updated 01:20 pm EST, Mon February 16, 2009
Lenovo 12-inch netbook?
PC maker Lenovo is planning to launch a 12-inch netbook powered by the recently released Intel Atom N280 CPU, says a Monday DigiTimes report. Known as the IdeaPad S20, the netbook would violate Intel's restrictions for the use of its Atom chips, which aren't normally allowed for systems with greater than 10-inch screens. Lenovo would have to pay about a $10 premium per chip when purchased in bulk. Despite this, Lenovo is believed to be wagering that its offering of a unique product would help it boost sales and avoid competing in the hotly contested 10-inch market.
The sources from the article imply that a base version of the 1.66GHz system would use Intel's GN40 chipset and gain faster graphics as a result. It would also come preloaded with Windows XP and cost the equivalent of $586 in its home market of Taiwan. Competing products from ASUS (the 10-inch Eee PC 1004DN) and Acer, both with Atom N280 CPUs, are priced at a projected $379 and $500, respectively.