Description:
Sitting at the low end of the Gateway's mid-level M305 series, the Gateway M305S notebook offers a lot to like for budget-minded buyers--from students to home office workers on the move. Its highlights include a 30 GB hard drive, 256 MB built-in memory, 2.2 GHz Intel Celeron processor, and 14.1-inch display.The Basics
- Hard Drive: The M305S is outfitted with a 30 GB ATA hard drive, which is more than enough for storage of typical software applications, games, and documents, as well as a decent-sized collection of digital audio files.
- Processor: The 2.2 GHz Intel Celeron processor is not a multimedia powerhouse, but it will perform well enough for graphics-rich tasks like PowerPoint presentations to QuickTime movies. It has a 256 KB L2 cache.
- Memory: With the built-in 256MB DDR SDRAM, you'll be able to perform your everyday computing needs. The M305S has two SO-DIMMs (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules) for memory expansion up to 1 GB. It supports 200/266MHz DDR SDRAM.
- CD/DVD Drive: The CD-RW/DVD combo drive boasts a 24x/10x/24x CD-RW speed (perfect for quickly making mix CDs or copying important documents for colleagues) and 8x DVD playback speed (fast enough for watching rented movies while travelling; no DVD burning capability).
- Keyboard & Mouse: It has a full-sized 85-key keyboard and 2-button touchpad.
Sound and Graphics
The included sound card is acceptable (though definitely not for audiophiles), and it is not replaceable as it it integrated into the computer's main board. It has built-in stereo speakers at the front of the unit near the base, as well as headphone/speaker and mic jacks. The audio volume (and muting) can be controlled from the keyboard.The M305S has a 14.1-inch TFT Active Matrix flat panel display. It has a resolution of 1024 x 768 (also known as XGA) at 18-bit (262,000 colors). It features integrated Intel graphics with dynamic video memory technology, which helps make this package so affordable. If you're into 3D gaming, you won't be able to upgrade the card as it's built into the computer's main board. Connectivity and Expansion Slots
For a budget notebook, the M305S offers a good range of connectivity. It features two ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports (but no FireWire), a parallel port (for connecting to older printers and peripherals), and a VGA monitor port. It also has an integrated 56K modem and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection). The M305S comes equipped with a built-in memory card reader (divided into two slots) that is compatible with CompactFlash, MicroDrive, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) and SmartMedia cards. Additionally, this notebook has a PC Card slot (also known as a PCMCIA card slot) that accepts one Type II or Type III card. This notebook is not enabled for wireless connectivity out of the box; you will need to purchase a wireless LAN PC card separately. Note, also, that the M305S does not come with a floppy drive. Preloaded System and Software
The M305S comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents) and a 90-day trial with Norton Anti-Virus. During this trial period, you can automatically download scheduled virus protection updates; after the 90 days, you can renew the subscription for an annual fee paid directly to Symantec. It also comes with six months of AOL service. Dimensions and Weight
Fairly compact and lightweight, this notebook measures 13.15 x 10.63 x 1.33 inches (W x D X H) and weighs just 6.1 pounds. Power
It comes with a NiMH battery--with an expected battery life of approximately 3.5 hours under typical conditions--and AC charger pack. It is covered by a 1-year limited warranty.
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