Gateway EC18T / Acer Aspire 1420P convertible tablet hits the FCC

We haven't heard much about the Gateway EC18T since we saw all those leaked pics back in October, but it looks like things are starting to move: the convertible tablet just hit the FCC database, complete with some more external pictures. From all appearances, it looks like this one's going to be a family affair, as the machine itself will be sold by Gateway parent company Acer as the Aspire Timeline 1420P, and the FCC docs indicate sister company Packard Bell will have a version as well. Badging aside, inside we're looking at a 1.2GHz SU2300 Core 2 Duo with GMA 4500MHD graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, a 500GB max drive, an 11.6-inch screen, and an eight-hour battery life -- so depending on price, this one could be pretty attractive. We'll wait to see how long it takes before one version or another escapes the government and hits store shelves.

[IvanP91 Posted Dec 27th 2009 11:49PM]

Why do manufacturers still use the dreaded GMA 4500?! At least the other integrated graphics dont crash (as much). Main reason everyone says is cost. But then wtf is the point of paying for something that u cant use because its mt. crash-more. (ur actually getting the worst deal because u cant really use it, but u do pay for it)

And if it aint for playing games, then why 8GB of RAM, and 500GB HDD?
Ur not gonna edit alot of movies on a 1.2Ghz CPU.

[jol Posted Dec 28th 2009 12:09AM]

@IvanP91
Ram reduces disk paging.

[roach Posted Dec 28th 2009 12:37AM]

@IvanP91

I going to buy the first tablet PC with a good GPU to replace my current (and aginng) TC1100. But since the TC1100, not one company ever combined a good GPU with a tablet...and yet they charge a premium for these under powered device. I blame PC manufacturer for killing PC tablet.

[kamikazeshrimpy Posted Dec 28th 2009 12:43AM]

@IvanP91 its up to 8 GB RAM so it means the product either comes with 3 or 4 GB of RAM in reality

[Decoy Posted Dec 28th 2009 3:24AM]

@IvanP91 Will photoshop be acceptable on this thing? That's the main app I want a tablet for.

[Spartikiss Posted Dec 29th 2009 8:42AM]

@roach

Never heard of the C-14X from Gateway... "not one company..."

-Spart

[doboy Posted Dec 27th 2009 11:50PM]

I REALLY hope this is the one... by that I mean that it has an active digitizer for a screen. Passive digitizers simply don't cut it. Hopefully with Gateway's experience of making tablets this we'll be the case and the EC18T will be the first useful netbook/tablet to come out.

[undecidedname Posted Dec 28th 2009 12:21AM]

@doboy

it will most likely be passive resistive, looking at its 1820ptz brother:

http://forums.vr-zone.com/notebooks-netbooks/521303-acer-aspire-1820ptz-convertible-tablet-first-impressions-mini-review.html

[johnkzin Posted Dec 28th 2009 1:39AM]

They should make a 10.1" version.

and, Acer should put their version of Android on it. Even better: dual boot their version of Android, and their version of Linux.

[smeagol Posted Dec 28th 2009 2:02AM]

The SU2300 is not a Core 2 processor. It's a dual core Celeron with a 1MB cache. In their 1410 line, Acer uses this processor or the 1.4 GHz Core 2 Solo SU3500, which is single core with a 3MB cache and half the wattage.

I'd like to see this 1420 offered with the single core SU3500. For my purposes, it can actually outperform the SU2300 and extend the battery life to boot.

[kojo87 Posted Dec 28th 2009 3:33AM]

my brother just got a Gateway LT3103 for Christmas and i have to say that thing is pretty sweet. if they put the same display and keyboard on this tablet, they have pretty slick machine. except for the GMA4500. why not just give it the ATi X1250M that the LT3103 has?

[Jay Evans Posted Dec 28th 2009 9:32AM]

@kojo87

Because the ATI X12xx family only supports DirectX 9 and doesn't have HD Video Decoding and HDMI with HDCP support. The GMA4500 MHD will support Flash GPU acceleration with DirectX 10.

[rocklobster Posted Dec 28th 2009 5:02AM]

This is the budget version of the 1820pt/ptz, it will probably come with less less ram/hd and a cheaper version of W7.

I have pre ordered the 1820pt, but not shure if I should wait and see what the price difference is, pretty much the same hw anyway. Or will the 1420p be WSVGA only?

[jimosborne Posted Dec 28th 2009 10:34AM]

Microsoft gave the 1420P out to every attendee at the PDC conference last month. Nice little laptop. Great multi-touch screen, ample CPU for basic computing needs. I wouldn't use it for a development platform (Photoshop, Visual Studio, etc), but I love it for travel.

[woan Posted Dec 28th 2009 10:59AM]

I pretty much use my PDC Acer 1420P for everything while travelling now including digital photo processing... I gave my netbook to my mom for xmas.

Came with 2GB with room for an additional memory card to take it to 4GB. Big bucks to load it with 2 4GB DDR3 SODIMMs currently.