Intel reveals 45nm processor for UMPCs

The future of the UMPC is quite the group effort, with Microsoft spearheading the OS, hardware manufacturers experimenting with daring designs and lackluster sales, and of course chip types like Intel trying to get every last ounce of performance per watt out of their silicon. To that end, Intel has just announced its sixth 45nm chip, which is apparently "extremely low-power," and aimed squarely at those teensy UMPC batteries. Ars Technica conjectures the chip is the long-rumored "Perryville" processor, a single-core version of Penryn with 2MB of L2 cache, but right now we don't even know if the new chip is single or dual-core, just that it should be appearing in "UltraMobile" devices in the "latter part of the year."

[Filip @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:58AM]

I bet is the one used in Apple TV...
in the earlier "dissection" article of the Apple TV, there was mentioned an "unknown" Intel CPU...

[Jeff @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:38AM]

UMPCs aren't that popular because they fill an almost nonexistent niche. They're too big to carry around like a phone or PDA, but their inputs are inferior to a laptop.

Learn something from Psion (is anyone else here old enough to remember that?) and put a compact laptop-style keyboard on it.

[WhoDatNinja @ Mar 23rd 2007 1:28PM]

I agree. I saw one recently here that was tablet style, which would be perfect. The price is also ridiculous. Who wants to pay $1500 for a UMPC when you can get a decent laptop for under $1000?

For these things to be successful, the price needs to drop severely, like in the $500 or cheaper range.

[greg @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:21PM]

i guess they are popular enough to keep making them.

[rob @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:39PM]

supposedly the appleTV uses a very old version of the mobile pentium 3. this is what was reported when the appleTV was announced, so things may have changed since then. other reports indicate that the aTV runs pretty hot.

[Castle @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:22PM]

As others have mentioned. Price is the biggest problem with UMPC and Tablet PCs. The price-premium is far too great compared to laptops (low-end laptops going from $399-599). Also, the UMPCs don't use the Wacom-based screens which makes the tablet PCs great (which adds eraser function, floating, and pressure sensitivity). If UMPCs were ~$500 I would consider it, but if I'm carrying around something that big I would just opt for a laptop.

[FrankTheCrank @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:14PM]

awe....look at that itty bitty wittle processor

so cute..