I did a lot of research, from price to cpu to features. First off, if you're getting this laptop, at least part of your reason has to be for size/portability. With that said, your choices are netbooks or laptops up to 13 inches.
I ruled out netbooks because the screens where just a little too small and mostly because the CPU and graphics were just not worth it. When I looked at the netbooks on display at the stores, they were horrible. From the outside the netbooks look cool and sleek, but the second you actually test drive one, you will realize they are really not for anything but getting your emails...and maybe a little Internet surfing.
It was hard for me to rule out the 13" laptops. They were obviously more powerful and had good graphics. In the end I had to weigh whether I wanted a more powerful laptop or a more portable one, with much, much better battery life. I made this decision because I don't play any real graphically intensive games....which is really the only thing you can't do with this laptop.
Most of the computers in this category are using the low voltage (Intel SU series) cpu, GMA 4500 graphics chip and 2-4 GB memory, so really your deciding based on look and feel. Here are some things to consider when thinking about upgrading and whether it's worth it.
cpu - su4100 versus su7100 : the only difference is really something called virtualization, which allows you to dual boot with Vista and such. probably something you're not doing. - 0 price difference.
2GB versus 4GB - this model comes with 4, so no upgrading here. You need 3 or more to take advantage of Windows 7 64 bit.
Gateway has a new model with a disk drive - adds about a 1/2 lb and cost ~ more. This would be a major consideration...but to be honest, I haven't touched my disk drive on my old laptop for months. I think this is less and less needed, especially with streaming video.
Gateway versus Acer (same company). No difference except style. One thing I notice that was a deal breaker for me was that the Acer version doesn't close completely shut...there's a small gap and you can see the keys inside. Dumb design in my opinion.
No bluetooth on this model or the equivalent Acer (UPDATE: Acer came out with a bluetooth model for more)
Now my first impressions. I love the look and feel of this laptop. It looks sleek and the keyboard has a nice feel (full size is nice). In a perfect world, the hinges and mouse buttons would be brushed chrome/titanium rather than a shinier chrome...and a more matted case rather than the shiny black. one other thing I need to note that made me choose this item...the mouse buttons on this laptop are flush to the edge, which makes it easier for someone with bigger hands to click.
As for performance, there's really nothing to say...it does everything I need it to do. I've surfed the web, played some online poker, watched some HD youtube, synced up by iTunes and just about everything else. Unless you're playing graphic intense games, this laptop will do just fine (can't say that about netbooks). P.S. - changed the default test size from 100% to 125% and this made the screen size an absolute non-issue.
I can't really think of any cons, so pros and cons won't really help. I'm giving it 5 stars, though not perfect, it's close.
Bottom line: I think this is the perfect laptop for anyone that likes to take their laptop with them when they travel. Whether the travel is back and forth from school or work, vacation, or long weekends away.
UPDATE: Still lovin the laptop. Just wanted to add that the multi-gesture trackpad works really well. You'll have to adjust it to your preference, but once you have it locked in to your likes, it's nice. Especially with the "pinch" in and out to zoom in and out, like the iPhone/iTouch. It's handy when you need to increase the size of something because of the smaller screen. Also tried the HDMI on my 42" plasma and played HD youtube, looked great...started surfing the web via the 42" TV, it was quite a treat :)
Average Rating:
Brand: Gateway
Color: Red
Model: EC1457u
Product Description:GatewayEC1457u Notebook comes with these specs, IntelPentiumProcessor SU4100, Windows7 Home Premium, 11.6- Inch HD Widescreen LED-backlit Display, Mobile IntelGS45 Express Chipset, 4096MB DDR2 667MHz Memory, IntelGraphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, 500GB SATA Hard Drive, Built-In Webcam, Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader, Dolby Sound RoomAudio Enhancement, IntelWiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N, 3 - USB 2.0 Ports, 1 - HDMI Port, Multi-gesture Touchpad, 6-cell Li-ion Battery (5600 mAh), up to 7-hours of battery life, 3.08 lbs. | 1.4 kg (system unit only), AC Power Adapter, AC Power Cord, Wireless Setup Card, Registration/ Limited Warranty Card, Norton Internet Security 2009 Trial (60-day insert)
Amazon.com Product Description:Gateway EC1457u: Ultraportable Performance
Providing up to 7 hours of battery life, the Gateway EC1457u delivers nearly all-day on-the-go productivity exceptional communication features and easy usability in a sleek, stylish design that will turns heads. You'll enjoy extended computing thanks to the ultra-low voltage (ULV) Intel Pentium processor for a good balance of performance and battery life (from the included 6-cell battery).
