WiFi Finder
Locate wireless services by a specific address, city, state, country, airport, or zip code.
Gateway Ships Two Notebooks: Versatile and Cheap
Solo 3450 targets serious mobile users, and Solo 1200 aims at budget-minded buyers.
Tom Mainelli, PCWorld.com
Gateway is revamping its notebook lineup, launching on Monday the lightweight Solo 3450 and the budget-friendly sub-$1000 Solo 1200. Each is available next week.
The ultra portable Solo 3450 weighs just 3 pounds and is Gateway's lightest notebook. Combine that with its sleek, thin design (it's just 0.8 inches thick) and this is one travel-friendly notebook, says Ray Sawall, Gateway's group manager for mobile.
The previous version of this notebook used a port replicator, but the new docking station slice is much more flexible, Sawall says. The 3450 fits on top of a flat docking station which has two modular bays and can house any two drives (you select from a CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, or a floppy). Other notebooks in this weight class offer a similar arrangement, allowing you to leave the dock behind when it's important to travel light.
And the notebook and docking station combined still weigh a manageable 5.36 pounds, Sawall says.
Buyers can configure their own 3450s, but a standard configuration sells for $2199. It includes a low-voltage 750-MHz Pentium III processor, 192MB of memory, a 12.1-inch TFT display, a 10GB hard drive, and an integrated V.90 modem and Ethernet port.
The included docking station ships with a 24X CD-ROM drive and floppy drive. For an introductory period, Gateway is offering a free upgrade from the CD-ROM to either an 8X DVD drive or an 8X/24X CD-RW drive. When that promotion ends, the DVD drive will cost about $100; the CD-RW will sell for $200.
Gateway can initially preload the 3450 with Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Millennium. The company also throws in a coupon that lets buyers upgrade to Windows XP for $15.
Breaking the $1000 Barrier
The recent drops in TFT display prices allow Gateway to bring the Solo 1200 to market priced at $999, Sawall says. The notebook would traditionally sell for about $1199.
In addition to its 12.1-inch TFT display, the basic 1200 configuration includes an 800-MHz Intel Celeron processor, 128MB of memory, a 10GB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, floppy disk drive, and an integrated v.92 modem and Ethernet port.
In addition, the 1200 includes a built-in 802.11b antenna to prepare you for wireless networking. For another $200 (or $1199 total) Gateway throws in an extra 64MB of memory (for a total of 192MB) and installs a miniPCI card that activates the antenna for wireless connectivity, he says.
The 6.8-pound 1200 ships with Windows ME and includes a $15 Windows XP upgrade coupon. The company expects to start shipping both the 1200 and 3450 with Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional by the end of September, Sawall says.
- Sponsored Resource:Improve your network with the right mix of features, performance and pricing.
- Sponsored Resource:Growing your business requires the right tools. Dell's networking servers can help.
- Sponsored Resource:Thinking about a new Laptop? Lenovo has models to meet everyone's needs.
- Sponsored Resource:Twitter: A how-to guide for using Twitter as a business tool.
- Sponsored Resource:Smartphone security threats are on the rise. Is it time to safegaurd your device?
Print 65% more pages than with refilled inks. Trust Original HP Inks. Hit Print Reliably.
Upgrade to IE 8
Featured APC Accessories For Your System
10% Off Entire Cart at Online Store
-
APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
-
APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.
People who read this also read:
Best Prices on Laptops
G60-230US NotebookPrice: $599.00
Aspire ONE A110-1588 Blue NetbookPrice: $229.95
13.3" MacBook Pro NotebookPrice: $1168.99
Inspiron 15 Notebook - CustomizablePrice: $449.00
Aspire One AOA110-1995 NetbookPrice: $239.95
Aspire AS3810TZ-4880 Timeline NotebookPrice: $588.83
- 2007 Microsoft Office Suites Comparison This paper compares and contrasts four suites of the 2007 Microsoft Office system: Microsoft Office Standard 2007, Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. This paper is intended to help organizations understand the applications and capabilities offered, and to identify the suite that best fits their needs.
- Windows Vista Migration: The Business Proposition It's not so much a matter of "if" but "when" for most organizations regarding migration to Windows Vista. Laying the groundwork now for this migration can yield higher ROI than waiting until later. This Computerworld Technology Briefing explains it all.
PC World's How To Buy Laptops Guide
- Laptop Buying Guide: The Big Picture There are more laptop choices than ever. We'll identify and discuss the available options--including screen size, weight, battery life, and communications ports.
- Laptop Buying Guide: Laptop Specs Explained Do you need a superfast CPU? Or a huge hard drive? We'll guide you through the choices and tell you which features are most critical.
- Laptop Buying Guide: Laptop Shopping Tips Looking for a powerful, versatile notebook at a reasonable price? Our advice will help you find the right laptop.
-
SatellitePro with industry-leading 2-year warrantyAvailable with the Satellite Pro® S300. Only from the laptop expert, Toshiba
