Dirk Meyer Speaks of Next-Generation Platform, Better than Atom

With Intel's Atom still going strong in the netbook market, AMD plans to update its portable PC lineup with the introduction of a new platform aimed at providing users with lower-power, smaller-size and full-featured computer systems. According to recent comments coming from its CEO, Dirk Meyer, the chip maker aims to unveil a new platform that will be priced lower than Intel's Atom, while still providing better specifications in terms of both design and functionality. However, the upcoming platform will not be aimed at the netbook market, but rather at the notebook one.

 

In a recent news-article on Digitimes, Dirk Meyer has detailed some of the company's upcoming products, including a new platform aimed at providing its partners with a better-functionality, lower-power and smaller-size solution, compared to Intel's successful Atom platform for netbook systems. Samples of the upcoming platform are expected to become available to partners in 2010, but will not be meant for the netbook market.

 

It is AMD's belief that the “netbook” term will disappear in the future, especially since these devices continue to provide better and improved capabilities. These higher-end such systems are the main reason why the thin line between netbooks and notebook is getting thinner by the day. With no current product to directly compete with the Atom, AMD hopes that netbooks will disappear, making more room for ultrathin and ultraportable, fully fledged laptops, like the Athlon Neo-based Pavilion dv2.

 

Commenting on the recent wave of ARM-based platforms, Meyer was not confident in their success rate, claiming difficulties in market penetration due to lack of software support. As for the company's market strategy in the portable PC market, AMD will continue with its Puma platform for mainstream notebooks with Tigris on its way, while Yukon and Congo will be targeted at the ultra-thin and ultraportable segment.