Lets go back… it’s summer 2000… and I really wanted one specific notebook computer. It was this cool looking (IMHO) Gateway Solo 1150, that was trying to mimic the Apple iBook (circa July 1999). Sure I wanted the iBook more – but I needed a “PC” for College (boo!). The time to order one was coming up quickly – as I would be starting college late September (if I remember correctly).
Anyway, every chance I had to go in and go all goggly eyed at the Gateway Store (remember those?) I would go directly to the notebook section. The employees had to have known me as the “kid that looks but never buys”. :P
So why did I want this particular notebook?
Obviously I was in the “Dark Ages” being tied to the hells of Windows… I really wanted an iBook – but needed a “PC” for school… so in my eyes – this was the iBook (minus Mac OS) for the Windows world. Gateway mimicked the curvy nature, and even the (as it was well known) “toilet seat look”. I was not going for the “toilet seat look” – I liked the over wall curvy look.
The Solo 1150 also followed the iBook’s in removing “legacy ports” for USB:
Setting a new standard in the [Wintel PC] industry for ease-of-use legacy free mobile computing, the Solo 1150 notebook PC makes adding USB peripheral devices easy, by replacing serial and parallel port connectors with one standardized plug and port combination. The Solo 1150′s input/output port consists of two USB ports, VGA Port and microphone and headphone jack. One PCMCIA Type II/III slot is included for external expansion needs. – BestStuff
Gateway didn’t copy the iBook’s handle (thank goodness). Instead of a handle they opted for ergonomic cutouts that had a foam pad in each one. These cut outs were strategically placed in common “grip” areas – for easy carrying. The other major item not copied – was WiFi – which Apple pushed heavily with the release of the iBooks (as an optional add-in card (under the keyboard). If you wanted WiFi in the Solo 1150, you had to opt for PCMCIA card.
Look at these pics (click to expand)…
• The hardware specs are still online!
» Solo 1150 Specifications | Gateway 
• The Getting Started Guide is also still available!
» Checking Out Your Gateway Solo 1150
In the end, I was lucky enough to be able to get a higher end notebook for college. It was still a Gateway – however it was a demon seed. It ended up being returned at least 4 times for fixes, and after finally getting ahold of someone who cared – I was able to return it for a full refund. That was my last Gateway hardware experience, and the start of another circle of Windows hell: Dell.
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