PC vendors to use the MacBook Air's tiny Intel chip

The World's Thinnest Laptop will soon have competition. Macworld is reporting that (at least) two unnamed manufacturers intend to use the tiny Intel chip that powers the MacBook Air.

Steve Jobs made a big deal about it at this month's Macworld Expo keynote address. The chip uses Intel's 965GMS chipset, and has a footprint 60% smaller than comparable Merom processors. The MacBook Air ships with either a 1.6Ghz or a 1.8GHz version.

While other manufacturers will target the MacBook Air's size, they'll have trouble beating its good looks. Sure, many have complained about its lack of Firewire or what have you, but no one denies its beauty. Johnny Ive knows what he's doing.