Intel is making moves to expand its presence in Chinese PC markets, offering customized netbook designs for Chinese consumers.
Analysts are saying that Intel is milking the Atom CPU for all it’s worth, tapping into new markets where it thinks the processor will succeed. That doesn’t just mean the netbook – UMPCs and ultraportables will use the chip too.
The new program is called Hurdle, and is specifically dedicated towards offering “designs that meet specific price targets and the hardware and software requirements of Intel’s Chinese partners,” according to an Intel spokesman.
And it seems like Windows XP won’t be part of the picture – Intel is specifically intending the program for 8.9- to 10.2-inch Linux machines. Considering ARM’s recent partnership with Linux for the latest update to Ubuntu, it’s looking like Linux is set to gain eminence at home and abroad.
The custom netbooks will be as cheap as 1750 yuan (US $256), a better deal than many American consumers are getting from Intel. So why such attention to the Chinese market? Anand Chandrasekher, senior VP of Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group, says netbooks are a “significant opportunity” in China. Many PC manufacturers look at Chinese markets as promising but unassailable, but Intel’s special efforts in pandering to Chinese netbook consumers may improve their presence in the nation.
