Intel's Atom Processor Aimed At The Cost Conscious

Cnet blogs is reporting that Intel's upcoming Atom processor is being heralded by the company as a step towards low cost Nettop computers that will range between $100 and $300. The Nettop pc's will utilize the Atom - "Diamondville" chip and incorporate a number of other cost-saving measures, "no system fans...no CPU socket...(an) optimized PSU (power supply unit)" and "cost optimized OS solutions." The machine's primary use will be Internet based computing and will operate on either Windows or Linux according to the article. I can see myself buying such a device for my 75 year old father, who enjoys checking stock prices, the occasional e-mail, and playing solitaire. Seriously!

Intel Dubs New Chip 'Atom'

Intel's announced today that it is naming it's newest chipset "Atom". The new family of chips has two members, a low-power mobile processor for the next generation of mobile Internet devices and a single-core processor for ultra-low-cost laptops. Cnet has more details here.