Intel gives Classmate PC a makeover
Intel unveiled an updated version of its Classmate
PC laptop at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Shanghai, but changes made
to the device are largely cosmetic -- at least for now.
The new Classmate PC has a sleeker look than its predecessor, and should appeal
to a broader range of users. It also offers the option of a 9-inch screen instead
of a 7-inch screen, and can have a built-in video camera. However, most of the
laptop's internal components remain largely unchanged from the original Classmate
PC. The new laptop also retains the soft plastic cover that does double-duty
as a carrying handle.
Pictures of the updated Classmate PC slipped out ahead of IDF when a Malaysian
PC maker unveiled the device at an event and pictures appeared online last week.
A product sheet for the new laptop was also leaked from a U.S. PC maker, giving
observer a first glimpse of the machine.
Like its predecessor, the latest Classmate PC runs Linux or Windows XP and
can include specialized software for schools.
One of the most useful improvements to the new Classmate PC design is the location
of its memory-card slot. In the first version, this was located behind the laptop
hinge and was hidden by the plastic cover. This slot was moved to the right
side of the chassis in the new version, where it remains protected from dust
by a rubber cover but is more easily accessible.
The keyboard remains the same size on the new Classmate PC, and most adults
will likely find the keys a bit cramped for extended typing. But Intel has added
color to the function keys to make them stand out more. In addition, the trackpad
is larger, making it easier to use for adult-sized fingers.
Both Classmate PC versions are based on the 900MHz Celeron M processor and
available with either hard drives or solid-state drives, which use flash memory
chips instead of a spinning magnetic platter. The solid-state drives are available
in 1G-byte and 2G-byte capacities.
During the third quarter, Intel plans to refresh the new Classmate PC by replacing
the Celeron M with an unspecified version of Atom, said Tom Rampone, an Intel
vice president and general manager of the company's Channel Platforms Group.
Atom is designed to be inexpensive and consume less power than previous Intel
chips.
Originally designed for students in developing countries, the Classmate PC
will be made available to PC makers in the U.S. and elsewhere who can market
the laptops to consumers, as well as schools. Indeed, pictures of the new Classmate
PC offered by smaller PC makers in Malaysia and the U.S. circulated online ahead
of the official launch.
Pricing for the new Classmate PC will vary depending on configuration, but
should range between US$400 and $600, Intel said.
IDG News Service
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