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Home / Other I-Appliances / Gateway/AOL Connected Touch Pad
Gateway/AOL touchpad vs. Webplayer
Gateway/AOL touchpad vs. Webplayer

New MessageGateway/AOL touchpad vs. Webplayer (modified 0 times) BigDick
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What are the advantages disadvantages of the Touchpad over the webplayer?

Dickie

07-10-2001 09:50:03

New MessageRE:Gateway/AOL touchpad vs. Webplayer (modified 0 times) SpaceGhost
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Well Dickie, the GCT is a touchpad for one. This extra feature is approx. valued at $100. I dont use it a lot, but for certain situations/programs it is nice to simply kump through mmenus, emails, websites with only a stylus.
Secondly, the GCT has a MUCH nicer screen. I believe they are about the same size but much better clarity on GCT. The two use different processors (in my experience with both running win98se, the GCT is a tad faster). They both need a Badflash style IDE cable if you intend to hack it that way, but the GCT must also have IDE header pins microsoldered on. I used the win98 lite image on the webplayer without a hard drive at all and found it useful for dialup and light surfing. The GCT takes a bit of "sawing" to fit the hard drive in (no kit to put it in as of yet) The GCT's built in pointer is a touch nicer than webplayer, but i use a usb mouse anyway. There is no ps/2 port on GCT ( i cant remeber if the webplayer has USB, but having this is much nicer for expansion). The GCT speakers are much better. I think the GCT looks a helluva lot better and is made of a bit higher quality plastic.
As a general comparison i would rank the 3 internet appliances i have owned in this order for overall qualities:
worst------> best
webplayer----->i opener----->GCT
(i think you'll find that cost goes that direction to after all are completely hacked)
the iopener only loses out due to aesthetics and the lack of touchscreen (which may not matter to you). The iopener is more customizable by adding other cpus and more ram (dirt cheap now!). I use the iopener as a separate computer for the kids and the GCT as an email/browsing station for the wife if i'm on teh big PC. I have an audrey unit on the way that will hopefully replace the GCT for this light work and be placed in a smaller space (kitchen).
All of these were /are connected to a Linksys router & cable modem for surfing.

Hopefully you'll get several reviews, because having read teh boards for several months daily, i find that each system is accepted and appreciated quite differently depending on its use and the individual.

07-10-2001 11:31:59

New MessageRE:Gateway/AOL touchpad vs. Webplayer (modified 0 times) aadam12
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Dickie,

It all depends on what you plan on doing with the device.

I have two WebPlayers and one GCT.

WebPlayer #1
128MB RAM
20GB Hard Drive
Tenmax Lasagna fan
Built-in Ethernet
Windows ME
This machine is GREAT. Full of 1000s of mp3s, it sits atop my stereo and works perfectly as an mp3 jukebox running Winamp lite. It's also hooked up to my cable modem so I can listen to internet radio or surf the web if necessary.
-----
WebPlayer #2
64MB Ram
6GB Hard Drive
Linksys USB ethernet adapter
Built in 56k modem
Windows ME
Everything works great accept the USB ethernet adapter is a little touchy sometimes. May end up selling this one.
-----
GCT
64MB RAM
20GB Hard Drive
HPNA & 56K modmem built in
Linksys USB ethernet adapter
Windows ME

Touchscreen works but isn't the greatest way to use the device.
Keyboard is larger than the WebPlayer's. I actually like the WebPlayer keyboard better. I find it easier to roll the ball with your right hand and click the mouse with your left hand rather than the pointing stick and mouse buttons on the right side of the GCT keyboard.

Screen clarity is much better on the GCT if you plan on using it as a "regular" computer.

Really hoping to find a mini-pci ethernet adapter instead of using my USB ethernet one. It works fine compared to when I use it with the Webplayer but I'll gladly swap+cash my HPNA adapter for a mini pci ethernet card.

Takes a little more work and $$$ to hack the GCT unless you can solder your own IDE header (thanks Wes). Nobody has been able to get into the BIOS so there is probably more potential in there somewhere.

The GCT works well but not exactly sure what I am going to use it for just yet. At the moment it is full of mp3s and sits on my night table next to the bed. Using it as sort of a clock radio-puter.

I never bought an I-opener so I can't compare that one.

aadam12

MOOKIE - Burnin' Up The Bandwidth!
Updated Daily
07-10-2001 13:26:05

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