Intel has just introduced the new dual-core Atom N570 processor for netbooks at CeBIT. Yeah, we know that, like the small mammals that toppled the dinosaurs before, tablets have been basically pushing out netbooks. But the market’s still there, and in case you ever need to pick up a low-cost, portable PC in the near future, then this is what you’re going to want to ask for. The new processor is rated with a 1.66GHz clock, which makes it faster than the previous dual-core Atom, and is built with a 45nm process and a TDP of 8.5W to keep it cool and energy efficient.
During a press event in Moscow where Intel rolled out the first MeeGo-based netbooks, a local Intel exec pulled out a couple of devices that weren’t even on anyone’s radar yet. No one knows anything about them yet, but look! A smartphone and a good-sized touchscreen tablet that packs an Intel Atom inside sticker running on a MeeGo operating system. More photos after the break.
Ok, it’s not actually a MacBook Pro, but a clone from China that looks really close to the real thing. Real close, from the unibody exterior design to the 14-inch screen. Disregarding the MacBook look-alike exterior, this one comes with an interesting spec though, with a system that’s built around Intel’s dual-core Atom 330 processor and Nvidia’s Ion graphics chipset working under the hood. It’s definitely under-powered compared to the real thing, but at least this one comes with an HDMI output—something you won’t find natively on the original.
An Intel blog post just announced that the company will be expanding their Atom line of processors, with the introduction of the N470. It’s still the same Pine Trail chip aimed at netbooks, although the new processor number comes with a faster 1.83GHz clock—a step up compared to the existing 1.66GHz N450. Aside from the faster core clock, everything is still pretty much the same, with a 512k L2 cache size, DDR2-667 support, and, more importantly, the same 5.5W TDP that promises extended battery runtimes. We should see new netbooks running the faster 1.86GHz chip within the next few months.
