Intel looks to laptop manufacturers for help

Intel plans to offer financial incentives to leading laptop manufacturers who are willing to focus on developing the company's new Ultrabook concept. The extremely thin and portable device aims to combine the best attributes of tablet and laptop computing.

According to ZDNet, Intel is hoping its Ultrabooks will comprise 40 percent of the consumer market by the end of next year. But considering its first offering will not debut until September, and may carry a $1,000 price tag, critics remain skeptical.

Manufacturers will likely remain conservative, and monitor the progress of Intel's September launch before making such a significant operational decision. Although backing Ultrabooks would certainly be a risky move, the rewards could be impressive.

The only comparable product currently on the market may be the MacBook Air. The Apple offering was well received and more than 1 million units were shipped within Q4 2010 alone.

Consumer preferences have not overwhelmingly gravitated toward any one computing device just yet. If the Ultrabook delivers on the promise of a tablet-like interface with notebook-like power, it could transform the landscape of the consumer computing market.