Ultraportables and netbooks with an optical drive are a rare breed. But Gateway did manage to cram a DVD drive into their 11.6-inch EC14D while keeping the overall weight at about 3.5 pounds.

Beside the optical drive, the EC14D features a 1.3GHz Intel Ultra Low Voltage processor, 320GB HDD, up to 8GB of RAM, HDMI port, webcam, card reader and Windows 7 Home Premium for $630. It's not as cheap and small as a netbook, but I think ultraportables like this one offer a better balance of functionality and portability. Expect to see it on store shelves starting this month.

Gateway EC Series of Ultraportables Gets New Model with Integrated DVD

Stylish and Slim, the Gateway EC14D is an Ultraportable Entertainer; New Gateway EC58 Models Are Sleek and Slim with an Impressive 15.6-inch Display

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The new Gateway EC Series ultraportable notebook PC line is expanded today with new EC14D configurations that include an integrated DVD drive – a feature that is rarely found on compact notebooks with an 11.6-inch widescreen display.

"The integrated DVD drive in such a compact device will be a huge benefit for customers who want the flexibility to enjoy and share different movies, music, photos and more stored on a DVD or CD."

The addition of an integrated DVD drive makes the popular EC14D line even more feature-rich for students, families and anyone on the go. Designed to be the ultimate line for mobile enthusiasts, the new ultraportable line comes in a very portable form factor that weighs only 3.55 pounds so it's easy to take on the go in a book bag or backpack.

"Customers understand how convenient it is to have a notebook PC that is portable enough to take nearly anywhere to stay connected and have fun – and the new EC14 brings a new element of entertainment to customers with the ability to watch DVD movies, play games on CD and DVD and more," said John Nguyen, product marketing manager for Acer America. "The integrated DVD drive in such a compact device will be a huge benefit for customers who want the flexibility to enjoy and share different movies, music, photos and more stored on a DVD or CD."

The 8X Super Multi double-layer DVD drive lets customers read all types of DVD and CD media, so they can enjoy popular movies and games while on the go, as well as have access to music files and photos for downloading and sharing on websites.

Optimized for Mobile Connectivity

Savvy mobile PC users will appreciate that the new Gateway EC14D ultraportable was designed from the ground up to deliver the maximum battery life for on-the-go computing. Available with a 6-cell battery, the Gateway EC14D notebook line provides battery life of up to eight hours, so customers can use it nearly all day to stay in touch.(1) As a result, customers reduce their energy consumption since they go longer without having to recharge.

Poised to take advantage of this extra battery uptime, the Gateway EC14D notebooks come with the latest in connectivity – a reliable and far-reaching 802.11 b/g/N Wi-Fi connection. With it, customers can access hot spots at restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and at airports in order to browse the news, check weather, reply to email and stay connected.

Abundant Features and Technology Packed into a Compact Design

Small business owners and professionals who want to remain productive on-the-go will find the Gateway EC14 ultraportable notebook the ideal choice for them. The large 11.6-inch HD TFT LCD display delivers a 1366x768 resolution for crisp and clear visuals. Its large size relative to the form factor gives plenty of room for viewing multiple applications and documents while also making room for a full-sized keyboard for typing with ease.

Customers can use the built-in webcam to record video and photos and post them to video and photo sharing sites, blogs and social networks like Facebook and YouTube. Customers can also stay in touch via video chat, while enjoying excellent voice quality with reduced background noise through the built-in digital microphone.

Powered by an Intel® Ultra Low Voltage Pentium® Dual Core processor, the Gateway EC14D line is ready to take on web browsing, movie viewing and running everyday applications. Also, the notebooks come with a 320GB hard drive, a multi-in-1 media card reader and 4GB of memory that may be upgraded to 8GB (requires two 4GB modules).

The sleek, modern design captures the essence of mobile computing, while details such as rounded edges, engraved logo and silver trim make the design even more eye-catching. The textured palm rest provides a comfortable hand rest for consumers.

Gateway EC14D models come with Windows 7 Home Premium, which makes mobile computing more reliable and responsive, enhancing the user experience. In addition, the Gateway EC notebook line is Energy Star qualified.

Configurations, Pricing and Availability

The Gateway EC14D will be available later this month at leading retailers starting at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $629.99.

Gateway EC14D07u:

* Intel® Pentium® ULV Processor SU4100 (1.3GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
* Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
* 11.6-inch HD Widescreen Ultrabright LED-backlit TFT LCD (1366 x 768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)
* Mobile Intel®GS45 Express Chipset
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* 4096MB DDR2 Dual-Channel 667MHz memory upgradeable to 8GB
* 320GB(2) 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* Integrated 8X Super-Multi DVD player
* Integrated webcam
* Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
* Intel® Wi-Fi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED® featuring MIMO technology
* Gigabit Ethernet LAN
* Three USB 2.0 ports
* HDMI port
* Multi-Gesture Touchpad
* Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
* 3.55 lbs.
* 11.49" (W) x 1.12" to 1.18" (H) x 8.33" (D)

Full Productivity and Entertainment in a Lightweight Design and Large 15.6-inch Display

In addition to the new Gateway EC14D with integrated DVD drive, Gateway is offering new models in the rest of its EC Series notebook lines. The larger Gateway EC58 notebooks are thin and light enough to take anywhere with a slim one-inch profile, yet they have a large 15.6-inch LED-backlit display that features a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1366 x 768 (WXGA) pixel resolution.

Like all the EC Series notebooks, the EC58 provide outstanding battery life and communications. The high-capacity 6-cell Li-ion battery on these models gives users up to eight hours of uptime,(1) while integrated 802.11b/g Draft-N wireless provides a reliable untethered connection to hotspots and wireless networks. Further enhancing battery life and providing excellent performance, the EC58 notebooks use ultra-low voltage Intel® Core™ 2 Duo and Pentium® Dual-Core processors.

The new Gateway EC58 models will be available later this month at a manufacturer's suggested retail price starting at $649.99.

Gateway Limited Warranty, Service and Support

The Gateway EC Series notebook PCs are backed by a one year warranty.(3) Gateway's commitment to quality and reliability is evident in its award-winning line of PCs as well as in its exceptional service and support programs. In addition to the company's standard limited warranty options, its extensive online support center helps customers maximize their PC investment; it gives them easy access to customer support representatives and information on important issues such as warranties, technical issues and upgrading.(4)

About Gateway

Since its founding in 1985, Irvine, Calif.-based Gateway has been a technology pioneer, offering award-winning products and world-class service to customers worldwide. Gateway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Acer Inc., the world's third-largest PC company. See http://www.gateway.com for more information.

All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by retail location. Applicable taxes extra. ©2008 Gateway, Inc. Gateway Terms & Conditions of Sale apply. Trademarks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gateway, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Intel and Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
(1) Your computer's battery life may vary depending on product specifications, computer settings, and applications or features launched. Gateway Power Save button must be enabled to achieve the 8+ hours. All batteries' maximum capacity diminishes with time and use.
(2) Accessible capacity varies; MB = 1 million bytes; GB = 1 billion bytes.
(3) Service methods subject to change without notice or obligation.
(4) Limited warranties and service agreements apply; visit gateway.com or call 1-800-846-2000 for a free copy. Service agreements are issued and performed by third parties. May not be available in all locations. Availability varies. Other conditions apply.

[Engadget]