Gateway 300S

WHAT ELSE: Setup was a breeze thanks to ports color-coded for connecting peripherals; the well-illustrated setup poster includes the toll-free number for tech support--handy if you run into problems. However, the manual is not as helpful as it could have been. Generic to all Gateway systems, it provides no specific information on the new 300 line. It does, however, present good general tips on topics such as upgrades and networking, and it includes a detailed troubleshooting section.

The bundled Corel WordPerfect software will help you get work done, and the popular game The Sims provides a welcome distraction from work.

After you undo one large thumbscrew and slip off the gray side panel, the case opens smoothly. The tight interior unavoidably lacks the room found in more-spacious tower designs, but it is relatively neat. Two open PCI slots and one free memory socket are easy to get at if you lie the case down on its side.

The system has only one drive bay, which in our review unit held a 40X/12X/48X CD-RW drive. If you also want to watch DVD movies, you can order the system with a DVD/CD-RW combination drive for an extra $90.

The Gateway EV700 17-inch CRT monitor has a black case accented by a carbon-toned bezel, and it nicely complements the system's overall design. In our image tests, text on a newsletter featured crisp, easily readable letters--though fine details, such as small serif edges on extra-large fonts, were lost. Colors looked vivid, and flesh tones were realistic in our test photo.

UPSHOT: This inexpensive entry-level system suits homes with modest computing needs, limited desktop space, and tight budgets.