Intel moving notebook chip to 0.25-micron process
By John G. Spooner Tuesday November 4 9:46 AM PST
Intel Corp. is targeting future versions of its "Tillamook" Pentium Processors with MMX
Technology for new classes of mini-notebooks.
The new MMX Pentiums, beginning with the recently released 120MHz version, will benefit from
Intel's new manufacturing process, officials said.
"All of our new processor introductions, going forward, will be 0.25-micron-based," said Frank
Spindler, director of marketing for the Santa Clara, Calif., company's mobile and handheld
products group. "We will aim for a combination of low power consumption and lower price points.
"We see the mini-notebook category as a good, healthy growth area for the notebook market,"
Spindler added. "We've gone from the classic notebook to a variety of ultra-portable or very thin
devices. The mini-notebook is just another option for people, especially those looking for a
lightweight, easy-to-carry, secondary PC."
Some notebook makers are already tapping into the Tillamook chip for mini-notebooks. Toshiba
America Information Systems Inc.'s new Libretto 70CT mini-notebook, announced today, uses the
new 120MHz MMX processor. The new Libretto, due to ship in December, also includes a
1.6GB hard drive and 16MB of RAM. It will be priced at $1,999.
Toshiba will also drop the price of its current Libretto, the 50CT, which features a 75MHz Pentium
processor and an 810MB hard drive, to $1,499, officials said.
Hitachi PC Corp. also announced today that it will get into the mini-notebook space. Its model, the
VisionBook Traveler, features a 133MHz MMX processor and an 8.4-inch screen and weighs
about 2.7 pounds. Pricing will start at $2,500, officials said.
The above found at Yahoo news site and at ZDNET site. |
