Next-gen netbooks could serve double-duty as tablets

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 4
• Email

Samsung Series 7 Sliding PC

Intel is reportedly hoping computer makers will blur the lines between netbooks and tablets soon. The company’s next-generation Intel Atom chips will be appropriate for standard netbooks with 10 inch screens and keyboards, but Fudzilla reports they may also show up in convertible netbooks with touchscreen displays that can be folded down over the keyboard, or tablets devices with slide-out keyboards.

Of course, there’s nothing completely unique about these form factors. We’ve seen convertible netbooks before, and Samsung introduced a model with a slide-out keyboard earlier this year (although the Samsung Series 7 Sliding PC has yet to ship).

What’s new is that the upcoming Intel Atom Cedar Trail M 32nm chips will generate less heat than older chips, thus allowing for fanless design. That means we could see thinner computers with these form factors.

The Oak Trail chip in the Samsung Series 7 also supports a fanless design, but the Cedar Trail platform will offer much better overall performance than Oak Trail.

The Intel Atom N2600 and Atom N2800 chips will also reportedly support WiDi wireless display technology and fast boot features.

http://liliputing.com/2011/08/next-gen-netbooks-could-serve-double-duty-as-tablets.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Liliputing+%28Liliputing%29