Hi, my name is XXX XXX I will be working with you today on your question!

If you're asking for my opinion of whether or not to buy this computer at $200 I would NOT recommend it

First, without an operating system it will be costly - $80-200 to purchase that

as individual sales of operating systems (Windows XP, 7) cost a lot more than OEM (Dell, HP, etc) sales with a system

further it seems like a rather older system that is not in top shape

I think you can get a better bang for you buck for $200-300

Let me find you some current alternatives as tech bargain shopping is somewhat of a hobby of mine as well :)

Here are some examples of recent deals

http://slickdeals.net/sdsearch.php?&mode=fp&search=laptop&perpage=20&pagenum=1

If you are not hard pressed to purchase immediately

there are excellent deals that come and go

For example for $300 (http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/42420)

and mind you these are brand new, with operating systems, with warranties, etc

Yes there's certainly hope :) but sounds like you'll need an operating system

do you think you can provide me the auction link so I can take a closer look at the system?

I'm just checking the auction listings and seeing the details as far as operating systems go

What auction site is this on?

No

Ok

I did some research and it looks like this laptop would be able to support Windows 7

However, since it does not come with an operating system you would need to have this, or purchase this separately

Sometimes you can get corporate or educational discounts if you or a member of the household is a student with a .edu email address (yes? no?)

otherwise you will need to purchase a retail copy of an operating system

and I would recommend Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit as your choice: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Home-Premium-System-Builder/dp/B002NGQLMU/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1291298064&sr=8-15

this is also the latest operating system for windows

Excellent, that may be able to save you some money

Unfortunately you may not really be saving much

the link I gave you is for a system builder copy of Windows 7 it is only $99 (instead of $200 normally) but does not have Microsoft support

looks like academic savings are negligible http://www.academicsuperstore.com/products/Microsoft/Windows+7/1308293 at $199.95

Answering your question

Once you have won the laptop

I would then suggest purchasing a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit

once you have the installation CD it will be a matter of setting up Windows 7 on your laptop

Unfortunately no

If you have a Windows disc you may be able to install it on the laptop if your licenses permit

but you will need to have the installation disc in order to set it up for the first time on your new laptop

I would talk to your son and ask him if there is anyway for him to get Windows 7

I know sometimes universities have discounted, or loaner discs

with Windows 7 on it that he could use

Regardless once you have the disc this is how you would set it up on your new laptop, step by step with illustrations: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-1.htm

I would copy that link down and bookmark it for future purposes

Once you install Windows 7 you will most likely need to update your drivers associated with the laptop

Windows 7 will do most of that for you

but here's another link to bookmark

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?ref=step&st=browse&platform=10022&model=11916&os=&type=

that page has the associated drivers (software that helps your computer run) for your laptop

other than that with windows 7 you should be able to get on the internet, download and play games right out of the box

(provided that you have an internet connection of course)

Yes you will

correct

you'll just need the operating system

(Windows 7 home premium 32-bit that I was suggesting)

I would recommend first talking to your son to see if he can get it cheap from school or work before going out and purchasing it on your own

sorry Windows is the operating system

Thank you and same to you!

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Thank you,
Dan