Travel Technology - Gateway LT3103u 11.6" netbook

I think I have finally found the Netbook I was looking for :)

I've been looking for an affordable 11" (or hi-def 10") netbook for some time, but came across this machine this evening. It has a 64bit Athlon chip, 2GB ram, 250GB drive and a 1366x768 screen. It also has dedicated graphics, and plays HD video (720p MKV) without a problem.

So far I'm quite impressed - sure, it may be Gateway, but they are currently the only ones with the machine I want.

What's the price point? And what's the battery life like? Physical dimensions?

Isn't Gateway an Acer brand now anyways?

What's the price point? And what's the battery life like? Physical dimensions?

Isn't Gateway an Acer brand now anyways?

It comes with a 6 hour rated 6 cell battery, price is $399. I'll dig up a measuring tape later :)

And yes, I think Gateway, E-Machines and Acer are all the same company nowadays.

Keyboard feel/size?

Keyboard feel/size?

I'd say it is 94% full, well spaced and little flex in it.

Review

http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/27/gadling-gear-review-gateway-l3103u-11-6-netbook/

Weight?

Weight?Google really is fun, you should try it. :D :D :D

OK, OK...here are some specs I pulled for you:


Gateway - LT3103u

Dimensions 1.03″ (H) x 11.26″ (W) x 7.99″ (D)
Weight 3.04 lbs
Battery 6-Cell Lithium Ion (5200mAh) That seems like a reasonable 6-cell battery to me.

For less than $400 and Vista-installed, it appears we're blurring the lines between netbook and small notebook.

For less than $400 and Vista-installed, it appears we're blurring the lines between netbook and small notebook.

I know eh -it's really funny watching the gab between the original "laptop" at 14" and the first "netbook" at 7" grow smaller.

As far as I am concerned an 11.6" machine is still a netbook as long as it uses low cost parts and can be sold for under $400. Once you add things like a DVD drive and a core2duo into a 12" machine, it becomes $799 and is no longer a netbook.

I put Windows 7 on the Gateway today, it runs super smooth. So far I'm still happy with the purchase, especially since I managed to dump Vista Basic.

I know eh -it's really funny watching the gab between the original "laptop" at 14" and the first "netbook" at 7" grow smaller.

As far as I am concerned an 11.6" machine is still a netbook as long as it uses low cost parts and can be sold for under $400. Once you add things like a DVD drive and a core2duo into a 12" machine, it becomes $799 and is no longer a netbook.What if you add HDMI, though? I saw an HP 11.6" at Costco today but can't find anything about it online. About $700 IIRC, but a full Vista 64-bit machine with 4GB RAM installed.

What if you add HDMI, though? I saw an HP 11.6" at Costco today but can't find anything about it online. About $700 IIRC, but a full Vista 64-bit machine with 4GB RAM installed.

That'll be the DV2 - 12". I was looking at it at first, but the price is quite insane. The CPU is also rather weak for its price (AMD NEO). I don't need that much power on the road, so a $399 machine will work just fine for me. Plus, HDMI really seems overkill for a 12" machine. If I really need HDMI, I'll add a USB to HDMI adapter.

That'll be the DV2 - 12". I was looking at it at first, but the price is quite insane. The CPU is also rather weak for its price (AMD NEO). I don't need that much power on the road, so a $399 machine will work just fine for me. Plus, HDMI really seems overkill for a 12" machine. If I really need HDMI, I'll add a USB to HDMI adapter.Thanks Scott - I can find it now as a 12" machine on the Google. $600 at Amazon after rebate - getting down in price already.

This machine really gets into that "more than a netbook, less than a notebook" niche - it gives you your 1280x800 display and reasonable graphics, plus a DVD drive (external), still only 4 lbs. and is full fledged Vista/7 capable...but battery life is listed at 3.5 hours (ick) and you're right, it's a weak processor.

Thanks Scott - I can find it now as a 12" machine on the Google. $650 at Amazon - getting down in price already.

This machine really gets into that "more than a netbook, less than a notebook" niche - it gives you your 1280x800 display and reasonable graphics, plus a DVD drive, still only 4 lbs. and is full fledged Vista/7 capable...but battery life is listed at 3.5 hours (ick) and you're right, it's a weak processor.

I really wanted to buy that one - it was actually $549 at Office Depot a few weeks ago, but that CPU is just not good enough for the price. RAM and HDD don't matter much to me, as long as I get >1GB and no lame SSD.

