Intel Now Shipping New Dual Core Atom N550
Netbooks to get a little bit more capable thanks to an additional CPU core.
The Atom CPU is a bit stronger today thanks to Intel's roll out the a new dual-core version that has found homes in a dozen of new netbooks available in stores.
Intel says that the new dual-core model is better equipped to handle multimedia, especially web technology using Adobe Flash, including online hotel booking systems and multimedia sites such as YouTube and Hulu.
According to Intel, the dual-core Atom N550 will achieve "similar" battery life as the single-core Atom N450.
"In their short history, the netbook category has experienced impressive growth," said Erik Reid, director of marketing for mobile platforms at Intel. "Having shipped about 70 million Intel Atom chips for netbooks since our launch of the category in 2008, there is obviously a great market for these devices around the world."
Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, MSI, and Toshiba are among the OEMs with new systems based on the new CPU.
- Neverwinter Online RPG Heading To PC in 2011
- ViewSonic Tablet Will Have Android & Windows
- Gamer Sues Over Being Addicted to MMO Gaming
- McAfee: Cameron Diaz is Most Dangerous Celeb
- Study: 27 Mil. Americans Planning Tablet Purchase
- Toshiba Tests Super High Density 2.5Tb Tech
- SanDisk Reveals World's Smallest SSD, the 'iSSD'
- New Crysis 2 MP Trailer, Gameplay Walkthrough
- G.Skill Announces New SandForce-powered SSDs
- A Peek at Portal 2 Co-op, Where You Play Robots
- VIDEO: Samsung's Android Spotted On a Train
- Blizzard Shift to StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm
- WD's Livewire Uses AC Outlets for Networking
- Apple Files Patent for Touch iMacs Running iOS
- Major League Gaming Bans Razer Onza Gamepad
- Introducing: Tom's Hardware Finland. Game On!
- Firefox 4 B4 Now Online, Brings Tab 'Panorama'
- Microsoft's CPU/GPU Combo Chip is Called 'Vejle'
Too late surely? Everybody who was going to buy a netbook has probably done so by now, and have more than likely lamented their substandard performance and capabilities and thus would hardly be inclined to get another one.
Plus it's all about tablets now - still just as (un)useful as a netbook, but a lot prettier.
Netbooks are useful. And more useful then just an interweb access point. I own an MSI and find that the slightly larger keys (over it's asus and acer competitors) is adequate for long writing sessions. On top of that it plays standard def video fine, can run web development apps with out major complaint and I have a 6hr battery life. If anything the Netbook works exactly as advertised. A super portable low end mobile computer. I've had no complaints for my netbook, nor have my two friends, sister and aunt who also use them.
As for "it's all about tablets now"... we'll see. They still have a long way to go in terms of becoming more then just a web browser and toy box.