Can you get a good enough computer for 700 bucks? For most people, the answer is 'yes'. The Gateway 310X should be more than enough for most people.

(By the way, this review is aimed at the computer novice, who may be very hesitant to buy a computer. A lot of people feel they have been burned buying a computer only to find out it was frustrating to use, or quickly became obsolete, or they lost all their data due to a virus, or some mysterious hardware failure.)

Several improvements have gradually occurred that have eliminated or minimized a lot of these concerns. These include:

1.  Windows XP is actually quite good. I never thought I'd say something that positive about a Microsoft product, because I've certainly endured a lot of frustration since Windows 95. But XP is very stable; the computer hardly ever crashes. Also, the System Restore feature is really a good idea. If you or your kids mess up something on your computer, chances are you can revert the settings back to a day or so earlier, when things were working fine. Pretty neat.

2. Performance: CPU power and memory have come so far that even a moderately priced computer should be plenty unless your using very intensive applications. I use a 667 megahertz computer and am pleased with it. This computer, at 2500 megahertz (2.5 gigahertz), should have ample power to tide you over for several years. You really do get to a point that you don't need greater speed from a computer and this Gateway seems to have passed that point. If you plan on doing email, surfing the web, writing letters with a word processor, this should do fine. If you have kids that are really into games or plan to really get into editing your own home videos, you might want something faster.

3. Expandability: If used to be a pain to upgrade a computer. It would typically involve taking the cover off, forcing a card into a tight slot and hoping you didn't damage anything, then praying that Windows Plug and Play capabilities would correctly configure the new hardware. Now, since USB has become a standard, you can always count on being able to buy an external USB device, such as a camcorder, digital still camera or scanner and chances are it's going to work with no problems.

Software bundled on the Gateway includes Microsoft Word (part of the Microsoft Works package) and Norton antivirus 90 day trial. Hardware includes 6 USB ports (2 on the front of the computer for easy access), a CD burner, A DVD player, a 56 modem, a network card and a 17 inch conventional monitor. I would get a flat panel monitor instead; I find them much less fatiguing on the eyes. You'll pay about $150 to upgrade to the smallest (15 inch) flat panel monitor. I think it's worth it.

If you are really scared of computers, you might want to consider buying a year of Gateway Priority Access. This guarantees that Gateway will answer your phone call within 30 seconds and that you'll be able to speak to a specially trained tech person. A really big problem that's developed is that almost all major manufacturers tech support has deteriorated so that it's of little value. Unfortunately, you have to pay extra to get prompt, knowledgeable answers. But a lot of companies don't have this as as option.

The minuses: a $700 computer should come with more than a 90 day trial of antivirus software; it's entirely reasonable to expect at least one year of protection. Most computer manufacturers really drop the ball on this. Imagine how a lot of people feel when they find out they need to pay MORE money 90 days after they get their computer to be covered against viruses.

The warranty is a bit weak. If you're not a computer enthusiast you might feel more comfortable with a longer warranty. You can buy up to three years of extended warranty if you feel more comfortable. Chances are you won't have hardware failures within the first three years: hard drives, CPUs, memory, CD-ROM drives, and the like have gotten extremely reliable over the years.

Overall, this should be fine for most people. One nice thing about Gateway is that you can go in their stores and really try out a computer without a salesperson hassling you, in a quiet environment. This is not the case in a lot of big electronics stores. The person you talk to today is likely to be there a year of two from now, so there is a little more sense of loyalty to the customer than at a lot of stores.

You can either order their computers in the store or from their web site. In the tradition that Gateway has long been known for, you can customize many of the hardware items and get your computer exactly the way you want it.  Options you might want to consider include a TV tuner and video capture card (to let you capture video from a VCR or camcorder), and a wireless router for setting up a home network or sharing an internet connection on two or more computers. I'd recommend the APC Back-UPS 500 for about $110. It protects your computer against power surges and against lost data if the power goes out. Also, I'd recommend ZoneAlarm Pro 3, an excellent firewall software package. Sometimes a few details like an uninterruptible power supply, adequate virus and firewall protection can make a huge difference.

Overall, a nice computer.