Next-gen Atom CPU price halved to push netbooks
Intel to take fight to tablets?
Netbooks may become rather cheaper next September, when Intel introduces the next generation of Atom processor for mini laptops at prices well below what it's charging for the current one.
Atom N400- and N500-series CPUs cost netbook makers between $64 and $86 a pop, according to Intel.
However, Asian netbook maker moles say, September's 'Cedar Trail' Atoms will come in at $42-47 - a reduction of between 26 per cent and 52 per cent, DigiTimes reports.
Clearly a bid to bring down the cost of netbooks - assuming the vendors pass the price reduction on to punters, of course - to help them compete more effectively with tablets.
Netbook-centric Cedar Trail CPUs include the N2600 and N2800, both dual-core parts fabbed at 32µm. The former runs at 1.6GHz, the latter at 1.87GHz. ®
COMMENTS
The motivation?
"Clearly a bid to bring down the cost of netbooks"
I doubt it. I expect it is an attempt to stop the manufacturers moving to ARM and away from the dark side. I expect it is a politics/business decicion.
ARM's response? Probably none, they will continue to develop low-power processor technology, and license it to anyone that wants it.
Just to disagree with all the other commentards
I think this is a great idea. I like the Atom N550 processor in my Samsung netbook. It's fast and the battery life is great, so no complaints from me.
As for the netbook being a defunct form factor, it really just depends on how much of a fashion victim you are. I was on a long train ride yesterday and used my netbook to surf the net and watch a film - both at the same time. It amused me greatly to see the person sat near to me with a fruity tablet having to switch between video and web (can't do them both at the same time) and also having to awkwardly prop his device in a position where he could see the screen clearly. So, he paid over twice the money for something that does less and is more awkward to use. Win for me.
We don't want no stinking atoms
Give us ARM netbooks already!
Probably never
.... and certainly not while there are still enough pedantic twats around that are overly concerned with the semantics of another persons trivial postings.
Netbook replacement
My Acer Aspire One is getting a bit old and tatty now. But I'll certainly be replacing it with another Netbook.
I don't need a full sized laptop (I can't remember the last time I used a CD or DVD) and a tablet won't do because I need a keyboard.
