Gateway Introduces Light Weight EC Series Laptops at CES 2010

Some people are saying it looks like a netbook, but Gateway’s new EC series laptops popping up at CES 2010 are definitely more powerful than that.

The smallest of the new Gateway laptop line is the EC14D. Powered by an Intel Ultra Low Voltage Pentium Core CPU and running on Windows 7, the standout feature on this computer is the integrated DVD drive. That’s difficult to find on a laptop with a 11.6-inch screen. And being that it only weighs 3.55-lbs. and costs $629.99, it would make a great travel companion if you’re planning to do a lot of work but also want to watch some movies along the long trip.

Additional EC14D features:

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

Built-in web cam

Multi-in-1 digital media card reader

Intel® Wi-Fi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED featuring MIMO technology

Three USB 2.0 ports

HDMI port

11.49″ (W) x 1.12″ to 1.18″ (H) x 8.33″ (D)

The Gateway EC58 enjoys most of the same features as the EC14D, except it notably packs a larger 15.6-inch LED-backlit display. Thus, the price tag jumps (barely) to $649.99.

Both computers will be on the market by the end of January.