Intel breaks Wind with first Atom-based ultra-portables in the wild

There you have it, the first laptop we've seen running Intel's long awaited Atom processors. We're pretty sure that's MSI's Wind PC on display in Shanghai for Intel's Developer Forum. Of course, we've already seen Atom listed as the CPU in the G10IL and new 8.9-inch Eee PC among others. But there's nothing like seeing the genuine article running on Intel's newest silicon. If you're a fan of the Eee PC form factor then you'll be stoked by what looks like a truck-load of 7- to 9-inch ultra-portables on way. Click the read link to see a few more.

[PEZ @ Apr 1st 2008 10:05AM]

I am hoping, with previously thought of hardware supposedly making it into the new eee pc, comes a GPS BT and Wifi together. Any bencharkables on the Atom in this thing?

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 1st 2008 9:44AM]

Yah know. I know its immature. I know its not being an adult. But damn it I don't care. I love that headline.

[Mr.Tech @ Apr 1st 2008 10:18AM]

I wonder if the battery life is better than 4-5 hours.

[tekdroid @ Apr 1st 2008 10:30AM]

Mr.Tech sez:
I wonder if the battery life is better than 4-5 hours.
-------
Yeah! I'd be surprised we even get 4 hours at this point. Battery life is the main point to me in a device like this.

[CraigJ @ Apr 1st 2008 11:00AM]

somebody light a match

[Bob @ Apr 1st 2008 11:19AM]

I hope these come with air fresheners.

[OneLove @ Apr 1st 2008 1:29PM]

what does a chipset fart smell like?

[benjesuit @ Apr 1st 2008 9:46AM]

Some of them are lovely machines. I wonder how the Atom will stack up against VIA's Isaiah?

[bob e @ Apr 1st 2008 9:49AM]

Looking good MSI!
I LOVE that blue one in the link.

So many choices in the UMPC/Ultralight arena these days. Going to be an interesting year.

[benjesuit @ Apr 1st 2008 9:54AM]

Indeed it will be an interesting year. I'm leaning towards HP's 2133. But if and only if Isaiah coupled with VX800 chipset turns out to be more powerful than Intel's Atom. I mean, if it's to run Vista business, it's going to need the power.

[Sukhminder @ Apr 1st 2008 9:53AM]

I wonder when these will be available. Have been looking at getting an eee PC

[mingistech @ Apr 1st 2008 9:53AM]

Does Apple have exclusive rights to the Intel CPU used in the Macbook Air? Seems that a laptop this size doesn't really need a CPU that is 1/4 the size of a penny. The Intel Atom is only a single core CPU and that "custom" Core2Duo Apple uses in the Macbook Air will prolly stomp this.

[Kamokazi @ Apr 1st 2008 10:13AM]

It's not just physical size, but battery drain and most importantly, cost as well. That C2D probabably runs 5-10x an Atom CPU (or more if the $6-$8 figure is true). And I thought I heard about it running in another laptop, I could be mistaken though.

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 1st 2008 11:00AM]

No. In point of fact there have been several articles in regards to other manufacturers who have been eyeing what is in the CBA. so expect to see this CPU in Dell, Toshiba's, ASUS's, Etc in the near future.

[perfectionist @ Apr 1st 2008 7:26PM]

The Atom CPUs use way less power, run cooler, and are fractions of the price.

1.6GHz Atom 230, 4W TDP - $29
1.66GHz Atom N270, 2W TDP - $44
1.6GHz C2D (Air), 20W TDP - $289 (at least, since that's for the non-custom package version)

Now, the Core 2 will completely obliterate the Atom at the same clock speed, but these machines are tiny secondary machines (or cheap starter computers) at

[perfectionist @ Apr 1st 2008 7:28PM]

The Atom CPUs use way less power, run cooler, and are fractions of the price.

1.6GHz Atom 230, 4W TDP - $29
1.66GHz Atom N270, 2W TDP - $44
1.6GHz C2D (Air), 20W TDP - $289 (at least, since that's for the non-custom package version)

Now, the Core 2 will completely obliterate the Atom at the same clock speed, but these machines are tiny secondary machines (or cheap starter computers) at under $500. The smaller footprint and lower target price force manufacturers to use lower power, lower heat, but cheap components.

The MBA is $1,800 and is full-size and very capable of being one's primary computer despite its port deficiency.

The markets are very different despite both being ultraportables.

[IT-Accountant @ Apr 1st 2008 10:07AM]

Is it just me, or does this thing somewhat resemble a smaller powerbook g4?

http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/04/01/idf_atom_3.jpg

http://www.mamboat.com/laptops/wp-content/uploads/2006/02/powerbook_12inch.jpg

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 1st 2008 11:02AM]

Its just you.

[happy_penguin @ Apr 1st 2008 12:07PM]

I see the resemblance. I think a lot of the similarity comes from that single button appearance on the trackpad. If the keyboard on the Intel was silver, it would look a lot like a 12" G4. Of course, the 12" Powerbook is fairly nondescript so it isn't all that amazing that many notebooks of similar form factor would have a resemblance.

[LiqwidZero @ Apr 1st 2008 10:08AM]

The title should have been, "Intel breaks Wind, we catch whiff: Atom-based ultra-portables in the wild."

[Weeze-dog @ Apr 1st 2008 10:26AM]

Is it me, or does that mystery mininote only have one mouse button on the trackpad? That kinda screams Mac, unless it is just a single button that can be clicked on either side (a bad design for a lefr/right setup).
As for Atom's performance compared to VIA's Isaiah, the Isaiah should crush Atom, if VIA's claims of Isaish being 3x-4x the performance of the C7 are true. In benchmarks, a 1.6Ghz Atom only performed equivalent to a 700-800Mhz Pentium-M/Celeron-M, in SuperPI anyway. I was not impressed at all.
See http://laptoping.com/intel-atom-benchmark.html

[Weeze-dog @ Apr 1st 2008 10:29AM]

Oh I forgot to add that SuperPI is heavily L2 cache dependent and the Atom CPUs have very little cache, so the real world performance is still yet to be determined.

[benjesuit @ Apr 1st 2008 10:38AM]

Good info. Going to have to wait for Isaiah. So far of this form factor, the HP 2133 should be a winner once they implement Isaiah.

[JohnnyHighGround @ Apr 1st 2008 10:38AM]

Great. Now for the love of God, will someone please make a tablet this size?! Stylus, fingers, handwriting, softkeys, I don't care. Just gimme a flat screen (no physical keyboard, please) that I can tote around to read the internets. Make it happen already, people! I can't be the only one who wants essentially an iPod Touch with a 7-9" screen.

[7on @ Apr 1st 2008 10:53AM]

I do.

[Bob @ Apr 1st 2008 11:22AM]

I wanteth.

[Eric @ Apr 1st 2008 10:44AM]

Having struggled to write headlines since that copy editing class I had to take, I have to say that headline is genius! Combining wit, lowbrow taste and wit in one headline is almost...

...breathtaking. :-D

[ijyt @ Apr 1st 2008 12:49PM]

It looks like a mini MBA.

And I like the Blue one in the link.

[drewls @ Apr 1st 2008 2:08PM]

"We're pretty sure that's MSI's Wind PC on display in Shanghai for Intel's Developer Forum."

Looks more like a 3d render of it to me.

[Guimo @ Apr 1st 2008 2:21PM]

That thing is sexy!

[Valgas @ Apr 2nd 2008 3:36AM]

Well atleast this Wind will have a brand new electronics smell when you unleash it.

kbadjokesorry