Freescale chip aims at 1GHz, $199 Netbook

Freescale Semiconductor is expected to launch new silicon for Netbooks--devices that it believes will come in below $200--at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas.

The ARM chip architecture-based i.MX51 processor is designed to enable "low-power, gigahertz performance netbooks at sub-$200 price points," according to Freescale, formerly Motorola's chipmaking arm.

Freescale envisions sub-$200 Netbooks

(Credit: Freescale Semiconductor)

The definition of a Netbook seems to get redefined every month, as different companies push their distinct vision of the device. And Freescale is no different. While Freescale, like Intel, believes the Netbook is a companion device to the PC, it envisions devices that are more frugal with power consumption and run the Linux operating system. Intel-based Netbooks using the Atom processor typically offer better performance than ARM-based devices and run the Windows XP operating system.

"Because the primary function (of a Netbook) is accessing the Internet, Linux and Firefox are a good operating system and application for that purpose," Glen Burchers, director global marketing for Freescale's consumer products group, said in an interview.

He doesn't see ARM competing directly with Intel Atom processors, which target a higher-end Netbook segment. "ARM based processors can have a play, in addition to x86 (Intel)," Burchers said. 'We don't believe ARM processor will replace x86, but will augment them for a certain segment of the market." Ideally, the Freescale chip would be used in Netbooks that get about eight hours of battery life and sport an 8.9-inch screen.

And ABI Research, a market research firm, forecasts that there should be plenty of space for competing visions of the Netbook over the next several years. ABI expects consumers to purchase 60 million netbooks in 2013, compared with only 182,000 sold in 2007.

Freescale has been working with Pegatron, a wholly owned Asus subsidiary, to develop a reference design that features the 1GHz ARM Cortex A8-based i.MX51 processor, Canonical's Ubuntu operating system, Adobe's Flash Player software, a new power management chip, and the SGTL5000 ultra low-power audio codec.

Freescale's netbook reference design is available now. The company says it is currently sampling the i.MX51 processor and MC13982 power management device to tier-one Netbook customers. Volume production for the i.MX51 device is planned for Q2 2009 to power netbooks designed for the 2009 holiday shopping season, Freescale said.

(Note about Apple Netbook speculation: Freescale says that the "speculation is inaccurate" that its i.MX51 chip will be used in an Apple Netbook, as some reports have stated. "Freescale's netbook approach is unambiguously an ARM/Linux play, and any suggestion otherwise is inaccurate," a Freescale spokesman said Sunday night.)

[Mr. Dee]

Since this thing called Netbook is a moving target, I won't bother buying one until 2013.

[Maccess]

Or buy a used Pentium III or Pentium M Thinkpad with a full Windows XP Pro license. Same prices as Netbooks.

[websterphreaky]

Naw, not a chance it would end up in any Apple Netbook .... as Freescale said, this chip is aimed at Sub $200 Netbooks and Apple would in their usual GREEDY WAYS, want to charge at least $450 (twice the cost of a PC equiv) in the "Mac Premium"!!

[Cheetahjab]

Oh come on.. if they can't water cool it , with a aluminum exterior, upcharge a $1200 premium for their apple sticker they wouldn't be interested..

[man_w_balls]

Freescale is a good company, who used to make the G4 processor for Apple. They also used to be a division of Motorola, but they were spun-off to independence for processor & memory production. I wish their stock was publicly available, because they have invented magnetic DRAM that can store your computer's booted-up state with no electricity (this makes not losing work in a complete power outage completely possible). But it's apparently not ready for system building yet... So hopefully they will go back public before they put out the MRAM and double those GHz's for the netbooks.

[pugster]

I doubt that these would sell. Unfortunately, most people want to run Windows on their netbooks and not Ubuntu. I go to websites all the time and somehow the browser doesn't seem to support flash or quicktime. Unfortunately, someone has to keep maintain software updates and unless these netbooks can update its software with ease, I doubt these netbooks would sell.

[pithenumber]

Windows+netbook=slow

You're looking at a chip which will power a device similar to a huge iPhone or iPod Touch. People will buy these just like they bought the iPhone - they don't care that it doesn't run Windows because it does what they want it to do regardless of what OS is running on there.

You don't need Windows to check email and browse the web and do social networking and update twitter..

[netbookguy]

I do not believe that INTEL will stand by and cede this market to Frrescale or anyone else

[raggi]

This is what netbook should be made of. A 1 ghz arm Notebook should be able to be quite fast is it won't run Windows.
X86 architecture doesn't stand a chance in power consumption.
Anyone who has used Psion devices and similar now what I am talking about.
We are not talking about a couple of hours of battery use folks, but a whole working day or more.
You could actually start your work on the way to work (on the train or whatever) and maybe finish earlier.
The best ARM processor up til now is from Samsung, It will be interesting to see how this one is in comparison.

[phalyman]

Net books are over priced at the moment.Ubuntu is robust enough as an OS ,have not used windows at home for 2years .Whats wrong with competion ?