One of the leading compact notebook manufacturers, Gateway recently unveiled its newest product, the EC14D at CES ’10 in Las Vegas. The newest addition to Gateway EC series of notebooks is an ultraportable notebook PC with mind boggling features cramped in a very small body. The 11.6-inch HD widescreen LCD display is used in most other Gateway notebooks of same size.
The display supports widescreen resolution up to 1366×768. Gateway EC14D is a perfect compact entertainment notebook as it also features 8X Super-Multi DVD player which is rarely seen in notebooks this small. Intel CULV processor is not really meant for hardcore use, but is aimed at attracting entertainment seekers. Usual features such as 4GB DDR2 memory (up to 8GB expandable) and 320GB SATA HDD (5400rpm) are also provided with Gateway EC14D.
But Gateway EC14D is not just another entertainment notebook. It also has built in Gigabit LAN and Integrated Webcam that supports online video chat with 802.11b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi connection. Extra features such as Multi-Gesture touchpad and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD are also provided in Gateway EC14D. 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium OS suits the needs of everyone perfectly. Gateway EC14D can also be connected to external high definition monitor using a dedicated HDMI port which even improves its multimedia features.
According to press release from Gateway at ES ’10, Gateway EC14D will be available in more than one configurations so that users get a choice. Basic model of Gateway EC14D will be available for $649.99 at the end of this month in retail stores. The product is expected to hit online stores including Amazon in a few days for pre-order. DVD player featured in Gateway EC14D gives it a distinct advantage on most other compact notebooks.
There is some stiff competition for Gateway EC14D in current market with a bunch of low-price products already settled in comfortably. Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y5 is a similar notebook with a DVD drive has a bigger screen (14.1 inch) and even higher resolution at 1400x1050p. Reports say that Gateway EC14D has a battery life of about eight hours, similar to that of most other low and mid-range notebooks.
