Gateway's sleek and inexpensive T-1630 laptop computer offers plenty of power and performance for the price. This laptop features dual-core 2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 processors and 3GB of 667MHz memory; this gives it lots of oomph for handling everything from light gaming to video editing.

But what's most impressive about this laptop computer is its svelte size; it's not a true thin-and-light, but its dimensions and weight make it very easy to tote. The T-1630 weighs in at just over 5.5 pounds and measures a little over 1.3 inches thick when closed, so it's more portable than a lot of its laptop brethren.

Of course, that smaller size is partly due to the T-1630's smallish 14.1-inch display. It's still a widescreen, however, and it offers a deep 1280X800 resolution, so even small text can be viewed easily onscreen.

Despite this laptop computer's small size, Gateway has managed to pack in some impressive components. On the storage front, this computer features a 160GB 5,400rpm hard drive; there are larger and faster laptop drives available, but this is plenty of space for the average user.

The optical drive is a dual-layer DVD writer that burns to several different CD and DVD formats.

Gateway does cut some corners on the T-1630's graphics, however. This laptop computer utilizes ATI's Radeon X1270 integrated graphics chip that shares video memory with the main system RAM, so this computer won't be a powerhouse in terms of 3D gaming. The integrated speakers are also on the weak side, but they provide basic audio output for watching movies and listening to music.

Internet connectivity is standard, with both a modem and a built-in Ethernet interface for wired connections, 802.11b/g wireless and Bluetooth 2.0. There are no wireless n capabilities included in the T-1630, but that's to be expected at its low price point.

Gateway even found room for some nice extras in the T-1630, including a 1.3-megapixel webcam, which makes this computer useful for video chatting and picture taking. There's also a 5-in-1 media card reader that lets you easily transfer files and photos from your PDA or digital camera. Additionally, the HDMI output port allows you to connect this laptop computer to an HDTV.

Battery life isn't as impressive as you'll find in some other laptops, but the 6-cell battery lasts around 2.5 hours before needing a recharge, so you'll be able to watch a full-length movie on a flight, for example.

It isn't a desktop replacement system, but Gateway's T-1630 laptop computer provides solid performance and impressive components for its small size and great price.


Pros: Great price, very portable
Cons: Integrated graphics, smaller screen

Warranty
1 year, limited