Gateway's CULV-based EC series gets DVD, 15-inch models
updated 10:35 am EST, Fri January 8, 2010
Gateway EC14D and EC58 arrive for CES
Gateway's presence at CES is being marked by the launch of two new EC notebooks running Intel's CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) platform. The EC14D is Gateway's first CULV system to include its own DVD burner. While slightly thicker at one end as well as heavier (3.55lbs. versus 3.08), the drive is seen as an ideal option for college students or travelers that may either need or want to watch DVD movies or burn a disc of their own.
Its feature set is very similar to the next step down in the range as it carries an 11.6-inch display, a 1.3GHz Pentium and 4GB of RAM all running Windows 7 Home Premium. To keep costs in check, Gateway uses a 320GB hard drive in place of the 500GB disk on its closest DVD-free counterparts. The EC14D should arrive before the end of the month for about $630.
Above it, the EC58 is the largest in the whole line and carries a 15.6-inch display that turns it into a near desktop replacement. It likewise carries a DVD drive courtesy of the extra physical space and gets a performance upgrade, carrying a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo and a 500GB hard drive in addition to the EC14D's specs. Moving upwards boosts the price to $800; the EC58 ships in a similar timeframe to its smaller cousin.
