New Gateway Desktop Computer Releases :

Gateway One ZX6810-01:

The new Gateway One ZX6810-01 ($1,399.99 list) both simplifies and refines the design series to the point that it now gives the HP TouchSmart series PCs and Apple iMac a run for their money. It comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, has a large 23-inch HD-ready screen, and a TV tuner, but it lacks the Blu-ray drive which would complete the picture. That said, the Gateway One ZX6810-01 shows that the touchscreen interface is maturing nicely hand in hand with the coming of Windows 7.

Specifications:

• Price as Tested: $1,399.99 List
• Type: Multimedia, All-in-one
• Processor Family: Intel Core 2 Quad
• RAM: 8 GB
• Storage Capacity: 1064 GB
• RAID: No
• Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 4670
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW
• Monitor Type: LCD Widescreen
• Screen Size: 23 inches

Features :

The ZX6810 comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, full 1080p 1,920 by 1,080 resolution screen, 8GB of memory, HD-ready ATI graphics, and 1TB hard drive with 64GB SSD boot drive. (Note: our pre-production review unit had a wired keyboard and mouse. The 64GB SSD C: drive makes the system boot up and load apps quickly, but 64GB will fill up in no time if you install a lot of third-party apps. If you load apps like the full version of Adobe CS4 (Premiere), PhotoShop, InDesign, etc.) you'll run out of room on the C: drive before you know it. You can circumvent this problem by installing applications to the 1TB data drive, but most people are used to just hitting "OK" for the default settings when installing programs.

Since we're nit-picking, the copious bloatware also eats up a bunch of the space on the C: drive: stuff like Gateway Game Zone, Microsoft Office 60-day trial, and ads for eBay and Google are the all-too-common culprits. The included Norton Internet Security 60-day trial is too short.

All-in-one PCs tend to discourage internal expansion, and the ZX6810 is the same: The only upgrade area you can get to are the already-filled memory slots. Thankfully, there are six USB 2.0 ports and the eSATA port for future expansion. The included TV tuner uses an annoying adapter cable to connect the included antenna or your own roof-mounted antenna. I am guessing they did this to accommodate other countries where they may not use US-standard F-type cable connectors. In any case, you can use the ZX6810-01 as an HDTV with the Media Center interface in Windows 7.