Gateway has itself a new product in the form of the LT3103u, and it's calling it "a netbook done better".
The system, pictured below, is the first from Gateway's new LT series range - and it's breaking from netbook tradition by straying away from Intel's ubiquitous Atom processor in favour of an AMD Athlon.
Inside the LT3103u, Gateway's low-voltage processor of choice is a single-core 1.2GHz AMD Athlon 64 L110, that's joined by AMD's RS690E chipset and ATI Radeon X1270 graphics. Gateway doesn't mention it specifically, but it the system clearly has the makings of AMD's Yukon platform.
The netbook features an 11.6in LED-backlit display, and unlike most netbooks, it'll provide a HD-capable resolution of 1,366x768. Rounding off the base specification is 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, WiFi and Ethernet connectivity, three USB ports, a multi-card reader, VGA out and a multi-touch trackpad.
The system measures 286mm x 203mm x 26.4mm and weighs 3.04lbs. Gateway reckons that makes it "the grab-able, throw-it-in-your-bag, anywhere-you-need-to-go netbook", and the system's six-cell battery promises up to five hours of on-the-go operation.
Highlighting the weakness of Atom-powered alternatives, Gateway reckons that "finally" we have a netbook that merges the best of mobility and performance. Though, how well the 1.2GHz Athlon CPU handles Windows Vista Home Basic operating system remains to be seen.
We're certainly curious, and a MSRP of $399 has us intrigued.
Official press release: Gateway’s First 11.6-inch Netbook Delivers Functionality, Performance
