Intel to Detail upon Low-Cost Shelton Notebook Platform

Initially released during the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in October 2007, the Shelton'08 platform has been kept under the strictest secret. Intel has recently decided to go public with its specifications in its trusted circle of partners, and announced it is due for release in the third quarter this year.

The Shelton platform is targeted at the low-cost notebook market sector. The platform will feature Intel's single-core Diamondville CPU to work at a core frequency of 1.6GHz. The CPU will come with a 533MHz FSB and will only take up around 8W (which should keep the battery up to 3 or 4 hours of intensive computer usage).

The chipset is called 945GSE, and includes built-in graphics to comply with the DirectX9 specifications. It only supports single-channel, DDR2 memory modules, but it should be enough for the 1.6GHz CPU. According to miscellaneous sources at Intel's technology partners, there will be a 802.11g Wi-Fi module, USB/PATA port solid-state drive, and a 7- or 8-inch panel to complete the design.

When they first arrive on the market, the notebooks will feature an estimative price of $300-500, depending on the specific hardware capabilities and feature set. According to the same sources, Intel has also scheduled for release a dual-core version of their Diamondville CPU that is expected during the third quarter of 2008.

Micro-Star International and Gigabyte have publicly announced that they have started designing their products. Some other major PC vendors (especially Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Acer) are expected to start their own Shelton-based products. Channel vendors estimate that the key factors for these notebooks will be design, channel marketing and price, as they must face the whipping competition of the next generation of Asus Eee PCs.

Although the production of Shelton-based notebooks is in its early stage, the industry has warned upon a possible shortage in the standardized components (medium-size panels and batteries).

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