Intel unveils processors for ultra-thin laptops

The world's largest chip maker Intel today unveiled its a new range of mobile processors which would enable PC makers like HCL and Acer design lightweight, power-efficient and ultra-thin laptops.

The new range called 'Pine Trail' is an Intel Atom processor-based platform for netbooks and nettops.

"These new chips have integrated technologies like WiMax, which we feel will drive the PC penetration in India and help bridge the digital divide... We expect the new chip-integrated devices to be available in India in the later half of this year," Intel Director (Marketing-South Asia) Prakash Bagri told PTI.

The new range was unveiled at technology trade show 'Computex', being held in Taiwan.

Netbooks are compact mobile devices designed for basic Internet-related tasks such as browsing, listening to music, e-mailing and viewing videos. They are suited for first-time Internet users and can also be used for playing basic online games, social networking and making voice-over-IP phone calls.

"Intel has also announced the launch of a programme 'Project Blue', which would address the digital divide problem with the help of affordable computing and broadband," Bagri said, adding, the company is developing Internet-centric computing devices like WiMax-enabled nettops as a part of the initiative.