Gateway certainly isn't the first brand you think of when you're looking for a stylish, classy, well-rounded notebook, but that's just what they aim to bring to the table with the ID49C series. Does a dash of aluminum and backlighting blended with a svelte build and mainstream hardware elevate the ID49C beyond the usual consumer fare, or are the engineers at Gateway solving the wrong problems? We take a look inside the ID49C and see if it deserves to be on your shortlist.

Our previous comparison between AMD and Intel laptops is now a year old, and plenty has changed since then. With a couple of the more recent releases on hand, it's a good time for another head-to-head comparison. Unfortunately, getting the latest AMD-based laptops can be tricky, so we don't have their recently announced "Vision 2" platform (aka Danube/Nile) available for testing (yet). However, there are still many "old" AMD Vision laptops on the market, as well as a ton of Intel i3/i5 units, so we feel it's still useful to see how the two platforms compare. Does AMD have more going for it than the value proposition? Can anyone provide an IGP that's fit for gaming? That's what we aim to find out.

Intel launched their Core i3/i5 (Arrandale) mobile processors early in 2010, with roadmaps showing low voltage and ultra low voltage parts. Earlier today, Intel released new details on their CULV parts with a big emphasis on enabling thinner, ultra portable designs. We've been waiting for availability of CULV Arrandale parts ever since we heard about the parts, and finally the wait is over.

Gateway has announced their new NV59C and NV7 series of notebooks. These new models will enter the crowded mainstream notebook market, and therefore will have to offer something different to its competitors.

Feature-wise they are very similar to their predecessors, however Gateway has added a few new features, a new design, and "unsurpassed social network integration". The NV59C also bumps the manufacturer warranty up to two years compared to the standard 1-year warranty on most consumer laptops.

You're not seeing double: what we have for review today are the Acer and Gateway netbook "twins". At their core, these are virtually identical 10.1" Pine Trail netbooks, with all that entails. And these aren't the only "twin" netbooks out there, as just about every Pine Trail netbook boasts similar specs, features, and performance.

Other than cosmetic differences like the color and an LCD panel lottery that results in two different panels being used, there's nothing to separate these two netbooks from each other. So how do they stack up against the competition? And are they worth the entry price of $335 for the Acer or $340 for the Gateway? Join us as we compare a couple more netbooks against the competition.