Last year my team launched Intel's Centrino 2 Processor Technology for laptops (see post below). It was great to drive the technology worthy of the first brand refresh since Centrino was launched in 2003. This year I had the opportunity to follow up one hit with possibly an even bigger one. At Computex this week (June 2, 2009), we launched a new CPU and chipset to enable 'Ultra-Thin Laptops'. You may have read in the press about Intel's 'CULV chips'. CULV stands for Consumer Ultra Low Voltage - and my one regret is that what was intended as an internal descriptor became somewhat of the external descriptor in the press, which was never the intent.
Okay - but what is it? Well CPUs have certain thermal limits - how hot they can get. They are defined by their TDP, or Thermal Design Power. Most laptops have a 35W TDP CPU. What makes Intel's ULV processors so literally cool, is that they have a TDP of 10W. Which means it takes less effort to cool them, meaning less fans/cooling required. The result is the ability for OEMs to design thinner laptops and laptops with longer battery life. A great example of what is possible is the Acer Timeline. PC Magazine gave it this great review, highlighting its amazing 8 hours of batter life. And what's also incredible about it is the price. You can buy the larger 15.6" screen version at Walmart for only $598 with a Pentium processor.
You can learn more about ultra-thin laptops and Intel switchable graphics from me at Intel's web site. Or get the official story here. The buzz is starting to build for these laptops and will likely be the hottest seller for the holidays. This has Intel employees more excited than anything in recent memory. And we're a hard bunch to get excited :).
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