretty sharp.
there is nothing wrong with gateway. they actually offer good support. i mean you dont even have to take this thing in to a special nightclub to get it serviced or upgraded and charge you out the nose and make you wait a few days to do it. ZING!
This isnt the first all in one machine gateway has done. this is just the prettiest.
I'm gonna wait n' see about the "breakout brick". Part of me says great idea, but I wonder if crawling under my desk is preferred over cables behind my pc. And no HDMI doesn't bother me, just get an HDMI to DVI adapter. Overall, impressive for the cow PC.
@btumpak:
It must be a good PC if the Mac crew is rushing in to bash it.
Finally, the 200GB iPhone we've all been waiting for.
edit: There's no DVI either? not even VGA? c'mon cow people.
I'm a total apple fanboy, but I gotta say that this is easily the most appealing PC I've seen in many years. There's still a lot of weirdness that bugs me ("optional" ethernet!?, oddly long "chin", questionable stability...) but mostly I think it's a really impressive development towards imitating the success of the iMac. Now, if they could just get away from Windows, I think Gateway could have a winner.
Regardless of the iClone look, this is a pretty good step for Gateway. Of course, I'd rather not confine myself to Vista, but the overall package is very nice. However, I still have my doubts about the support on the back. It really looks pretty rickety to me, especially if you want the display to lean a bit more erect. However much of an Apple coattail rider I believe this thing to be, this design is much better than anything that HP and Dell have dished out.
Design-wise I give this three big thumbs up! The best comparison is iMac, and I like everything Gateway has done here more than Apple(except for the non-integrated camera-unless it will be upgradeable in the future?) Looks like an iMac-killer. Now if they could only do something about the OS....
Although the media center features + better remote + wireless everything + futureproofing + easy upgradability does offset it a lot.....
My heart was set on the new iMac, but now I may have to reconsider....
@xxdesmus: I guess this doesn't really have anything to do with Apple, except of course, for the design.
Another Apple fanboy here who would seriously consider this thing... depending on how it runs Ubuntu.
@xxdesmus:
"This has nothing to do with Apple, and yet you would love to make it."
You're right, Gateway came up with the "all-in-one" computer concept all on their own...
riiiiiigght
If it wasn't such an obvious nock-off of the iMac - then we wouldn't be comparing it to the iMac.
True, Apple's not the only one who's done the all-in-one design, but theirs is easily the most memorable.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
@ChadLondon: people say it's bad, so it must be good...that sounds a lot like "see you denied it, you must be guilty"
People here are forgetting the Apple OS...standard Apple vs Windows arguments apply.
1440 x 900? That resolution looks good on my 14" widescreen, but on a 19 screen"? That's a bit weak.
Look, it OBVIOUSLY took its design cues from the iMac. To deny that would be 31 flavors of retarded.
That said, if you are going to rip something off, why not rip off the best? This Gateway One is attractive... but the base iMac is a little bigger (20 vs 19), and CHEAPER... since price is one of the only factors that would cause someone to buy a Gateway, why choose this over an iMac?
I guess if someone is truly an Applephobe, this is a good option.
I'd also like to see at least 2.0Ghz processor instead of the 1.5Ghz. Looking forward to full reviews on this thing.
As an individual who has owned and used many Gateways over the years (I have also used Dells, Macs, HP, Scratchbuilt, an Acer, and wait for it... a Goldstar!), I have never had a problem with any of my Gateway systems. The tech and C.S. were top notch, on the rare occasion I had need to call upon them.
What I have always admired about Gateway is their willingness to attempt new things, regardless of whether or not the idea pans out in the end. I think that the Destination was a great attempt at something new, the Astro was a... decent attempt at offering... something, and all of the Profile systems at least took a look at how to meet a need.
And I will never be the type of person who puts down someone for improving the idea of someone else. "First!" means very little to me, but "Better!" or "Best!" means a lot.
They tried this before with the GATEWAY PROFILE.
My mom had one of the GATEWAY PROFILE All in One units. It fell apart in the same week, She got money back and bought an proper computer.
@Tony C: So, why would you poke it?
