When buying a notebook computer, productivity is important -- in my mind the most important aspect of your decision. But there are times when coolness is important too. Teenagers always want cool. Gamers need cool to survive. And cool is also a nice feature for business people who like to compare their tech toys.

The Gateway MC notebook series, also known as the Cinematic 16, has the cool without skimping on the productivity features. From its black glossy exterior (or, if you prefer, burgundy) to a well laid-out full-sized keyboard, the system wreaks of cool and easy.

From a performance standpoint, the MC notebook is a high performance system, with a fast dual core microprocessor as its guts, and a 64 bit version of Windows to ensure that you get optimum through-put. The MC7803u system that I had been testing included a good-sized disk (320 Gigabytes) and 4 Gigabytes of main memory.

Longtime readers know my position on memory for Windows Vista systems: no less than two gigabytes is acceptable; three is preferred. While most versions of Windows can't take full advantage of four gigabytes, the 64-bit version can, meaning you can run more applications at the same time, open more browser windows without feeling the pain, and get generally more performance as you work.

The screen is both high-performance and cool. The 16-inch ultrabright display is easy to read from almost any angle and reasonable distance; and it sits behind a plexiglass panel that reaches from end to end of the case. You don't have to worry about touching the screen, because the plexiglass doesn't give with your touch, thereby making it less susceptible to harm.

One of the coolest aspects of the MC is the keyboard configuration and layout of the inside of the clamshell. It starts with a full-size keyboard. Those keys are back-lit in a pleasant amber light, allowing you to easily work in poorly lit environments, such as on an airplane -- even when your flight is a red-eye and you don't feel comfortable keeping your overhead spotlight on while the guy next to you tries to sleep.

On the left side of the keyboard is a set of backlit touch sensitive buttons to start-up applications, such as listening to music or watching a movie with Windows Media Player, or pulling up your e-mail, browser or instant messenger.

On the right side is a set of media controls for playing your music and videos. Again, they're backlit so you can see them easily in the dark. There is room for two sets of headphones right on the front edge of the system, so you can share your music with a friend or watch your favorite downloaded TV show together.

On top of these features are a number of high end features including high speed network (10/100/1000 Mbps), 4 USB slots (you can never have too many) and a high resolution HDMI video output so you can watch your videos on your large screen high definition TV. Some models support built-in DVD +/- RW or Blu-ray drives.

Of course, with all these features comes a big footprint. At 15.2 by 10.4 inches and weighing in at 7.7 pounds, it's not the most portable notebook computer I've used. So don't expect extreme portability. It's better suited to moving it only occasionally. I also found the keys to be somewhat sticky. On frequent occasion, I would have to retype words because my original entry would be missing letters.

The MC series comes in multiple models, with pricing starting at $850, and is available at a variety of retailers.