Wireless provider Verizon will soon add the Sony VAIO P netbook to its subsidized lineup, according to a Monday Phone Arena leak. Thus far, Verizon offers the Gateway LT2016U, HP Mini 311 and Mini 110 netbooks, but the VAIO P would be the smallest and lightest of the four. The system should be the standard 8-inch netbook but will have a built-in modem with both EVDO and GSM support.
Gateway today entered the market for Intel CULV portables in earnest by launching its EC series in the US. Previously seen in Canada, the line is a rebadge and re-spec of Acer's Timeline and is highlighted by the EC14. The 11.6-inch system weighs just under 3.8 pounds and uses either single-core Celeron, dual-core Celeron or dual-core Pentium CULV chips to outrun netbooks while still getting as much as eight hours of battery life.
Gateway today preempted its rivals with one of the first fully multi-touch all-in-one desktop lines. The One ZX series' staple feature lets them both take advantage of the pinch-to-zoom, scrolling and other features inherent to Windows 7 as well as a custom touchscreen front end for music, notes, photos and content sharing.
A number of images and specs for Gateway's upcoming convertible tablet PC, the EC18T, have been revealed ahead of any official news from the system builder. Outside of the new OS, a Monday Engadget leak reveals the 11.6-inch tablet will ship with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM. Graphics will be handled by Intel's integrated GS45 Express chipset.
Verizon this morning topped off its device launches with its second netbook to have built-in 3G. A special version of the Gateway LT2016u will support Verizon's EVDO network out of the box and will be subsidized to a lower $150 price in return for a two-year data plan and a $100 rebate. The same broadband plans apply and will give either a modest 250MB for $40 per month or 5GB for $60 per month.
According to a leaked document, wireless provider Verizon will soon begin offering its second subsidized netbook with the upcoming addition of the Gateway LT2016u, Engadget reported on Monday. The computer will be sold on a two-year data contract, and like the first Verizon-subsidized netbook, the HP Mini 1151NR, will use Qualcomm's Gobi data modem to access Verizon's 3G data network. Otherwise, the netbook packs a 10.1-inch display with a 1024x600-pixel resolution, a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive.
Canadians have been receiving an early North American look at the first 11.6-inch Acer and Gateway notebooks to use Intel's CULV platform thanks to a model that has been spotted this week by an Electronista tipster at Future Shop stores in the country. Known as the Gateway EC1803h, the PC seems to be a rebranding and mild respecification of the Acer Timeline 1810T (Aspire 1410 in the US) that isn't yet on sale in North America and shares much of its design language with Gateway's own LT3100. The new model shares the Aspire/Timeline's 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo and GMA 4500 graphics, and in its single trim level comes with 3GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive as well as expected features like its 6-cell battery, HDMI output and 5-in-1 card reader.
Apple continues to hold first place in tracking conducted by the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, says Fortune. The company has scored 84 out of 100 in a 2009 study, leaving it in a dominant position over rival computer builders. It has also dropped a point since 2008 however, when it achieved its highest-ever score.
Apple has maintained a decisive lead in technical support rankings for 2009, according to a new Laptop study. Of ten major companies tested, only Apple managed an "A" grade for its help, earning it across both its ability to solve problems on calls and online; it also kept hold times to under five minutes and located its support only in North America. The company is further helped by having a dedicated retail network that can address questions in person, the magazine adds.
HP's netbook line should get a larger 11.6-inch model if a source today proves true. Computer industry contacts for DigiTimes say Quanta is about to mass-produce such a system next month. Other details aren't published, but the larger size likely means a 1366x768 screen resolution instead of the more common 1024x600. One of HP's 10-inch netbooks should also get a revision and is purportedly slated by its manufacturer, Inventec, to be mass-produced in September.
Acer's AspireRevo nettop, notable for being the first PC to sports NVIDIA's ION platform, will be getting an upgrade soon, according to a Monday Fudzilla report. The single-core Atom CPU will be replaced in favor of a dual-core Atom, though clock speeds will remain the same, at 1.6GHz. At the same time, there will be double the RAM standard, at 4GB, and storage space will be bumped to 320GB from 250GB.