@sgodun:
Successful attempt #7,681,348,975,232 by the Windows PC industry to make something more practical and functional than a Mac.
I didn't even notice the display resolution. My 13" macbook gets 1280x800, and the iMac gets 1680x1050....what gives?
Am I seeing that correctly? Seven cables are going to hang off the left edge of the monitor? Sort of ruins the slick look they were going for. They couldn't put all those connectors in the back? They've got a ton of room at the bottom of that monolith.
Actually, I think they have some very fine ideas. As long as there are enough ports on the computer to hook up an iPod/Zune/whatever, an external or flash drive, and handle audio output, it's a fine computer.
I like that you can pop it open and add a second internal drive. Of course, the brick is a good idea. Apple did that first with their cinema displays. Putting multiple ports on the back of the monitor and routing Firewire and USB through them. But this takes it a few setps further. Good job Gateway.
I think they've done the best imitation of an iMac with this by far. But the iMac is still a compelling product and this is no iMac killer. iMacs go up to 24 inches! For the same prices! Way, way better screens than this "One." 1440x900. Are they seriously thinking that is acceptable?
Oh, not only does the iMac now have digital audio output, it also has Firewire 800. Gateway has a few things to do to beat the iMac. Too bad it looks so top-heavy and is at the same time, so thick at the bottom. But that's the price you pay for access and not tipping over. I wonder how tipping will play out.
Seriously I can't get past the fact that it is Gateway...they'll have to try way harder than that to get me to even consider their product.
Also forget Windows how does Linux look on it?
I will say, though, that I am happy to see other companies, other than Apple,trying to create visually pleasing designs. Why do PCs always have to be so ugly and functional? Why can't they be pretty like Macs? :-D
I agree with many above: It's the 20th Anniversary Mac (TAM), but better looking (and better).
Jesus people, are some of you so into your fucking Macs that all you can ever say is "Oh look. Since its automatically a PC, its already bad because it isn't a Mac." I'm sorry to rant, but I am so tired of listening to people getting on their soapboxes when they even hear the word "PC" put into something! You're acting like the iMac has been the only fucking design like this ever to come out, and guess what? Sorry to tell you, but its NOT. Many other smaller companies have come out with stuff like it too, but its mainly based off of business applications, not consumer. Have they all been multimedia based like the iMac or the Gateway One? No, but they still were computers built into a small package in the same way. But, I guess those companies went forward into time and copies the oh-so-great iMac too, right?
And now before you start calling me some Windows fanboy or something, zip it. I've had my many complaints about how Windows has run over the years, just like the next person, but I still use a PC with Windows and Linux. So now, what do you have to say about Linux? Does it suck balls just like everything else that doesnt have the fucking Apple logo stuck on it somewhere? And guess what? As hard as it may be to believe, Macs screw up too. I know it might take you a minute to swallow that one, but its true. I've run on Macs before and they've screwed up on me when I've been doing video editing, or even when I'm browsing in Safari. Just like Windows PC's, Macs have their flaws. But of course I must be wrong on that too, because the Mac vs. PC commercials Apple made said the complete opposite, right?
"The One has but one cable, sticking out of its chrome-plated rear end."
Sounds great on paper, and certainly, can be aesthetically more pleasing in some cases than even the iMac (this coming from an Apple fan and iMac owner).
However, in reality, USB cables, Ethernet cables, etc. need to be accessed (plugged/unplugged) frequently and would make little sense for us to have to stoop down on the floor every time we need to. Meaning, we'll end up using the ports on the side of the computer OR leaving the brick on our desks, which of course defies the purpose.
Also, let's not forget that our floors are already just littered with power bricks (external HDD drives, scanners, printers, you name it). This just adds to that pile. Having those ports on the brick makes it look a like a "neat" little idea, but in reality, I think they're just excuses for them not able to make the power source internal and still keep heat levels sufficiently low to go with this sleek little design.
@CBANDES: The Ethernet is not optional, as in you pay extra to get it. The port is in the power brick. I believe the author meant you probably won't need it because of the powerful built in wireless.
Man, what's up with this delay in posting here....