Mick Lockey

Gateway E-6000

Powered with a 2.4-GHz Pentium 4 and 256MB of 800-MHz RDRAM, the Gateway E-6000 model we tested earned a score of 113 on PC WorldBench 4 tests--the fastest corporate PC using this processor class that we've tested to date. With its full-size tower case, the E-6000 has ample room for upgrades: The configuration we received had five PCI slots and four drive bays (three for removable media drives and one for an internal hard drive) open. Two USB 2.0 ports are located up front next to the floppy drive, while four additional USB 2.0 ports are at the rear for connecting a variety of peripherals, such as cameras, printers, or external backup devices. Servicing the case doesn't require many tools. The silver-toned side panel comes off after undoing a large thumbscrew in back and releasing the side cover. Once inside, we found a neat interior with little cable clutter. Drive bay cages have latches, designed to slip drives in and out easily. And the drive-bay filler panels on the front of the unit are nicely designed: Pinch them together, and they pop out.
We have only minor complaints, for the most part. To add or replace PCI expansion cards, you must unscrew a large thumbscrew that holds a cover over bracket slots; this makes accessing the PCI slots awkward. Also, the E-6000's tower case is quite a bit taller than most corporate PCs we've looked at, which means it could take up valuable space in a cubicle. And its chassis, unlike those of other corporate PCs we've seen (such as the Compaq Evo D10 Convertible Minitower), it does not convert into a desktop configuration. If space is a concern, consider Gateway's thin-profile tower, the E-2000.
The 17-inch Gateway EV700 CRT monitor we received with the E-6000 did a better job displaying text than graphics. Though letters and fonts weren't as crisp as we've seen on other monitors, they were still quite legible. Colors in our test photo weren't as bright as they should be, but facial tones were realistic. A plus: The monitor has a few high-end controls usually not found on the typical 17-inch CRT, such as vertical and horizontal moire. For system administrators, E-6000 has about the same level of management tools as those in the MicronPC ClientPro we reviewed at the same time--meaning fairly basic. They include LANDesk Client Manager 6.3, which provides remote, Web-based access to system information from networked PCs connected to the Internet or a corporate intranet. LANDesk's tools include troubleshooting and problem resolution, reports for hardware and software inventories, and a capability for flashing the BIOS. The software's Alert-on-LAN lets administrators know when a system has been tampered with.Printed documentation for the E-6000 is skimpy, but Gateway does provide an extensive CD-based manual that's specific to this model. It provides colorful, helpful illustrations, complete with sections dedicated to BIOS settings, troubleshooting peripherals, and upgrading components. The Gateway keyboard is standard fare, lacking both dedicated hot-keys for launching applications and, like those in the Compaq Evo D510 line, buttons that can simplify access to company intranets or other Web sites.
Reasonably fast and easily upgraded, the Gateway E-6000 is a good choice for offices with adequate room for a big PC. It's not the best choice for companies with high-end PC management needs, though.

Buying Information

Gateway E-6000 $ http://