A listing on Taiwanese site PCADV has revealed that Gateway will soon release its QX2800 nettop PC, which is a near clone of Acer's Ion-powered nettop, the Acer AspireRevo. The main differences involve the Gateway's dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU rather than Acer's single-core Atom. Also, Gateway opted to use a larger capacity 500GB hard drive, doubling the Acer's 250GB drive.
Gateway this morning extended its LT series to include its first Intel-based netbook. The LT2000 opts for familiar specifications with a 10-inch display, 1.6GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive, most of which help bring down the price significantly from the faster, larger LT3100. It does inherit the more expensive system's multi-touch trackpad to scroll using circular motions or to swipe through documents using two fingers.
Gateway has quietly updated its P series FX gaming notebooks with a pair of updated and lower-cost models compared to what it's offered in the past. The 17-inch P-7809u is new and has a Montevina refresh-era 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo despite costing less than the earlier P-7805u. It also has a full 500GB of hard drive space (up from 320GB), 4GB of RAM and the previously-used 1GB GeForce 9800M key to its gaming credentials.
Gateway has quickly followed up on its desktop news with the addition of a relatively high-style but more frugal notebook line intended for the back-to-school audience. The NV series has a minimalist, glossy design with a relatively sturdy barrel hinge and touch-sensitive shortcut keys. At the same time, the notebooks keep costs down with a 15.6-inch, 1366x768 (but LED-backlit) display and lower-end AMD or Intel mobile chips.
Gateway on Wednesday evening introduced smaller, more powerful back-to-school desktop PCs, including its small form factor SX Series and its compact DX Series mini-tower line as well as its FHD Series of monitors featuring a new edge-to-edge glass design. Both the SX Series and DX Series PCs include a unique “digital photo frame” button that quickly delivers a slide show of favorite photos along with a “device deck" described as a small recessed area on top of the chassis to put device -- such as a digital camera, MP3 player or camcorder -- for connecting to USB ports and downloading media. Other new features include a tilt-enabled card multi-card media reader for easy access, a rear cable management hook to organize cables.
Gateway this morning chose to follow an unusual tack and launched the LT3100 as its second-generation netbook. The crossover PC is just an inch thick and about 3.1 pounds but uses an 11.6-inch, 1366x768 display and has components closer to a regular notebook's: it uses a low-power, single-core 1.2GHz Athlon 64 with Radeon X1270 graphics and a full 2GB of RAM. Consciously breaking Microsoft's rules for netbooks means the system uses Windows Vista Home Basic instead of XP, but the faster components should support the full Aero Glass interface where Atom netbooks usually struggle.
Forrester today issued a report on customer experience with computers that gave Apple a significant lead over competitors. The Mac producer received an 80 percent score, or "good," on a combination of ease of use, meeting needs and a pleasurable experience. Its next-closest rival, Gateway, scored just 66 percent, or "okay." Other competitors fared worse, with HP and its sub-label Compaq receiving 64 percent and 63 percent scores that are considered "poor;" Dell has dipped to 58 percent.
Gateway on Monday announced the release of its first P-series notebook to be equipped with Intel's Core 2 Quad CPU, the P-7808u FX Edition. The 2.0GHz gaming and multimedia notebook has 4GB of RAM, and graphics are processed by NVIDIA's GeForce 9800M GTS card with 1GB of dedicated video memory for reproducing 3D graphics effects on the 17-inch, 1440x900 resolution screen. Staying true to its multimedia mission, the notebook has integrated and illuminated keys for controlling audio and video functions.
Gateway this afternoon swung its attention to its desktops with a trio of mid-range tower systems. The FX series gets a new balance between the budget and high-end systems with two new models. The FX6800-11 at $1,300 improves on the entry 01e version with twice the memory, at 6GB, and unspecified faster graphics than the 01e's Radeon HD 4850; the FX6800-09 has few details but at $1,650 is a further improvement that Gateway sees as sitting exactly in between the 01e and the flagship 05 system. Both use Core i7 processors.
Gateway this morning kicked off the start of a new notebook range in the TC series. The 14-inch system has the relatively upscale design language of the MC but is significantly lighter at 5.3 pounds in addition to being smaller. It also becomes one of the least expensive full-size notebooks to include an LED-backlit display and shares the same 16:9 ratio and 1366x768 resolution as the MC, suiting it to watching movies.
