When I first began writing about technology in the late 1990s, Gateway 2000 was one of the computer companies that tried to do things differently, with its bovine-themed design filling the pages of computer magazines (aka the dead tree in ink). One of the slogans reads, “No matter how close you get, quality shines.”
Fast forward to 2023, and Gateway 2000 is now an Acer brand exclusive to Walmart, the world’s largest supermarket chain.
Gateway is probably one of the most underrated computer hardware brands out there GWCC71416-BK, a slim 2-in-1 convertible laptop that retails for $499 (down from $699)is perhaps the best example of the kind of amazing product value Wal-Mart can extract from its suppliers.
High-End 36cm 2-in-1 Gate: At a Glance
Three things make this laptop stand out for independent work: the Core i7 CPU, the pen, and the $499 price tag (with an optional $79 3-year Product Protection warranty from Allstate). From afar, it looks like one of the more expensive Lenovo Yoga laptops but at a fraction of the price.
The stylus is especially useful when paired with it Mind mapping software As part of a Brainstorming A session with a client or as an electronic owner with a Note taking application like One note.
Other than the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU (with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics), there’s 8GB of non-upgradable DDR4 RAM and a 256GB SSD (likely PCIe NVMe Gen 3).
The screen is a 14.1-inch HD IPS touchscreen with a fairly large bezel to help hold the device – a good choice given the device is around 1.5kg / 3.4lbs.
We’re not sure what Wi-Fi card came with the Elite but since it has Bluetooth 5.1 we can say that the GWCC71416-BK uses an Intel AX201 NGW which offers Wi-Fi 6, with Wi-Fi 6E And Wi-Fi 7 Being the fastest wireless iteration. Audio is handled by THX technology and there are two stereo speakers which should sound good enough.
Walmart also did not disclose the battery capacity of this laptop but it states that it can last up to 10 hours which is believable given the lower power consumption of the Core i7. In fact, the screen is probably the system’s biggest power consumer; Which brings us to another important point. We don’t know how bright the display will be, though we expect it to be at least 300 nits.
While the keyboard is lit, there’s no fingerprint reader and the 2MP front-facing camera doesn’t have a privacy shutter, two key features that make it decent. Business laptop. However, the GWCC71416-BK has enough expansion capabilities: two USB ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. There are no Ethernet or HDMI ports, so you’ll have to get a file docking station If you need additional connectors.
Lenovo Yoga 6
If you want a little more oomph (and an extra $160), consider winning the prize Yoga 6 from Lenovo Which comes with a more powerful 6-core processor, dual microphones, a fingerprint reader, a privacy shutter, a more compact/lightweight body and an infrared camera.
