Netbooks not cannibalising notebook sales after all? [Video]

Netbook sales may not cannibalising notebook sales as much as previously thought according to Intel’s Mooly Eden, general manager of the Mobile Platforms Group. He claimed that most netbook customers already own a notebook of some kind.

“If netbooks are 20% of the overall [notebook] category and 15% of the 20% is cannibalization, we have 3% cannibalization… And it’s cannibalizing mainly the Celeron space because I don’t see anyone buying a netbook instead of a Core [Pentium or Centrino notebook],” said Eden. ““We are still holding true to what we said before: a netbook is a companion device, the majority of the netbooks sold today are sold as secondary device. And now I’m speaking data,” he added. Read more

Intel’s next-gen Atom ‘Pine Trail’ platform not delayed [Video]

Intel’s Mooly Eden, general manager of the Mobile Platforms Group, refuted recent speculation that its next-generation Atom platform dubbed Pine Trail has been delayed. “Pine Trail is on schedule and you can quote me on that” said Eden at the Intel Technology Summit in San Francisco.

This would mean that they are still on track for the new chips to be released in the fourth quarter of this year. He also confirmed that demos of Pine Trail and the Pineview processor will be present at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in September. Read more

No new Asus/Acer netbooks for H209; Acer’s dual-boot Android netbook postponed

Two of the biggest netbook manufacturers, Asustek and Acer, will not be releasing any new netbook models in the second half of 2009 according to Digitimes. Both companies will instead concentrate on its CULV-based ultra-thin line-up during H209. The move by Intel to delay the launch of its Pine Trail platform (including Pineview processor) to Q1 2010 is one of the reasons both companies new netbook models have been pushed back.

This does not extend to models already announced, therefore Asus will still be launching its Eee PC T91 and T101 touchscreen netbooks. The report also suggests that an Asus Android model will launch in the second half. However, previous reports suggested we would not see an Asus Android netbook until Q1 2010 at the earliest. The Eee PC T101 is expected to launch after the launch of Windows 7 (October 22nd).

Acer will let its 10-inch Aspire One model fly the flag for Acer in H209 and it continues to reduce netbook marketing budgets and R&D spend in this area. Acer did announce an Android netbook that would dual-boot with Windows XP. The report says that the launch of this model has been postponed from its pencilled-in August launch date due to weak demand. There was no mention as to when it would likely launch instead.

Toshiba Dynabook UX to get WiMAX option

The Toshiba Dynabook UX, also known as the NB200 in Europe and NB205 in the US, will be getting a WiMAX option in mid-August. This is in Japan only and follows a number of manufacturers including Samsung and Sony bundling WiMAX into their ultraportable category.

Intel has partnered with UQ Communications to promote the widespread deployment of WiMAX Services in Japan. UQ is committed to cover 90 percent of Japan with its WiMAX service by 2012.

The WiMAX-enabled Dynabook UX will have the model number US/27JBLMAJ. It uses Intel’s WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150 chipset, which uses the same chip to deliver both wireless services. According to Slashgear, it is the first time such a chip has been used on a netbook. The remaining specifications of the Dynabook UX are the same (N280 Atom, 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD).

Intel’s next-gen Atom ‘Pineview’ processor delayed to H1 2010?

Intel’s Pine Trail platform that incorporates the next-generation Atom ‘Pineview’ processor may be delayed until early next year to keep manufacturers happy. According to a report from Digitimes Research senior analyst Joanne Chien, the move would be made to let the netbook market ‘settle’ following strong shipment sales.

Her analysis suggests that worldwide netbook shipments will peak in the third quarter this year at 8.3 million units before falling marginally to 8.2 million units in the fourth quarter. She says that Intel has delayed the launch of the new N450 processor to get the most out of the current N270/N280 Atom processors and help clear inventory before the new chips are introduced. Read more

First Intel N450 ‘Pineview’ netbooks shown off in September

The next-generation Atom processors, dubbed Pineview, are scheduled for release by the end of the year. However, we won’t have to wait that long to see exactly what netbooks will use the next-gen platform.

Digitimes is reporting that Intel is planning on unveiling a number of products at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) which runs from 22-24 September in San Francisco. Among them are netbooks based on the N450 Atom processor as well as the company’s latest ultra-thin notebooks.

The Intel Atom N450 processor has the same clock speed as the current N280 (1.66GHz) but will benefit from running much cooler. The result should be netbooks that are thinner, fanless and have longer battery lives than we’ve seen so far. That’s the theory anyway…

Via Portable Monkey.

Intel keen to push CULV-based ‘ultra-thins’ over netbooks

Intel has not hidden from the fact that it expects the CULV-based ultra-thin notebook segment to deliver higher margins over what it is currently delivered from netbooks. Intel’s CEO, Paul Otellini, reiterated this point at its recent Q2 conference call in which he talked about the differentiation between both product lines and why the company is bullish about the ‘ultra-thin’ segment’.

As the name suggests, ultra-thin devices are based on ultra-low voltage processors which means that a new class of portable can be created, well according to Intel anyway. “I think the usage models are really differentiating between notebooks and netbooks and that will be even more clear when the new ultra-thins are out there because now if you want a thin and light notebook, you don’t have to just pick a netbook. You can pick an affordable notebook that has more functionality,” said Otellini. Read more

Intel relaxing netbook resolution rules: 10-inch HD screens to become mainstream?