Apple has potentially slipped from third place to fourth in US market share among computers, according to data for the holiday quarter from research firm IDC. The Mac producer is estimated to have shipped about 1.25 million computers to the country, dropping it from its previous position and lowering it from 9.1 percent market share in the summer to 7.2. The company's sheer unit growth has also cooled from 32 percent year-over-year in summer to 7.5 percent.
The Gateway LT1004U netbook is now available at certain Office Depot locations in the US, without any sort of announcement from the PC maker itself, according to a Tuesday Engadget report. The netbook sports an 8.9-inch, 1024x800 LCD screen and weighs 2.2lbs. It is powered by Intel's 1.6GHz Atom CPU along with 1GB of RAM and offers 802.11g Wi-Fi.
Gateway's appearance at CES has been accompanied by two new notebook models, each of which is hope to bring upscale features to the mainstream. Starting the launches, the UC series is Gateway's first system with a 13.3-inch screen and borrows design cues from its sibling brand Packard Bell, including the unusually circular trackpad and aluminum trim. The system is relatively light for Gateway's lineup at 5.3 pounds and has extras sometimes omitted from the class such as a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi and HDMI video out.
MPC Corp has quietly revealed that it plans to shut down its operations permanently. The long-time PC maker says an attempt to save itself during Chapter 11 bankruptcy has failed and that it will drop 147 jobs immediately. The firm likewise plans to keep a core of just 51 staffers for an unspecified number of months until it can completely wind down its operations. A tough economic climate gives the company no other choice, an official claims.
Gateway has added to the mix of PC makers launching Core i7 systems on Monday through the launch of the FX6800. Besides using the new processor, each model adds a third RAM stick to exploit the third memory channel added through Intel's new X58 chipset and also comes with an upgrade to the baseline for graphics and storage over earlier models.
After an early introduction, Gateway today finalized details of the MC series, its first 16:9 aspect ratio notebook. The system is movie-friendly with a 16-inch, 1366x768 LCD that displays 720p video with much less wasted space than on a 16:10 display. It also takes Gateway's look somewhat upscale with either burgundy or black colors as well as the use of artificial leather and brushed metal surfaces. All models also have a backlit keyboard.
Gateway has introduced two new desktop systems, the LX-6200 geared for consumers and the FX-6710 designed for gamers. The LX-6200 uses the AMD Phenom X4 9500 quad-core processor, running at 2.2GHz with a 3.6GHz HyperTransport bus. Graphics are provided from an integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200. A 750GB hard drive provides permanent storage. Four 2GB DDR2 memory modules are provided with the basic system, totaling 8GB. Other features include a 15-in-1 card reader, a TV tuner, HDMI output and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit.
Apple has likely been softening the computer market share growth of its top rivals during the summer, according to early IDC estimates. The company's portion of the market is estimated to have shot up from 7.3 percent in summer 2007 to 9.1 percent just a year later, giving it the single largest growth by an individual computer builder of the top five with just over 1.65 million Macs shipped and a 32 percent total boost. By comparison, top-ranked Dell has moved just a tenth of a percent upwards to 29.2 percent (5.3 million PCs) while second place HP actually declined by a similar amount to 25.1 percent (4.55 million) in the summer.
Acer President and CEO Gianfranco Lanci indicated at the company’s global conference held in Budapest, Hungary that Acer will launch more netbooks to join its Aspire one range, as per a Friday report. The company, which bought PC maker Gateway last year, will also launch a Gateway-branded netbook, Lanci indicated. While details on either are not known, it is possible the new Aspire ones will have a screen larger than the current offering’s 8.9-inch screen.
Gateway on Friday became the latest PC maker to join the increasing ranks of those with 16:9-ratio notebooks and launched the MC series. The 16-inch display at the root of the system comes in resolutions up to and including 1080p (1920x1080) and uses an edge-to-edge glass surface; the rest of the notebook also takes Gateway relatively upscale with a backlit keyboard, chromed edges, and a leather strip along the glossy outer shell. A touch-sensitive media pad to the right of the keyboard controls music and videos.
