Gateway disappoints with plasma TV delays

NEWS Gateway is having trouble fulfilling orders for a $3,000 plasma television, prompting some grumbles from early customers. The company said that it is seeing "minor delays" in shipping the 42-inch screen Plasma TV that was introduced earlier this month as part of a broader push into digital electronics. Analysts noted at the time that the $3,000 price was seen as groundbreaking for the plasma screens, which often fetch thousands more. Shipping delays caused by the recent port strike (see http://www.silicon.com/a55860 for more) have been compounded by higher-than-expected demand, Gateway said on Tuesday. In a statement, the company said: "This holiday demand, and the impact of the West Coast port strike, have caused us to see minor delays in the plasma TV shipment schedule. However, this will not have a long-term impact on our customers or Gateway, and we expect to be back on track later in the quarter." Ian Fried writes for News.com