14 DAY TRIAL // As NVIDIA, Intel is also preparing to roll out a new platform that will be used in the upcoming wave of low-power, low-cost computer systems, better known as netbooks and nettops. While netbooks are more popular than nettops, due to their portable form factor, the latter do manage to gain a significant amount of interest from computer users. On that note, Intel's Atom refresh will also include a new Atom D510, dual-core processor that will be paired with a new southbridge and is expected to enable manufacturers to built sub US$299 nettops.
According to Fudzilla, Intel has already advised its partners to design Atom-based nettops that can be used for instant messaging, email, web browsing and music listening. Such a system can be designed on the company's upcoming dual-core Atom D510, which will be paired with the NM10 southbridge. Said to go for under US$299, the nettop will take advantage of the processor's integrated graphics core, which is reportedly going to be branded the GMA 3150.
Additional features of said nettop design will include a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of memory, while an optional DVD drive can also be made available, without going over the aforementioned price point, according to Intel. The choice for the operating system is either Windows 7 or Linux, although choosing Windows 7 might actually raise the price of the nettop. Aside from the processor model and chipset, the nettop is pretty much the same as the majority of today's similar computer systems.
Before you get your hopes high, you should take into account that Intel reportedly said that “Customers have sole discretion in setting system MSRP,” which basically means is that it's up to the vendors whether the price point of future nettops will be around US$299 or higher.