Gateway Strengthens Its Retail Presence, Bringing the First Quad-Core Desktop to Retail Stores From a Top Tier Manufacturer

IRVINE, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Building on its success with its award-winning quad-core desktops sold directly to PC enthusiasts over the phone and web, Gateway is now offering a quad-core desktop to consumers via major retailers. Based on its popular FX Series, these systems are perfect for consumers that desire high-end graphics for gaming or digital creation.

"Not only is Gateway the first major manufacturer to put a quad-core desktop in retail, but the aggressive price point sends a message to both consumers and retailers: pay attention to this system, because Gateway means business in expanding the enthusiast sector," said John Spindler, research analyst, Current Analysis. "The value proposition of the Gateway FX Series is astounding when we compare it to similarly configured systems; in some instances, it has an incredible $1,000 price/performance advantage."

In addition, Gateway will be offering its unique Portable Media Drive Kit in retail outlets, expanding the availability of Gateway-branded accessories in consumer electronics stores. The 120GB Portable Media Drive will be available May 1, and will work in Gateway's mainstream desktop PC line, which includes the matching bay.

"Expanding our product offerings in retail has been an important element in Gateway's strategy," said John Schindler, director of consumer products for Gateway. "By introducing unique and competitively priced products such as the FX Series of quad-core desktops and our Gateway Portable Media Drive, we are strengthening our brand and delivering compelling solutions to our retail customer set."

Bringing Affordability to PCs with the Most Extreme Power and Cutting-Edge Graphics Capabilities Available Today

The Gateway FX line for retail customers is equipped with Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad Q6600 processors, 512MB ATI Radeon(R) X1950 CrossFire(TM) video cards, Gigabit Ethernet, and 1,000GB or 500GB of hard drive storage(1). Prices for Gateway's retail FX line start at an MSRP of $2,099.99.

Digital enthusiasts will especially appreciate the enormous storage for managing large digital photo and video libraries. The powerful ATI GPU is ideal for playing and authoring high-definition digital video, and gamers will find their online game playing experience more realistic and responsive than ever.

"We've seen tremendous demand over the phone and web for our quad-core desktop line," said Schindler. "But many PC shoppers still like to purchase computers from their local retailer, and to date, the only choices available for a quad-core system have been extremely expensive propositions from boutique specialists. As a major manufacturer with proven success in this space, we are bringing to market a much more affordable, yet still powerful system, greatly expanding their options."

The Gateway FX line is available now at http://www.bestbuy.com/, http://www.circuitcity.com/, http://www.compusa.com/, http://www.jr.com/ and http://www.microcenter.com/. It is also available in selected Best Buy, Micro Center and J&R stores.

Gateway Portable Media Drive Simplifies Transferring or Backing Up Data

With an estimated selling price of $149.99, the Gateway Portable Media Drive kit includes a pre-formatted 2.5-inch 120GB PATA hard drive(1) and a protective sleeve to guard against dings and scratches. A custom USB cable with a double headed end supports both USB 2.0 and USB 1.1, without the need for an a/c adapter. Color coded ends make it easy to determine which end should be used for data transference or for connecting to a power source.

The Gateway Portable Media drive is now available in major retail outlets including Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA and American TV.

About Gateway

Since its founding in 1985, Irvine, Calif.-based Gateway has been a technology pioneer, offering award-winning PCs, servers and related products to consumers, businesses, government agencies and schools. Gateway is the third largest PC company in the U.S. and among the top ten worldwide. The company's value-based eMachines brand is sold exclusively by leading retailers worldwide, while the premium Gateway line is available at major retailers, over the web and phone, and through its direct and indirect sales force. See http://www.gateway.com/ for more information.

All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by retail location. Applicable taxes extra. Trademarks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gateway, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

(1) Accessible capacity varies; MB = 1 million bytes; GB = 1 billion

bytes.