Intel has had a firm grip on the netbook market when it comes to processors. This is not surprising since the company has its branding on nearly all the desktops and laptops available in the market. This doesn’t mean that there are no other players in the market.
In fact, there are a handful of them who have found a niche market and are doing very well. As it stands, Intel processors can jack up the price of the netbook, that’s why some users are finding an alternative which can be considered at par or even nearly as powerful as the market leader. This is where the arm netbook comes into the picture.
As the name suggests, the netbook is powered by ARM architecture. This is the same processor that is used in mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), and other portable devices. Since a netbook is considered as an ultraportable device, it is just logical to make use of the processor to power the netbooks. The main question that arises is whether it will be at par with the leading competitor.
Arm netbook will have difficulty breaking in to a market that has long been dominated by the big guy Intel, but with a little brand repositioning, it may do very well. It is not expected to dethrone Atom, but it can be a real alternative and may cut some of the market share of Intel. The good news is that many people are highly anticipating the release of the first batch or ARM-based netbook.
The reasons are varied, primary of which is the chance to compare its performance with the leading processor. The ARM processor has been very successful in the mobile device enterprise that even the top netbook manufacturers are very optimistic about arm netbook. At least three of the top brands have expressed interest in the ARM processor and others have confirmed the released of the first wave of arm netbook at the end of 2009.
It is interesting to point out that the arm netbook is marketed as a “smartbook”. This is more of a marketing move rather than an indication of a delineation of a netbook and a smartbook in terms of specifications. It is unclear if the ARM processor will turn out to be more powerful than the Atom, but many netbook enthusiasts have reason to believe that the difference in performance may not be as severe.
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