Intel is relaxing the rules surrounding the screen resolutions found in netbooks. Currently for a typical 10-inch display, the most common screen resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels. There have been a few select models with higher resolution display options, like the HP mini 2140 and the Dell Mini 10 netbooks, but not any that have a 10-inch high-resolution screen as standard.

According to sources in Taiwan, whilst Intel is still sticking to its 10.2-inch threshold for netbooks, it will start to relax the rules surrounding screen resolutions. Therefore, we may start to see more and more netbooks to be released with 1366 x 768 resolutions. Read more

Netbook demand running out of steam? Vendors cautious over Atom N450 netbook sales

Netbooks have seen explosive growth since they first launched onto the market around two years ago. It’s been one of the few technology segments where growth has been sustained during these tough economic times. Due to its success, it seems that everyone wants a slice of the pie. Because of this there has been huge competition in this space, albeit with a lot of ‘me-too’ products with similar specs and uninspiring designs.

Therefore, it is probably no surprise to learn that netbook demand in H1 2009 failed to live up to some manufacturers expectations. The result of this is unsold inventory and margin dilution due to high competition. Some of these vendors have already significantly reduced their netbook Research & Development expenses as well as lowering marketing budgets. Read more

Samsung & Lenovo lose preferential pricing for Intel Atom processors

Since the first netbook was launched nearly two years ago, screen sizes have got progressively larger. The ‘typical’ netbook size has moved from 7-inches, to 9-inches and the current standard, 10-inches. However, a number of manufacturers haven’t stopped there and are looking at 11.6”/12.1” devices to launch under their netbook brands.

The likes of Microsoft and Intel are keen to draw a line under what a typical netbook should be, mainly to ensure discounts are only awarded to devices that meet strict guidelines. For example, Microsoft will only allow OEMs to use Windows 7 Starter Edition if the screen size is no bigger than 10.2-inches. Read more

Nvidia Chief confirms ION price: 3x more expensive than Atom

There has been much speculation as to how much Nvidia’s ION platform costs netbook manufacturers. Now Nvidia’s Chief Executive, Jen-Hsun Huang, has unveiled the price via an interview with the French La Tribune newspaper. It appears that the ION platform (GeForce 9400M GPU + Atom CPU) is approximately three times more expensive when compared to Intel’s own platform.

“[The price of Nvidia Ion chip] is between $30 and $35. This is significant, but it is [needed] to have a good high definition video on the screen,” said Jen-Hsun Huang. Intel recently confirmed that it was charging more for the Atom processor than it does when combined with the Intel chipset. Read more

Netbook vendors clearing out XP inventory to make way for Windows 7?

Microsoft announced its Windows 7 upgrade program earlier this week. The fact that Windows XP devices have not been earmarked for an upgrade has left some netbook vendors upset. They are concerned that this may lead to negative publicity in the netbook segment and are thus looking to clear XP-based netbook stock to make way for Windows 7.

This is not an opinion shared by all, as some vendors believe that consumers are not willing to pay a premium for the new Windows 7 OS. Some are only planning to bundle Windows 7 with Intel’s new Atom processor, the 1.66GHz Pineview N450. This will continue to leave netbooks based on the older processors (N270/N280) with Windows XP.

In related news, Asus is lowering prices of its 7-inch and 8.9-inch Eee PCs to try and clear inventory. According to sources in the retail channel, prices in Taiwan for 7-inch models have been lowered from NT$6,999 to NT$4,999 (US$153). In China, prices for the Eee PC 900A has been reduced to 1,499 Yuan (US$219). This price drops may start to impact Western markets shortly.

Via Digitimes.

Netbook shipments expected to increase five-fold by 2013

Netbook shipments are expected to reach 59 million units in 2013, a near five-fold increase compared to the 12.5 million units shipped in 2008 according to research group Semico. In 2013, the near 60 million netbooks will account for nearly 22 percent of the total mobile PC market.

The report also says that there will be a much wider array of processors powering future netbooks, Intel currently accounts for 90 percent of netbooks. It expects VIA to become more prominent as well as ARM-based chips from the likes of Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Freescale. Read more

Intel partners with Nokia to create new class of ‘always-on’ mobile gadgets

Following intense rumours and speculation this morning, Intel has now officially announced that it is to partner with Nokia to “define a new mobile platform beyond today’s smartphones, notebooks and netbooks”. Exactly what kind of gadgets these will be remains a mystery, although it may just be both companies trying to push the Mobile Internet Device (MID) segment which hasn’t taken off as Intel hoped.

Intel talks of these devices having “ubiquitous Internet connectivity” in a “pocketable form factor”. All of this sounds incredibly similar to the smartbook devices being pushed by ARM-based companies such as Qualcomm and Freescale. It even talks of low power computing. Read more

Intel says netbooks should cost no more than $400

Intel continues to try and set clear boundaries as to exactly how one defines a netbook. If they are not trying to tell you that netbooks are not meant for adults and not capable of multitasking, creating videos and encode music, they are trying to define exactly how much one should cost.

Intel is suggesting that a netbook should cost no more than $400 according to Fudzilla. This is $100 more than the price they suggested last year. Anything over $400 they feel belongs to notebooks which, theoretically, are more powerful and sport bigger displays as well as higher prices. Read more

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