[CoLoCo] Why the Atom N270?

[Michael Haney]

On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 2:31 AM, Ryan Maki <ryan.maki at gmail.com> wrote:
> My recollection is that the chipset that takes _full_ advantage of
> those better features takes more power. Without the new chipset the
> 330 isn't that much slicker than the 270 for the price.
>
> So most manufacturers stuck with the trusty chipset they have already
> been using with the 270. They are waiting for a Rev. B of the chipset
> that won't chew up the weak 3 cell batteries in the budget netbooks.
>
> Once the chipset power consumption is reduced then it will be worth
> using the new processor.
>

I've been reading that a lot of manufacturers are looking at switching
to the ARM processor.  One company has developed a Linux netbook
running on the ARM based Snapdragon processor and its slated to go n
sale soon.  Also, the OLPC project is switching to ARM for the XO 2.
Switching to ARM means giving Windows the boot unless Micro$oft
decides to make a ARM compatible version, which I seriously doubt
they'd be willing to since to date they don't have an ARM compatible
version of even Windows Mobile.  The OLPC staff already said they
wouldn't use Windows Mobile.  From what I've been reading ASUS and MSI
will have ARM based netbooks very soon and the other manufacturers
aren't far behind.  The reason for the transition to the ARM processor
is primarily battery life.  The ARM processors uses far less battery
power than the Intel Atom N270 and provides pretty much the same
performance.  Its also cheaper, using ARM you'll likely start to see
sub $200 netbooks soon.

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
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