Intel has updated its guidelines for future netbook platforms. We already wrote about the more expensive platform that can get to 12 inch format and 4GB memory at $399 while the less expensive platform, as you would expect, will offer less for less money.
As of Q4 2011, cheaper netbook goes up to $329 price and it can run Atom N2600 clocked at 1.6GHz. The platform of choice is the Cedar Trail-M platform powered with Intel NM10 chipset and on-board integrated graphics. Memory buffer is limited to 2GB DDR3 800MHz and the storage can vary from 32GB SSD up to 250GB HDD.
The OS of choice is Windows 7 starter or Home basic and the choice of MeeGo 1.0 or Chrome OS. The latter two are yet to be released but they should be available by Q4 2011 or should we say end of this year.
Screen size can vary from 7 inch to 10.2 inch and battery is specified from 4 to 6 cell. This is not a bad deal for up to $329, as some systems might end up being cheaper. Let's not forget that some of these future netbooks can end up with WiMAX cards and all of them will at least have WiFi.
With the push for Wireless Display as well as Wireless music, as well as fast wake up from stand by, new netbooks will definitely offer a reason to get your mitts on one, in case you are not completely and utterly in love with tablets only.
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PC Hardware
Cheaper netbooks can get 2GB memory
$329 for slower Cedarview-M