Gateway (subsidiary of Acer) has launched its "uber-chic" ID notebook series, which comes in 14-inch or 15.6-inch iterations. The ID49 and ID59 start at $680 and $800, and feature an inch-thick aluminum housing along with an aqua-blue touchpad that glows when touched, and a "social networking button" for quick access to your Facebook, YouTube and Flickr accounts.

Other common specs include an LED-backlit (1366x768) display, an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, an optional Nvidia GeForce GT 330M GPU with Optimus graphics switching technology, up to 500GB of storage space, a DVD burner, a multi-card reader, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, gigabit Ethernet, and 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity.


In conjunction with the launch of its new ID laptops, Gateway has redesigned its LT netbook line. The 10.1-inch LT23 netbook series boasts an aesthetic refresh, Intel's Atom N450 processor, up to 250GB of storage, has the above-mentioned social networking buttons, provides eight hours of battery life if you're lucky, and starts at $330.