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Gateway has joined several other PC makers in pairing Intel’s new power-saving 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor with Microsoft Windows 7 Starter in its newest netbook line – the LT21 Series.
Introduced Jan. 6, the 2.62-pound netbooks measure 10.17 by 7.28 by 0.99 inches and come with either a 4,400mAh or 5,600mAh 6-cell battery, for a choice of eight or 10 hours of battery life. Wireless capabilities, via 802.11 b/g/n, are said to be “faster and more reliable,” and even the wired connection is referred to as “Fast Ethernet.”
The LT21s feature a 10.1-inch WSVGA TFT LCD display with a resolution of 1,024 by 600 pixels. Like the Aspire One netbooks that Acer introduced on Jan. 4, also with the Atom N450, the displays on the new Gateways offer a 22.2 percent power savings, compared to CCFL displays. Also like the Acers, the new Gateways come with a keyboard size that’s been increased to 93 percent of full-size.
The Webcam on the LT21s can record video e-mails, video chats and capture photos and live video, which can then be uploaded to the Web. The Webcams are paired with a digital microphone that keeps background noise to a minimum, as well as Dolby Headphone technology, two stereo speakers and a touchpad with Multi-Gesture, for all-around easier navigation.
“Netbooks have been firmly embraced by consumers as an incredibly convenient, easy-to-use way to stay connected, be more productive and stay in touch,” said John Nguyen, product marketing manager for Gateway, in a statement. “Gateway LT21 Series netbooks are designed to go anywhere for use by anyone, as their sleek form factor and intuitive design naturally fit into how people live and connect today.”
The LT21s pair the Intel Atom 450 processor with a Mobile Intel NM10 Express chipset, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 with 64MB of dedicated video memory, 1,024MB of DDR2 (double-data rate) 667MHz SDRAM, and 1GB of memory with either 160GB or 250GB of hard drive space.
The netbooks feature a wave pattern on the lid of the chassis, users can swap Windows 7 for Genuine Windows XP Home, and there’s a choice of Cherry Red, NightSky Black and Glacier White.
The LT21 Series will be available later in January, for a starting price of $299.99.
The new Fujitsu LifeBook MH380, Hewlett-Packard Mini 210 and Dell Mini 10 also run the Atom N450 processor, which is said to offer both improved performance and extended battery life.