Freescale Challenges Intel, Wants to Bring Down Netbook Prices to Sub-$200
Posted in: 9inch, Netbook, tags: freescale, i.mx515If what it promises to finally bring down the price of netbooks to the sub-$200 point, then Intel may have something to worry about with Freescale's alternative - i.MX515 processor featuring ARM Cortex-A8 technology that can be used by netbook manufacturers.
Offering to deliver eight hours of battery life for 8.9-inch netbooks, Freescale's solution would also include software, components and resources to help OEM's in developing and deploying highly affordable netbooks.
According to Freescale, a netbook reference design featuring its i.MX515 processor and a new power management IC is already available. The said netbook reference runs on Canonical's Ubuntu OS, has the SGTL5000 ultra low-power audio codec and Adobe Flash Lite.
And of course, if OEM's would take on Freescale's processor in their next netbook offerings, price point will be at $200 max.
Via Business Wire
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- New Connectivity and OS Options for Netbooks
- Jupiter adds power management to Linux netbooks
- Intel to Stop Selling Atom Z Processors to Netbook Makers
- Intel Offers Free Netbooks to First 100 Intel Apps Created
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Chances are that in a year the cheapest Atom based netbooks will also be at $200, or less. So for the ARM design to survive it would have to offer something compelling that is hard for Atom netbooks to match, or users just won’t bother.
There are two things I can think of: One is huge battery life. I am thinking of 12+ hrs as standard in a sub-Kg package. Here the low ARM power will come in very handy (assuming the chipset is also low power). The other is an instant-on capability (for the complete environment-not a limited one), although linux based Atom netbooks might match that.
One or both of these could make the Freescale netbook useful enough. Otherwise the non-compatible CPU could turn out to be fatal.