Is this machine worth $200?

[jvivlemore]

I'm currently running the following for various work related tasks plus a little Mobile DJ work and Photoshop editing. I've been wanting a Macbook but not ready to invest in the $2,000 price right.

I had posted my PS3 which I rarely play for $250 on craigslist. The one I have is honestly worth about $200. This person had posted a laptop and asked to trade me across the board (swap basically).

Current Laptop: Dell Inspiron 6000
Intel Pentium M Processor 1.50GHz with 512 MB of RAM

Potential Laptop: Gateway P-172 FX
2.44ghz dual core procceser
4GB RAM upgradable
Two onboard 150GB Harddrives
Windows Home Vista
1.3 Megapixel Webcam
3 USB slots
HDMI Slots
Gateway Brand
Nvida 8800 Video Card

I know that obviously this laptop is much faster than my current machine. My current machine works for what I need it too although at times can be sluggish. Would you pros suggest upgrading to this one or taking that $200 once sold and putting it towards something a little newer and obviously slightly more expensive?

FYI - The original installation discs and paperwork is NOT included as this person is the second owner and the original owner did not sell them with the laptop.

 

[denis280]

I would take the 200.00 and put away.only reason am saying this.is 200 for the laptop is not expensive.but its the second user on this laptop.and the disk and paper are missing.

 

[jvivlemore]

It's been so long since I've bought a laptop I feel like a noob all over again The fact I'd be third owner worries me too and it's Windows Vista. I figure if I'm going to upgrade I should get a machine with 7 right?

 

[cubby1223]

Rarely do brand new laptops come with the original installation discs anymore. Paperwork doesn't matter either. There is no warranty even with all the paperwork. So, as long as you can be reasonably certain the laptop is not stolen, paperwork doesn't matter.

Now you are looking at a laptop with two hard drives in it, that is double the chance you're getting a bum hard drive. I'd expect to add in the cost of a new hard drive to the transaction.

Do whatever floats your boat.

 

[jvivlemore]

What's the quality of Gateway? I'm not familiar with them at all except for the fact when I was a kid and they had all those crazy colored desktops that I wanted one

Are the specs worth the investment or am I better off getting something like this which is $350?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-Si...085295&veh=aff

 

[pete1229]

There's something you need to consider about the Gateway, which by the way has a good rating (4.5 out of 5 stars) from PC world magazine, that is with two o/b HDD's the guy had toi have removed the optical drive in order to install a second HD, so that might be an issue. Also, since you are considering an OS upgrade from Vista to 7 for the Gateway, you'll be spending a majority of the 200 bucks on just the new OS. Why not just go for the Samsung, brand new faster machine, with a larger capicty HDD (then both of the drives in the Gateway combined) with Windows 7 already installed.

 

[WT]

Those Gateways can also run very warm, and add to that the fact that the fans have accumulated a few years of dust and the bearings wear out.

I really do like that model, and had planned to buy one from a college friend once his 4 years were up, but his started overheating so I know from experience how these things can be a pain once they start to fail in the cooling department.