Gateway updates NV budget laptop series

(Credit: Gateway)

While current parent company Acer seems to play down the Gateway brand these days, we still think it happens to make a few very nice laptops. We always loved the 17-inch FX series of budget gaming laptops (now mysteriously discontinued, for reasons Gateway reps claim they don't themselves understand), and we recently awarded a rare Editors' Choice nod to the 17-inch NV7915u--a $600 desktop replacement.

Gateway is now updating that NV series with new versions of the 15.6-inch NV5 and the 17.3-inch NV7. One configuration of the 15-inch models includes a Blu-ray drive and an Intel Core i3 processor for $799, but prices start at $529. Some 17-inch models will include ATI Radeon discrete graphics.

Gateway says "models in the line will be available at retailers nationwide over the coming weeks," but we're not sure exactly which configurations will be available from which retailers (Best Buy currently carries some of the current NV laptops).

After the jump, more details on Gateway's flagship new 15-inch Blu-ray NV model.