Hey all.

I'm thinking about getting a new Gateway M-150xl. The main reason I'm getting it is for gaming, and I've heard Vista isn't all to friendly when it comes to gamers. I'm thinking about putting windows XP on instead but someone told me the hardware is incompatible...
Is this true, and if so would someone mind explaining why?

Gateway Computers: Store - Product Details for Gateway® M-150XL (Slate Grey Ridgeview)

Who ever told you that doesn't know what they are talking about.

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Ubuntu 8.04.1

Gnome 2.22.3

You'd probably want to load XP onto the system if you want to squeeze the most compatibility and speed you can, but if you intend on playing mainly new games, keep Vista.

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and for a good gaming laptop look to spend upwards of $4,000 ... id reccomend a desktop over a laptop

As would I.

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Ubuntu 8.04.1

Gnome 2.22.3

Put windows XP pro on, vista's not good, I don't care what anybody says.

You ever spend 45 minutes trying to get an operating system to read a flash drive?

I HAVE!! - only on Vista.

Stay away from it, it's nothing but bad news, problems, and errors all run into one package, there's a reason it's a new release and it costs as much as XP.

Buy XP professional or home if you can't afford professional (I have no idea what the prices are currently, think about 100 for home). They're awesomeness at hosting games, especially opposed to Vista where half the crap doesn't work with them because Vista needs DX10 to run which is a 64 bit program and half the games won't run under DX10, only DX9 (which I guess is 32 bit). I'm not sure on all that extra crap, but I know it's a big part on how Vista hates playing games.

Trust me bro, I may not have my degree in this crap, but I go to RIT, if you don't think I've heard my fair share of gaming complaints about certain scenarios - think again - Vista by FAR is towards the top of that complaint list, ESPECIALLY when it comes to video games. So yes, whoever told you vista sux for games, did know what they were talking about, as vista does, indeed, suck for games. Or maybe it's all relative and it really doesn't suck for games, it's just nowhere near XP's level in terms of playing games.

Newer games will be more compatible with Vista, but all the good ones still aren't, and they won't be changed.

Though I do gotta say, if you're looking to make a computer to keep up with the new game market, make it a desktop - with a laptop you'll be jammed into not being able to upgrade to stay with new games that keep coming out and you'll get outdated quicker as slower laptop stuff can't be kept up with that of a desktop.

Best gaming computers are desktops, plain and simple. Get a desktop, dump vista, and you'll be set to game.

I would just like to add if you can build one yourself you will save alot of money.

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Ubuntu 8.04.1

Gnome 2.22.3

If you purchase a laptop from any of the major vendors, and plan on using it as mobile computers should be used... I'd recommend spending plenty of $$ on the best longest term warranty. Not just because you may drop the thing and need a new screen, but the Mobo may have some problems, or even be fried by a hot battery... It's well worth every penny. Here at work we have around 100 laptops (in one library), and we've had many accidents, and burnouts replaced. Also, we regularly call in cracked parts (poor design) and have the parts replaced (even scratched screens).

And, if you do get an extended warranty, don't be afraid to use it! Palm rests on some laptops crack while in use (due to how the people pick up an open laptop). Call it in. It's well worth it.

I just got a compaq preasrio v3000 last year, and I "upgraded" to vista since they gave me a free home basic version. I know my comp is probably not considered a gaming pc to begin with, but I can tell you from my experience the games I ran b4 now run EXTREMELY slower due to the fact that vista sux up half my ram. I don't know a whole lot about the best gaming pc or whatever, but I would suggest using an OS that doesn't take away resources you need to game.

i don't really know what to say about the window xp/vista issue because i have never really used windows vista but i have heard that it drains a lot of cpu/memory power which will then in turn slow down your games.
There is also the issue of which games do you want to play?

i hope this helps

I want to first of by saying that I agree with just about everyone here that if you going to be gaming on your computer, get a desktop. I say this because of the same reasons of the others: 1. It costs much more for just about the same thing (except it's obviously not mobile) 2. You can't upgrade (big future in todays gaming industry).


Also about the disscussion about XP vs. Vista. I'm just going to say I have been with XP Pro for the years that I have had it, and have never had anything wrong with it. From the people that I know that have Vista. I have heard that the versions that really mess up are the low end versions (HOME) or the higher end versions such as Premium, but my buddy got a copy of Business for his new Dell for college and he says he loves it, he has no problems with it. He says mainly because it's not the cheapest of cheap and not the o mega powerful version that everyone thinks is so great.


That is my two cents, and hope you can find a solution for your problem