Gateway 610S Media Center PC (2.4GHz Pentium 4, 256MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD Combo Drive)

Rating:
Summary: A very good all-in-one Media Center PC
Review: I have been using the 610S for almost a year now and found it to be a very reliable and easy-to-use machine. Very well designed and now upgraded to Media Center Edition 2004 (it came with Media Center 2002)

Rating:
Summary: GATEWAY 610S Media Center PC
Review: I was very excited when this product was delivered several days ago. I unpacked it and admittedly, I saw it as a beautiful looking machine. The wireless features, i.e., keyboard and mouse worked seamlessly. However, imagine my surprise when, on the same day I received it, the unit turned out to be broken. The 610S is a single piece of equipment, with the monitor and CPU as one unit. The monitor's neck was angled in a downward trajectory, and I was unable to tilt the monitor upwards so I could view it in a normal configuration. I immediately called Gateway Customer Service. The technicians were very nice, polite, and helpful, but to make a long story short ... adding insult to injury ... I was told I had to pay almost $87.00 for round trip delivery + insurance. This is not the same experience I've had with Gateway competitors. Another manufacturer included S&H as part of the one-year warranty. So, after two days of ownership, I suffered a broken monitor, more expense and probably about a month I'll be without a computer. Sometimes I feel as if I'm being nickle'd and dime'd to the poorhouse.

To be fair, it could also be Amazon.com's or UPS's fault, as a result of shipping and handling. Either way, I'm out more money, the hassle of repacking, having to stay home from work waiting for UPS pickup (which also costs me money in terms of time off), and generally being very angry about the whole experience. This, all through no fault of my own.

Rating:
Summary: In All Fairness
Review: Rating a company badly because of damaged shipping is a bit one sided. I am sorry for your experience, and puzzled. I have bought Gateway equipment for ten years and I have never, I repeat NEVER, had to pay shipping to return damaged or defective equipment. Now unless they have drastically changed their policy for you I suggest you dig a little deeper or contact the president of the company. Since when has new replacements not been shipped out and a RA sticker not been given to return the defective equipment without charge?