Netbooks get new life with Atom chips

Chipmaker Intel® has reaffirmed its focus on the growth of low-cost PCs by introducing a new processor designed to bring better performance and battery life to the netbook computer.

The dual-core chips are based on the Atom™ architecture and, according to Intel, can improve power management and performance by up to 20 percent compared to previous generations. Intel has also doubled the graphics performance from its previous version of the chip.

This announcement comes at a time when netbooks have been overshadowed by new, up-and-coming technology, like tablet computers and the Ultrabook®. While netbook sales have slipped around the world, Intel evidently still sees a market for the low-cost, low-power devices.

The chipmaker says the new design will also be ideal for retail and healthcare IT devices.

Many of the would-be netbook sales are likely to go to Ultrabooks instead, which also boast a long battery life and the convenience of portability. According to reports, as many as 50 Ultrabook models will be debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and Intel expects the device to account for up to 40 percent of notebook shipments in 2012.