Apple has seen the single largest jump in notebook market share of all top manufacturers in North America, according to a new DisplaySearch report. The company's spring 2008 market share in North America surged year-over-year from 6.6 percent to 10.6 percent, moving it up to fourth place in the market and handing the Mac maker the single largest jump in market share of the top five. This surge came at the expense of other established notebook producers, with Acer plunging from 18.6 percent to 14.4 percent over the same period while Toshiba also lost significantly, dropping from 11.4 percent to exactly nine percent.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index on Tuesday gave Apple its highest-ever score for pleasing customers of its Macs, giving the firm a record 85 points in the ACSI annual report based on reactions from users to both their opinions on computer quality as well as support after the sale. The award is Apple's fifth consecutive nod in as many years and is partly attributed to the sales success of its computers, which have been gaining marketshare in recent months.
Gateway today gave its FX notebook line a performance increase with its first retail system using newer technology. The P-7811 FX is based on Intel's Centrino 2 platform and runs a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo from the newest generation, improving on the older 2GHz and 2.2GHz chips with a faster 1,066MHz bus. It also brings NVIDIA's GeForce 9800M GTS graphics for more desktop-like 3D performance, particularly at the 17-inch LCD's native 1920x1200.
Gateway on Friday revealed that it will formally quit direct-order sales of PCs and other products and offer its lineup only in retail stores. The surprise move ends the business that underpinned Gateway's early success in the 1980s and 1990s but is described as bringing the American company's approach in line with that of its parent company Acer, which took over Gateway last year and itself offers computers only through resellers. Moving to a single model is also said to save on costs by simplifying Gateway's sales process.
The American music industry may be pressuring Dell and other computer manufacturers to disable stereo recording support in an artificial attempt to discourage piracy, say accounts from users. Users of Dell systems with SigmaTel chips in particular claim to be only allowed single-channel recording out of the box and are told that an official solution that restores stereo input will cost $99; Gateway and (in Europe) Packard Bell systems with the audio hardware are also said to be affected.
Dell on Tuesday introduced the Your Tech Team support option for its PCs. The nationwide service follows a New York City pilot project and gives owners of any Dell-branded device quicker access to technicians, the ability to schedule contact with a specific technician, and the ability to support at least some non-warranty problems. Performance tuning, network setup, and security are also available for a fee during the calls, Dell says.
Gateway today revamped both its notebooks and its desktops with a technology upgrade to keep them current ahead of the back-to-school season. The 15.4-inch budget M series, retail-only 14-inch T series, and the 17-inch P series all get newer generation Core 2 Duo processors, more storage, and in some cases more memory. The example M-6848 and T-6836 updates (both $800) both have 2GHz Core 2 Duos as well as 250GB hard drives, 4GB of memory and a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista Home Premium to support the extra RAM.
HP on Tuesday completely replaced theTouchSmart PC with a new design more conspicuously aimed at the iMac and a recent crop of Windows-based all-in-ones such as the Gateway One. The IQ500 series expands from the earlier 19-inch screen to a 22-inch model that also eliminates the separate floating display: the entire computer is stored behind the main display and uses a slot-load optical drive as well as side-mounted ports to keep the design thin. The touchscreen interface has likewise been given a makeover with a new Cover Flow-like fan layout for choosing music from album covers, an enhanced image editor, and an application tray that gives users access to many more touchscreen-driven apps than the original.
ASUS today has provided PC World and other guests at a company-run seminar their first glimpse of its Eee Monitor all-in-one PC and confirms an iMac-like design that should cost less than half the price of its Apple-made rival. Resembling a cross between a white third-generation iMac and Apple's easel-like Cinema Displays, the system is already being marketed as a fashion item that fits into an interior decor; all its expansion ports are tucked to the back to avoid cluttering the front.
HP and its gaming acquisition, Voodoo PC, are planning to make a major announcement on June 10th, Forbes writes. Though the companies are refusing to detail any specifics in their early publicity efforts, they will say that the product(s) are intended to bring Voodoo's emphasis on aesthetics and performance to HP's mainstream audience. With few exceptions, most HP computers are designed for a budget or mid-range level, and do not use unique case or monitor shapes.
