HP Wants Atom in Bigger Notebooks. So What’s the Problem?
Quite the conundrum over possible restrictions using Intel’s Atom CPU if Digitimes has the facts straight. Today they’re reporting that HP is negotiating with Intel so that they can use the Atom chipset in notebooks with display sizes larger than 10.2-inches. Allegedly, HP wants to offer Atom-based devices with 11.6- and 13.3-inch displays. I can’t see any technical reason that an Atom-based device can’t make that work; even the older Intel GMA 950 can externally output up to 2048×1536 resolution, although that would be pushing the envelope.
What I’m not exactly understanding about the Digitimes piece is this: why is HP looking for Intel to ease Atom restrictions for larger-screened devices in the first place. Doesn’t the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 use an Intel Atom with the 12-inch display outputting to 1280×800 resolution? The only difference I can think of here is that HP might want to use the N270 instead of the Z520/Z530 Atom used by Dell for some reason. Unless of course, Intel has different restrictions and deals with unique computer manufacturers… now wouldn’t that be interesting?
I didn’t know that Intel was behaving like Microsoft and telling its customers what they can do with their chipsets.
Possibly because the Z series are priced significantly higher ($40)?
It’s obvious Intel wants manufacturers to sell bigger laptops with the more profitable Core 2 Duo chips, instead of the cheaper Atom.
Intel didn’t put restriction on the Atom Z processor because they intentionally crippled them to a max RAM of 1GB.
In other news, GM announced that customers of their upcoming small vehicle will only be allowed to drive it within their own state. To cross state boundaries, they’ll have to use an SUV.
Update on the pricing: The N270 launched at $44 while the Z530 at $70.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Atom_microprocessors
And yeah, that 1GB limit is ridiculous, turns me off from the Dell Mini 12.
Z series is no longer limited to 1GB RAM, but it is still limited to 1366×768 & PATA.
N270 Atom has always had these limitations… I thought everyone could’ve guessed by now… 10.2″ max screen size, 1024×600 max resolution, and the gma 950 chipset must be used (see intel rejecting the nvidia ion). Also the Z series of atoms, the MID Silverthorne ones, only have gma500 graphics. Not even enough to run Aero.
I wish they would develop a low powered processor (perhaps this article on the atom in a 13.3 notebook chassis would work) that just shuts up and stops turning the fan on and off, faster and slower, on and off. I go back to my desktop often and it’s so nice to have the computer make the same humming noise for once. Put that atom in, stick on a huge fan and I’m good.