Gateway Takes Another Shot at the iMac

Windows PC maker Gateway is making another attempt to appeal to consumers who might otherwise consider Apple's iMac with its new Gateway One, an all-in-one design that's the successor to Gateway's Profile series PCs. It's coming in November for US$1,299 to $1,799 depending on configuration.

The Gateway One features a 19-inch widescreen LCD display, wireless keyboard and mouse. The unit's designed to work with a minimum of visible wires -- USB and Ethernet interfaces connect to the computer through the same brick that carries power, using only one cable.

The Gateway One also comes equipped with a built-in webcam, 802.11n wireless networking, Intel Core 2 Duo processor and "hidden" stereo speakers integrated into the front panel. Two latches in the back provide users with access to components inside, and the Gateway One can be upgraded with standard SATA desktop hard drives.

The computer has a total of seven USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire port, two memory slots, two hard drive bays and a built-in CD-R/DVD-R optical drive. An optional TV tuner is available; the power module also includes an optical audio output jack and a coaxial audio output jack.

The $1,299 version will feature an Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual-core processor, Intel GMA X3100 graphics and 320GB hard disk. For $1799 you can get a T7250 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics and 500GB hard disk. A third model, available directly from Gateway, will cost $1499 and comes with a T5250 processor, Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics and 400GB hard disk.