Gateway this morning revamped the core of its desktop line to take advantage of newer processors. The FX7026 and the higher-end FX541 series replace earlier models in Gateway's gaming line and all focus on quad-core as well as fast 3D. The base FX7026 starts off with a 2.5GHz Core 2 Quad, 4GB of RAM, and a factory-overclocked GeForce 8800 GT for video. It also includes Western Digital's new 640GB Caviar drive at its $1,100 price point. The FX541 series adds an SLI-capable mainboard with two GPU slots; a stock $1,200 model is similar to its lower-end sibling, while the FX541XT at the very high end includes an overclocked but unnamed CPU as well as dual GeForce 8800 GT cards and other features for $3,500.
eMachines on Thursday released a pair of AMD-based towers that serve as the very entry level for desktops. At $300, the T3646 is the Gateway label's least expensive system and accomplishes the feat with a 2.2GHz Sempron, 1GB of memory, and a 160GB hard drive; Vista Home Basic also trims the price and reduces the operating system's demands on the computer.
AMD's Phenom X3 processors, which use an unusual triple-core design as opposed to standard dual- or quad-core arrangements, are now available in a select number of HP and Gateway systems. Gateway's GT5670 desktop uses a 2.1GHz X3 8400, along with 3GB of RAM, a 320GB SATA II hard drive, and 3GB of RAM; graphics are limited however to an integrated GeForce 6150 SE chipset, as opposed to a dedicated card like the 8800. Best Buy is charging $550. The X3 8400 uses 2MB of L3 cache memory.
Gateway is finishing its week with a significant upgrade to its FX Edition gaming notebooks that brings its first mid-size models. Previously limited only to the 17-inch P series, the FX name is now attached to the M series with a new model that provides relatively quick performance at a smaller size. The M-6850FX is slightly slower than the base P series with a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo and uses the cooler-running Radeon HD 2600 to provide better-than-average 3D to a category often neglected by PC builders. It also leaves little necessary to upgrade with 3GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive as stock. Gateway sells the system at retail shops for $1,000.
Typically associated with notebooks, Acer's plans for next year include some form of game machine, according to the company's senior vice president. James T. Wong explains, however, that the company is not merely working on a performance-tuned Windows PC, but something intended to compete with the current crop of dedicated consoles. Furthermore, the machine is expected to be based on "open standards," a term which may refer to the Linux operating system.
Gateway on Thursday quietly updated two of its staple notebook lines with improved specs, including the addition of one model based on Intel's newer Penryn-era Core 2 Duo architecture. Both the M-151X and the M-151XL are now faster and hold more storage: at the top end, the M-151XL now brings a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo with the larger 3MB Level 2 cache and better battery life that come with the Penryn upgrade. It also comes shipped with 3GB of memory as well as a 250GB hard drive. The 256MB Mobility Radeon HD 2400 XT, HDMI output, and 802.11n also come intact from the earlier M-150.
In the wake of Dell's addition of Penryn to Inspiron notebooks, systems from Gateway and Alienware have also been upgraded with the Intel processor technology. Alienware's Area-51 m15x has been given the option of a 2.5 or 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo, or else a 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme; its display measures 15.4 inches, and costs start at $2,149. Gateway's contribution is the 17-inch P-171X FX, which uses a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo chip and is priced at $2,000. The company adds that an M-series notebook will also be equipped with Penryn "in a few weeks," but refuses to disclose further details. [via Crave]
Acer has successfully finalized its plans to buy control of Packard Bell, according to an update provided by the former company. First begun in August, the deal will give Acer a 75 percent stake in Packard Bell, handing control of the smaller, Europe-based PC maker to the larger firm. The deal was said to have been helped by Acer's recent acquisition Gateway, which reserved the right to counter-offer any potential bidders on Packard Bell.
Gateway today announced the shipment of several new desktop computers, the focus of which is the GM5664. Sold only at retail, the system is one of the few mainstream computers with a hybrid Blu-Ray/HD DVD drive, allowing playback of both HD media types, though it can only burn standard DVDs and CDs. The system is also equipped with a quad-core AMD Phenom 9600 processor, a 1TB hard drive, and a 256MB Radeon HD 2400 XT video card. It is currently selling for $1,150. As a cheaper option, the GT5662 switches to a DVD SuperMulti drive, a Phenom 9500 chip, and a smaller 500GB hard drive. Its price is $750.
