Intel laptops for 2009: Netbook chip revamp, rise of CULV

Welcome to Pineview.

(Credit: Winncompanies)

According to Digitimes, Intel's road map for the rest of 2009 is crystal clear and full of code names. Released Tuesday morning, the report shows that Intel is ready to start up-selling consumers on fancier new portable processors later this year across its entire product line. It's a triple-front chip attack on your holiday wallet.

The highest-end ($1,200 and higher) machines will run the long-awaited dual-core "Calpella" platform, which basically refers to better-performing chips. Midrange machines ($700-$1,000) will get CULV-based processors, low-voltage dual-core CPUs that give more of a real notebook performance, as opposed to the currently limited Atom horsepower of Netbooks. (CULV stands for "consumer ultra-low-voltage.")

As for the ever-affordable Netbook line, where users can get a new Dell for only $299, expect the current Atom processors to be sold through the summer in advance of upgraded fancier new Netbook processors--with faster integrated graphics, and probably higher price points--in September. Right now they're code-named "Pineview" just to be all top-secret.

CULV is the most intriguing movement. Set to attack the $700-$1,000 price point, dual-core CULV machines will outperform AMD Athlon Neo machines, which are currently faster than Netbooks but slower than full dual-core laptops (the HP Pavilion dv2 runs an AMD Neo). If a fancy Netbook runs for $500, small CULV notebooks will be very attractive upgrades. Would you rather have cheaper or faster? Or both? Either way, 2009's shaping up for some big processor changes.

(Via Digitimes/Engadget)

[Mr. Dee]

I'll take cheaper and faster thank you. Right now, I just don't see the justification in spending over $700 just to do activities in the web browser. Microsoft Word is not launching any faster on these machines neither is IE or Ff.

[msalsbury]

I suspect the next 12 months will bring about some very interesting changes in the netbook space. Apple is rumored to be cooking something up, and it won't be limited to the constraints that Windows netbook makers are currently limited to. (Microsoft won't allow XP to be pre-installed on a netbook unless its CPU, RAM, HD/SSD, and graphics chipset fall within certain fairly low limits. Go past the limits and you have to preinstall Vista instead.) The expected introduction of Windows 7 later this year will remove the constraints on netbook makers. The introduction of the new chips from Intel should offer some new performance and power-saving options for both notebooks and netbooks. And the possible Apple netbook should inject a little competition into the marketplace as well. Mix all that together and I wouldn't be surprised if next year's netbook is a fast (by today's standards), dual-core machine with lots of RAM, lots of storage, decent graphics, and excellent battery life. Although I'm quite happy with my current netbook, I fully expect to be enticed enough by the upcoming models that I ditch it within 8 months.

[xelanmetallium]

I've tried the RC for Windows 7 on some pretty poorly spec'd desktops and I was sufficiently impressed, but I'm still not convinced it will do so well on netbooks, at least initially. Even with the chip and display advancements that are coming at the end of the year, I am still skeptical. Although, with Windows 7s touch capabilities, its long term future does seem rosier. What bothers me about this post is that I hadn't even heard of an AMD Neo chip. Whenever I have heard of netbooks in recent months, all I've heard is Atom and Via. That speaks somewhat poorly of AMD's current ability to compete. Let us hope they don't go bankrupt.

[msalsbury]

@xelanmetallium
I run Windows 7 RC1 on my Asus 1000H netbook and it's at least as snappy and reliable as XP was. I've been able to do with the netbook and Windows 7 what I wanted to do with it (run web browsers, blogging apps, email, and basic productivity types of apps like OpenOffice). It's by no means fast enough for gaming (except maybe a flash-based game) but it's actually quite usable. I suspect netbook makers will switch to Windows 7 fairly quickly because it will allow them to put out higher-spec'd systems, but I could be wrong.

The Windows 7 touch capabilities open up some interesting possibilities, as you noted. It will be interesting to see what developers come up with for that.

While I'd heard of the Neo, I think I've only seen one netbook type product with that processor. I agree with you that I hope we're not hearing the last gasps of AMD. Intel needs some stiff competition to keep innovating both in the performance and power-management arenas.