Intel reportedly planning new lower-cost processor for ultra-thin laptops

Intel may be looking at bringing its Atom processor to some non-netbook laptops, but it looks like it's also planning to venture into some slightly more profitable territory, with CNET reporting that the company is on track to release a new Core-architecture processor for ultra-thin laptops later this year. That processor would apparently be priced well above the low-cost Atom, but below the likes of the Core 2 Duo "S" processor used in current ultra-thin laptops like the MacBook Air and Voodoo Envy 133. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't seem to be quite ready to get much more specific than that, with it only saying that the processor could be used in laptops that are less than one inch thick, and that the processor itself would measure just 22 x 22-millimeters. As CNET points out, that pretty much places the processor squarely in competition with AMD's new Athlon Neo, which is also going after that same, presumably more profitable middle ground.

[whopper @ Jan 11th 2009 5:04PM]

wow

[eggothewaffle @ Jan 11th 2009 5:18PM]

This is my favorite form factor; kudos to Intel!

[whopper @ Jan 11th 2009 5:28PM]

hey i havent noticed any lowest/highest ranked lately...

[whopper @ Jan 11th 2009 5:28PM]

high rank this one

[whopper @ Jan 11th 2009 5:29PM]

low rank this one.

[reydemia @ Jan 11th 2009 11:28PM]

you just know everyone is going to low rank the high one and high rank the low one...

[Drew Green @ Jan 11th 2009 5:50PM]

Hope you have big pockets...they said the processor is for ultra-thin laptops, not smartphones.

[loosely_coupled @ Jan 11th 2009 5:54PM]

Thank heavens!!! I don't want a slow ass netbook with an Atom ... I want something in between a $600 Asus N10JC/Lenovo S10 and a $2500 Sony TT or Toshiba R600.

- Core 2 processor 1.2-1.6Ghz
- 11-13" LED screen
- 2GB RAM
- 64GB/80GB SSD
- Thin and light

Perhaps this will help with that goal....

[Ian Whelan (JOIN BAND!) @ Jan 11th 2009 6:10PM]

And make it out of gold too, and power it with a ZPM, so it draws power from subspace.

[greg @ Jan 11th 2009 6:18PM]

In this corner, intel's "soon to be released processor." And in that corner, AMD's "Athlon Neo."

AND FIGHT!!!

[William Hartmann @ Jan 11th 2009 9:12PM]

I am sure AMD will win the fight! After all, the key words are "low cost". Intel doesn't know those words while considering quality at the same time.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 12th 2009 2:53AM]

Really? remember that nice q6600?

[pika2000 @ Jan 11th 2009 6:22PM]

As long as price going down and performance going up, the more the merrier. My only concern is the super markups that companies are doing to Atom-based devices, which are supposed to be "low-cost." Greatest example is the Sony P. And then we have everybody making larger netbooks with the same innards as the small ones, but adding hundreds of dollars to the price.

[Rob @ Jan 12th 2009 10:31AM]

Maybe this is the mystery piece in the Adamo?