After having extremely high hopes for the Dell Mini 12 and being sorely disappointed (small PATA HD, hard-wired 1gb ram), I'm currently VERY interested in both the Gateway L3103u and upcoming Acer AO751 6-cell models. In comparing the two, it looks like you're basically trading faster FSB and Video Decoding (Gateway) for ~30% better battery life (Acer). Since one of my main uses will be 720p MKV video files, video decoding is up there on my priority list. This, along with the fact that it's available now, has me leaning heavily towards the Gateway. If I can dig up the $50ish in rewards zone certs I have somewhere and maybe a 8-10% coupon, I'll probably pick up the Gateway in the next couple of days.

After having extremely high hopes for the Dell Mini 12 and being sorely disappointed (small PATA HD, hard-wired 1gb ram), I'm currently VERY interested in both the Gateway L3103u and upcoming Acer AO751 6-cell models. In comparing the two, it looks like you're basically trading faster FSB and Video Decoding (Gateway) for ~30% better battery life (Acer). Since one of my main uses will be 720p MKV video files, video decoding is up there on my priority list. This, along with the fact that it's available now, has me leaning heavily towards the Gateway. If I can dig up the $50ish in rewards zone certs I have somewhere and maybe a 8-10% coupon, I'll probably pick up the Gateway in the next couple of days.

I played with both (and kept the Gateway), but found the Aspire One to be really, really slow. The Gateway on Windows 7 is a pleasure to use.

It plays 720p MKV's just fine, and it'll even do 1080p WMV files (up to 1440x) just fine when you use the included Windows media codecs under Windows 7.

If there is anything in specific you'd like me to test on it, let me know.

Just a quick question to those who have this netbook...how long is it taking to charge the battery? I have drained the battery on mine and it took 7hrs to fully charge the battery back up. Is this normal? I want to make sure...because if it is not I need to take it back and exchange it. Thanks for your help on this!

Just a quick question to those who have this netbook...how long is it taking to charge the battery? I have drained the battery on mine and it took 7hrs to fully charge the battery back up. Is this normal? I want to make sure...because if it is not I need to take it back and exchange it. Thanks for your help on this!

I have nearly drained mine several times and as far as i can remember, it was fully charged in about 2 hours.

ScottC... have you tried 1080p MKV playback? 95% of my MKVs are 720p (since the projector in my theater is 720p) but I do have a few that are 1080p and was curious if they would be a problem. Also, what player are you using? Any idea if a particular player or codec required for hardware accelerated h.264 decoding (as is the case with GMA500)? Thanks!

I got to play with this today at BB. I absolutely love the texture of the palm rest and it would have been cool to cover the whole case in that texture - especially since the glossy finish they do use is an absolute fingerprint magnet.

The bottom of the machine has a great, solid, almost ThinkPad-like feel.

Screen color saturation wasn't stellar but was quite acceptable.

Keyboard felt great to my fat fingers and I could touch type without error.

Must wait for a sale. :D :D :D

I'm guessing it'll drop to $379 or even $349 tomorrow or next week.

And by guessing, I mean speculating.

And by speculating, I means hoping, because that means I can get a price match on my original purchase :D

ScottC... have you tried 1080p MKV playback? 95% of my MKVs are 720p (since the projector in my theater is 720p) but I do have a few that are 1080p and was curious if they would be a problem. Also, what player are you using? Any idea if a particular player or codec required for hardware accelerated h.264 decoding (as is the case with GMA500)? Thanks!

720p MKV plays back just fine (using MPC), but 1080p did not. In 720p I was able to get a file playing without a single stutter or frame drop.

WMV files in Windows 7 *DO* play in 1080p (1440x768) using a WMV from the Microsoft HD showcase and playing in WMP. I think that may be due to the built in optimized codecs in Windows 7 and that WMP is far more optimized for win 7 than MPC.

720p MKV plays back just fine (using MPC), but 1080p did not. In 720p I was able to get a file playing without a single stutter or frame drop.

WMV files in Windows 7 *DO* play in 1080p (1440x768) using a WMV from the Microsoft HD showcase and playing in WMP. I think that may be due to the built in optimized codecs in Windows 7 and that WMP is far more optimized for win 7 than MPC.

The ATI 1270 should (in theory) play back 1080p with hardware h.264 decoding... I wonder if there's a different codec pack or optimized player required...?