Intel Netbooks Get Sleek and Stylish

J. Matthew Zoss — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:10:40 +0000

Today’s Netbooks aren’t exactly as flashy or fashionable as some of the other computers on the market, but that may be about to change. Intel today unveiled their plans for its next Netbook, based on its “Canoe Lake innovation platform.” The new model won’t necessarily be any more powerful than it current machines, but will be a heck of a lot sleeker. At only a half-inch, the new Canoe Lake computer will be half as thick as Intel’s current Netbooks and run much cooler. The new machines swap thermal cooling for traditional computer fans, which accounts for much of the thin new form factor.

There’s no word on when the Canoe Lake-based Netbooks will hit the market, but Intel also announced new dual-core Atom processors that will start showing up in their machines this holiday. The full text of Intel’s announcement is below.

Via Gizmodo

Computex: Ambitious Intel® Atom™ Processor Plans, Products Outlined
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:
• Intel highlighted new product plans for Intel® Atom™ processor family: “Pine Trail” mobile
dual-core and “Oak Trail” processors optimized for tablets and sleek netbook form factors.
• Disclosed razor-thin “Canoe Lake” innovation platform – a futuristic dual-core netbook
measuring in at 14 millimeters – the world’s thinnest netbook.
• Demonstrated cross-device experiences based on Intel’s unique ‘port of choice’ software
strategy including Windows*, MeeGo* and Google operating systems.
• Outlined expansion: Future System on a Chip (SoC) Intel® Atom™ processors scale to
deliver PC-like computing platforms for cars, smartphones, handhelds, TVs, tablets, on a
choice of software.

COMPUTEX, Taipei, June 1, 2010 – At Computex today, Intel Corporation unveiled new
products and features based on its low-power Intel® Atom™ processor family, including plans
to further differentiate the popular netbook category and expand into several new market
segments beyond its growing PC, laptop and server businesses.

In the past 45 days, Intel and its Atom™ processor has entered a variety of markets
beyond the more than 50 million Intel-based netbooks sold in the past 2 years. Intel announced a
processor and MeeGo* software win with Chinese carmaker HawTai Automobile for a future in-
vehicle-infotainment platform; a greater than 50-times lower platform idle power reduction with
Intel’s next generation Atom™ processor platform for handheld devices including smartphones;
and a collaboration with Google*, Sony* and Logitech* to deliver a new Smart TVs experience
powered by Intel Atom™ CE products and running Android*-based Google TV*.

Intel recently unveiled the future System on Chip (SoC) Atom™-based “Tunnel Creek”
that, for the first time, will allow other companies to connect their own custom silicon to Intel’s
SoC product. The Intel® Atom™ processor also powers the Intel® Reader, and the company has
received more than 3,000 non-PC design inquiries – most new-to-Intel potential customers –
ranging from fish finders to golf carts.

During his keynote, David (Dadi) Perlmutter, executive vice president and co-general
manager, Intel Architecture Group, touched on these and other Intel efforts, which included
showing off the world’s thinnest netbook running on the upcoming mobile dual-core “Pine
Trail.” At just 14mm, the razor-thin “Canoe Lake” innovation platform runs cooler and is 50
percent thinner than any other netbook consumers can find on the market today. In addition,
Perlmutter showed a range of other Intel® Atom™-based devices spanning energy efficient
blade servers, retailing systems, presentation projectors and multiple tablets
.
“Intel believes the strength of the Atom™ franchise can help consumers realize the true
potential for a common experience to enable the compute continuum,” said Perlmutter. “With
platforms ranging from compact and portable netbooks, to Smart TV experiences and innovative
tablets designs, Intel Architecture is driving innovative products based on a unique ‘port of
choice’ software strategy.”

Keynote Highlights
Citing a million PCs sold a day1, Perlmutter also highlighted the momentum around the
all new 2010 Intel® Core™ processor family, including Intel® Wireless Display and an
overview of next-generation Intel® Core™ processors using the Intel microarchitecture
codenamed “Sandy Bridge,” targeted to be in production late 2010.

Renee James, senior vice president and general manager of the Software and Services
Group at Intel, joined Perlmutter onstage to discuss how software – and software choice – will
help drive Intel’s vision for Atom™ and a cross-device experience. This provides consumers
consistency and accessibility to their content on a choice of computers and PC-like devices.
James also announced that Asus will be the first OEM to ship a pre-installed, customized AppUp
client called “asus app store” on netbooks this fall, beginning with Windows and following with
MeeGo*-based systems.

Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci discussed with Perlmutter how future Intel® Atom™-based
netbooks and tablets from Acer, running the MeeGo* software platform, will foster an open
ecosystem of innovation.

“Acer will be ready with MeeGo-based mobile devices,” said Lanci. “MeeGo’s open
software platform will present our customers with another choice of a friendly, easy-to-use
operating system. We are pleased to collaborate with Intel in our continuous drive to provide
effortless technologies that empower people at work, home – anytime, anywhere.”

New Intel® Atom™ Processors on Tap
In production now and on shelves before the winter holiday season, mobile dual-core
Intel® Atom™ processors will deliver a noticeably snappier, more responsive consumer
experience in the same compact form factors, and with the same great battery life. Intel®
Atom™ processors N455 and N475 with DDR3 support for netbooks are available today and
D525 and D425 for entry-level desktop PCs are expected to be available on June 21. Available to
customers in early 2011, “Oak Trail” is our upcoming SoC Intel® Atom™ platform optimized
for sleek tablet and netbook designs, delivering up to a 50 percent reduction in average power
consumption with full HD-video playback and targeting software choice including MeeGo*,
Windows* 7 and Google operating systems.

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Intel Netbooks Get Sleek and Stylish