Stay productive on the go with the 11.6-inch HD widescreen Ultrabright LED-backlit display delivers an optimal viewing experience for all your needs--from working on documents and spreadsheets to checking in on your favorite online social networks. The full-size keyboard is comfortable and easy to use when on the move. A Multi-Gesture Touchpad enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites.
Get personal surround sound audio with Dolby Headphone Technology delivering multichannel sounds over an ordinary pair of stereo headphones. And you'll enjoy the next generation of video playback with the HDMI output, which allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video and audio to your digital TV or capable external monitor.
Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.
Note that this laptop does not include an optical drive, but you can use optional external DVD/CD drives that connect via USB.
Key Features
 The Gateway EC notebook with 11.6-inch LED-backlit screen and up to 7 hours . |
 The EC1457u in red. |
 Ports include three USB, an HDMI, and a multi-format memory card reader (black model shown). |
- 11.6-inch LED-backlight widescreen display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. This Ultrabright display offers a high-gloss, sharp contrast, anti-reflective finish.
- Energy efficient, 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium SU4100 processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life. The dual-core SU4100 has a has a power consumption rating of just 10 watts, a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 2 MB L2 cache.
- 500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
- 4 GB of DDR2 RAM (667 MHz)
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1700 MB of shared video memory and support for DirectX 10 games.
- Webcam and integrated microphone make it easy to set up video conferences or video chats with friends wherever you are
- Stereo speakers with 2nd generation Dolby Sound Room audio enhancement transforms the experience of movies, music, and games.
- Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks.
- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
- Multi-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, and xD Picture Card media
- 3 USB 2.0 ports
- HDMI port for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable. Also includes standard analog VGA video output.
- Multi-gesture touchpad allows you to intuitively navigate WebPages, media libraries, photos, spreadsheets and more by simply flicking, swirling and pinching your fingers.
- Gateway Recovery Management enables you to create a default backup disk and an application and driver backup disk, restore the system to factory default, reinstall apps and drivers, manage password settings, recover from the hard drive ,and recover from your factory recovery disk.
- Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
- Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
- Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
- Up to 7 hours of battery life from 6-cell battery (5600 mAh)
- Dimensions: 11.22 x 8.03 x 1.18 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 3.08 pounds
- Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
What's in the Box
This package contains the Gateway EC1457u laptop, 6-cell rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and printed documentation
It also comes with the following software: Microsoft Works (applications for word processing, spreadsheet, calendar, and e-mail); 60-day trial of Microsoft Office 2007; Norton Internet Security 2009 (60-day trial); Norton Online Backup; Gateway MyBackup; Google Toolbar; WildTangent Demo Games
Features:
- 1.3GHz Intel Pentium SU4100 Processor
- 4GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
- 500GB SATA Hard Drive; Intel WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N
- 11.6" HD Widescreen LED-backlit Display; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
- Windows 7 Home Premium
Available at Amazon
List Price: USD 599.99
Lowest New Price: USD 599.00
Customer Reviews
The perfect laptop for travel
This took some hunting down on Amazon as it doesn't show up when you do any of the filters, ultra-portable: thin and light, that kind of thing.
The base spec I wanted was 11-12 inch screen, dual core processor, and under 3.5 pounds. It came down to this, the Dell and the Toshiba. The Dell seemed to have a problem with the 6 cell battery where it sticks out at the base. The Tosh only came with 2gB memory.
This has a 500gb HD and 4gb memory, basically a full spec compared to whatever else is around. The 6 cell battery fits the profile of the computer perfectly. The keyboard is nice. The screen is nice. The mousepad is good once you get the hang of it, it's the same as every other laptop this size. Best of all it weighs in at just over three pounds. I just spent the last week lugging it around London and hardly knew it was in my bag. Delighted with my purchase. Highly recommended.
