Check out LaptopVideo2Go (http://www.laptopvideo2go.com) for laptop video drivers.

Quote:
Until recently, nVidia by default has not natively supported laptop GPUs with WHQL and beta drivers. This limitation is due only to the INF. Drivers supplied by manufacturers (Dell, Toshiba, etc.) are rarely updated and easily become outdated thus not supporting the latest graphics technology. This is where LaptopVideo2Go (LV2Go) comes in. LV2Go provides unofficial support for all of the GPUs that nVidia has created and laptops produced by manufacturers. LV2Go enhances the drivers by modding the INF to fix problems and reveal hidden features. What is a modded INF? The LV2Go community has built up nicely. Come pay a visit to the forums for more specific drivers for your laptop, news or solutions to your problems.
- LaptopVideo2Go Team

I bought a "Smart Power Notebook" in April '04 from Aldi in Kendal at cost £1000. It worked as expected, if running a tad hot, until end of January '06 when it suddenly refused to boot on battery. Various tests suggested it might be something other than the battery and being still within the two year warranty it was duly collected on behalf of the U.K. agents on 10th Feb. Eventually received quote of £142.86 for new battery pack as it was only guaranteed for six months. We could have fitted a new one for much less; and it is still not back despite e-mail to Gericom and contacting local Aldi store. The moral is that the most important part of buying anything is the strength and accessibility of all service backup both within and after the warranty has expired. As a business user Gericom's products are now a none starter: the experience has been a lesson for the learning and am still looking for a really good provider. However, I have just learned of the issue regarding the “bug” in Microsoft XP SP2 and USB2 drivers affecting laptop battery life and wonder if I am a victim of this rather than normal battery failure. Needles to say it is extremely difficult proving such a connection; watch this space!

Gericom laptops are good value for money, but there customer service is ridiculously poor! My laptop has been lost for 3 months now after going for a repair and I am still trying to get a replacement out of them. You have to call them 20 times before anyone picks up, your lucky if they don't hang up on you and if you are lucky enough to get through you end up speaking to someone with a major attitude problem! They have promised me a replacement 5 times and I am still waiting. Their managers are a total waste of time and I have no alternative but to take them to court to get my money back plus the 50quid its cost me to call them!

Stay away from anything Gericom...trust me.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Bought i Gericom Ego Laptop from Aldi Dec 04,has one dead pixel but Gericom states must have 3 dead pixels before you can send for repair,runs hot and best of all laptop shuts off without warning at least once a week and then you have to reboot,has done this from day one of buying it,i was on holiday in the UK for xmas when i bought this and took it to New Zealand after one week so stuck with a faulty laptop from new,will not buy from Gericom again,only for the laptop shutting down i would been happy with it,cheers Derek.
Has anyone else had this problem of the Laptop just shutting off
contact savi1957@xtra.co.nz

I too bought a Gericom laptop in March 2004 from Aldi and am very pleased with it, I use it every day, it never overheats, the only trouble experienced was during the first few weeks, I returned it under the warranty,and received it back in under two weeks, the faulty Toshiba HDD having been replaced and has given no trouble. The battery has now ceased to charge and although the computer will boot (connected to the mains) the display remains black. I have removed the battery and am seeking advice on running solely on mains power via the transformer. incidentally the Gericom website is US (rubbish).-

Just an update on my Gericom Ego Laptop, have removed Norton System Works and now my laptop runs cool and not hot anymore, have Windows Vista beta loaded on my Laptop for 3 weeks now on a different partition and has not shut off yet as it was doing on Windows XP at least once a week, so mybe this laptop does not like XP, i will keep you posted as to how Vista behaves,battery is still like new after 2 years and last around 3 hours under normal use even with Wifi switched on, the only fault i have with this laptop if its behaves its self with Vista is the 1 dead pixel,any questions please e-mail me on savi1957@xtra.co.nz

I am finding the forum very interesting and straight to the point.
It's also good to hear different views on the same product.
I've not been able to find much about Gericom until i stumbled across your forum.
I have a Gericom smart power from Aldi. feb 2004. £999.99
Runs a bit hot and battery life is poor. I blame myself for that as it's nearly always on charge.
Other than that, no problems.

I've just installed AOL 9 and free wireless router. Can anyone confirm if the laptop comes with a wireless adaptor. I think it did but at the moment it is mislaid.
Is anyone out there using it successfully on wireless?

email tonywe at aol dot com

Most people seem to have bought their laptop in 2004 from Aldi. Mine was Jan 04. Maybe they have not sold many since then in UK. Mine has similar problems to those reported before ie runs hot and shuts off without warning at increasingly frequent intervals. Now it will only work on mains power and if the connection gets loose it shuts off again. Ringing the waranty number which is 0871 7111881 the guy suggests taking it to a local shop rather than send it in as the cost will be high. Will replacing the battery keep it going or is it a lost cause? Is it easy to change the battery and does anyone know of a reasonable supplier? Thanks in advance.

Tony Re your 15
The wireless adapter supplied with the machine worked fine for me. I took it to New Zealand and registered with NZ Telecom. The month I was there they were offering free wi fi access so it cost me next to nothing for unlimited internet access. You just had to walk into a hotel or McDonalds that had a wifi hotspot, open the machine and after a few seconds it would lock onto the local signal.

I purchased Gericom laptop from Aldi. Never again! Gericom do NOT look after their customers and I had many problems with getting anyone at Gericom to answer me or respond. They denied that the repair (power cable and socket gradually faded) should be repaired under guarantee and generally were most unhelpful. After 3 weeks (!!) I have still not got my lap top back. AWFUL company.