The Gateway Neo is one of the recent "all-in-one" personal computers to become available to consumers. These computers are a result of manufacturers realising that there is serious money to be made providing the average home-user with an easy to use system.

With the huge growth of the Internet, more consumers with little knowledge in buying and using computers are seeking simple solutions to connect online. Apple was one of the first manufacturers to latch onto this trend with the very successful iMac. Gateway is joining the market with the release of the Gateway Neo in Australia. The same system has been released in the US as the Gateway Astro.

The specifications for the Neo are impressive and the system is inexpensively priced. However, one of the major drawbacks of the system is its large size. The exact dimensions of the system are 406.4mm wide x 408.9mm high x 444.5mm deep. The system also is fairly heavy, weighing in at 19.9kg. This means that the Neo takes up considerable workspace and is almost impossible to move without help.

On the other hand, the internal components of the Neo are very impressive. The system is controlled by a 400MHz Intel Celeron processor, with 64MB of SDRAM and a 4.3GB hard disk drive. This is much more power than the average Internet surfing home-user will ever need. Other features of the Neo are an integrated CD-ROM drive, 3.5 inch floppy disk drive, 13.9 inch display, USB keyboard and mouse, integrated Intel 3D Graphics card, V.90 56K internal modem and four USB ports.

The Gateway Neo lives up to its claim that you will be able to setup the machine in a matter of minutes. First-time users had little trouble getting the Neo up and running within 10 minutes.

For a fun, easy and cost-effective way of connecting to the Internet from home, the Gateway Neo is a great choice for home-users. Though the system is fairly large and heavy, it is powerful and simple to use for the average person. The idea of hassle free computer systems is a brilliant one, and there are sure to be many more systems coming out like this one in the near future.