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I've been on the look out for a laptop for the past couple of weeks. I was set on an HP Pavilion DV2000. But, was out shopping around over the weekend and found the Gateway CX2610. Had a chance to play with a demo for a bit and thought it was pretty cool.

I've searched around, found mostly bad reviews and some good.

The biggest reason I’m even considering this model is because I found it at the retail stores for $1100 ~ $1300, then came across tigerdirect price. However, this is a Factory Refurbished model, but its selling for only $699 + Tax ($748) at the tigerdirect factory store that is luckily close by.

So, the question remains, what’s the consensus on this thing?

I sit back and think why do I need a new flashy laptop, like the DV2000, when all I need a portable pc for is:

- Play movies
- Play Music
- Work/School related tasks (office software)
- Internet
- CD/DVD burning/ripping and some video encoding

This gateway does all this, with a 14" widescreen, and is a tablet. So, I just need some help deciding if I should jump on this tablet PC deal. But, is it really a good deal being refurbed and a gateway cx2610?

Have a friend who just ordered the Toshiba M400 (T2500, 1GB, 100G HD, + other accessories). I got a chance to use it and thought what a waste of money. He spent somewhere around $2500. It was extremely slow, the screen was too small, but WOW you can write on the screen, too cool!

And of course I want a dual core, but yet find reviews where the P-M still holds its own, plus I know I don’t need a new media/entertainment pc with all the new high tech flashy hardware for my use of a laptop.

But again, need some advice and opinions! PLEASE

Thanks for the help all.