Gateway Introduces Compact E-155C Tablet PC

Weighing in at 4.5 pounds and measuring 1.17 inches deep, Gateway's new E-155C is designed for portability.

Here’s a new mobile computing option in case you’re short on space, averse to touch pads, or just yearn for the days of a good old pencil and paper: Gateway’s new E-155C Thin & Light Convertible notebook. The company’s latest tablet PC, announced Thursday in a press release, targets educational and business users with the ability to access information, applications and multimedia content as well as take handwritten notes, draw diagrams, and edit documents.

As the name suggests, Gateway hopes that the main attraction for the E-155C will be its 1.17-inch deep profile and 4.5-pound weight. The press release claims these features make it one of the thinnest and lightest tablets on the market.

Other new design features include dedicated forward and back buttons, a fingerprint reader that can also be used for scrolling, and a double-swivel hinge that allows the screen to twist in either direction. Gateway has even included a blinking LED and chime that remind users to put away their stylus if it isn’t stored when the PC is shut off.

Besides the tablet PC extras, the E-155C will have a 12.1 inch WXGA screen, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, integrated 802.11a/b/g wifi, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, and memory expandable to 4GB.

Prices for the E-155C start at $1849.99, and Gateway will offer a no-frills version for home users, dubbed the C-120X, in early May for $1499.99.