NetbookTech

Are the days of crappy netbook graphics performance coming to an end? The answer to that might finally be YES. NVIDIA announced the new Ion platform which couples the NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GPU with an Intel Atom processor resulting in a system that is actually capable of offering a decent “visual experience.”

There are several use case scenarios for such a system – and of course the one that concerns all of us the most is the netbook scenario. While NVIDIA has yet to demo a netbook utilizing the entire Ion platform, they did say on their website that an Ion based system would:

• Deliver 10x faster graphics and video transcoding
• Full HD video decode and display
• 1/2 the size yet the same battery life
• Be ready for Windows Vista Premium AND Windows 7

Of course the Ion platform is  ideal for other target markets such as Notebooks, Nettops, and all-in-one systems – yet the real issue here is the netbook market which  clearly is booming during a time when nothing else seems to be booming.

If the NVIDIA GeForce 9400 can make its way into future generation netbooks without an increase in cost to the consumer, then this is a clear winner to all of us. As Darren Gladstone of PC World notes, “why stick to low expectations?” when it comes to netbooks. Shouldn’t we be demanding higher performance from systems that cost on average $400 dollars? I couldn’t agree more and let’s hope NVIDIA fulfills that promise.

Make sure to read the PC World article for even more info on Ion and the GeForce 9400 GPU.

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Expect to see several new netbook models come out at the upcoming CES 2009 conference in Las Vegas (which we’ll be at to cover of course). Several companies are expected to introduce touch-enabled netbook systems – one of which is Intel Corporation with a tablet-styled Classmate PC system. The folks at LaptopMag managed to get some one on one time with the system (lucky them!) and yes – there are a lot of awesome pictures also. Here are some tidbits from the article:

• The system is being manufactured by CTL
• Top of the system is now a cool sky blue color
• Specs include 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 60GB HDD, 8.9 inch screen, and Windows XP
• Preloaded with touch-screen enabled software including “Vision Objects Pen Input” which performs handwriting recognition
• Touch-screen is responsive to both fingers and a stylus
• Built-in accelerometer

This certainly can be a great addition to kids around the world – but more importantly, this shows hardware manufacturers that touch-enabled netbooks can also be made generally available to all consumers.

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(reprinted from Krunker.com) Intel is reportedly planning a refresh of their Menlow platform for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) around March of 2009. According to DigiTimes, the company will add three additional Atom processors – the Z550 (with clock speeds faster than 1.83GHz), Z534 (faster than 1.6GHz) and Z515 (faster than 800MHz). The Atom Z550 and Z534 will be coupled with the Intel SCH UP15W chipset while the Atom Z515 will be paired with the UL11L chipset.

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Intel has entered into an agreement with the Taiwanese government to open up a development center in Taiwan to further the Linux-based Moblin OS that was created by Intel to run on devices powered by the Intel Atom processor. Moblin is based on a Linux kernel, has a user interface, a browser, developer tools, and other resources which Intel will continue to develop and optimize as part of the agreement. They decided to locate the development center in Taiwan since this is really the area where netbooks first took off – notably from the likes of ASUS and Acer.

According to Intel CEO Paul Otellini:

“The hottest thing going on in the computer industry today is the netbook phenomenon, and it started in Taiwan,”

Linux has received a fair amount of attention and support in the netbook market primarily because there are limited options in utilizing Windows on the platform. Most companies have opted to use Windows XP Home Edition over Windows Vista primarily due to Vista’s higher resource requirements. Yet with Windows XP slated for retirement, many vendors are left with limited choices. Thus Linux, being free and lighter weight has become a popular alternative for the netbook market.The new Moblin development center will open up in December.

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Here’s an interesting tidbit from the Global Sources website – Intel is planning to collaborate with China Mobile Ltd. to produce a netbook targeted at the Chinese market.  The new netbooks would come bundled with TD-SCDMA 3G services from China Mobile which also happens to be the world’s largest mobile network operator on a subscriber basis. No word on when these netbooks would come out nor how much.

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Did you know that Intel now owns the domain name “netbook.com” ? If you go to the URL, you’ll get redirected to a page entitled “Wireless Internet Laptop with Intel Atom Processor” (though a portion of the redirects do lead you to just intel.com as of this writing). Obtaining the rights to netbook.com makes a great deal of sense for Intel. It’s a simple marketing tactic – associating netbooks to the Intel Atom processor – thus making sure the two terms are synonymous with one another.

Many in the media suspect that Intel will turn this domain into a netbook portal of sorts. I tend to disagree – I think you’ll see the company continue to use the domain as a way to spread the message that netbooks are small wireless laptops running an Intel processor (preferably the Atom) inside. Just look at the current “overview” section on the front page. There are three key features listed and all of them mention the Intel Atom processor. It’s Intel quietly saying:

“netbooks == Intel Atom processors inside”

Now granted, Intel has every right to market all they want with the domain since.. well they own the domain, but I hope over time, the company will also use the site to educate consumers on different topics – such as:

• What makes a netbook different from a low end notebook
• What operating systems can be used on a netbook effectively
• Show how a user can be productive on any netbook no matter what OS is installed

It remains to be seen if customers will receive anything other than Intel propaganda over time..

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