Comments on: Report: Lenovo, Samsung lose preferential pricing for Intel Atom CPUs

By: Latest computer industry scuttle for July 27th, 2009 « RJM Computers Boise Blog – Main Site at www.rjmpc.com

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:42:28 +0000

[...] Lenovo, Samsung lose out on Intel Atom netbook CPU pricing: http://www.liliputing.com/2009/07/report-lenovo-samsung-lose-preferential-pricing-for-intel-atom-cpu… [...]

By: Dynamo

Dynamo — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:33:51 +0000

Via Nano, or AMD Neo or Intel CLUV could be replace Atom

By: Dynamo

Dynamo — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:33:51 +0000

Via Nano, or AMD Neo or Intel CLUV could be replace Atom

By: darvf

darvf — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:18:05 +0000

Intel is pretty shifty with regard to their Atom pricing: you can either get the standalone chip for $45, or the chip plus the crappy GMA950 chipset for $25. Obviously, Intel is a profit-motivated company, so they wouldn't do this for any reason but to discourage better chipsets being paired with their CPU. I'm certain that were the prices reversed, you'd see the GMA950 disappear from the face of the earth in one hardware cycle.

It's funny though – the pricing is almost just if not for the existence of better alternative chipsets – the typical Atom chipset handicaps the computer as a whole by crippling its GPU capability and I/O ports, and it literally is worth less from a utilitarian standpoint than similar systems with newer chipsets. A bit like buying an untrained packhorse vs buying a trained packhorse with cement blocks for shoes.

I'm hoping this loss of preferential pricing will help push Samsung and Lenovo to abandon all typical netbook chipsets and go for worthwhile netbooks with ATI and NVIDIA parts (or just skip to AMD and VIA systems altogether).

I didn't want a GMA950 in my future Thinkpad netbook, anyway

By: LinuxLover

LinuxLover — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:12:08 +0000

Smells like an anti-trust case to me…

By: BoloMKXXVIII

BoloMKXXVIII — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:39:32 +0000

Or the next big thing could be going back to 9″ models using ARM processors and Intel could be partially responsible for sliting their own throat with higher prices.

By: MonkeyKing1969

MonkeyKing1969 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:31:32 +0000

On the bright side there is a good possibility that the 11″ netbooks will be the next big seller, thus putting Samsung and Lenovo out in front of the competition.

As netbooks become more mainstream they will need to satisfy more mainstream tastes in a similar curve. Your average consumer will like an 11″ screen especially if, like the N510, it weighs nearly that same as a 10″ netbook.

By: DougC3

DougC3 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:59:44 +0000

Traditionally, when you buy something, you own it and can use it in any legal fashion you please. For example, McDonalds doesn't give a fig how you eat their hamburgers and probably wishes you would feed a few to your dog.

The controls used by Intel and MS seem to be edging a bit toward the pernicious. Maybe there are precedents for this sort of thing in technology, the TV industry or perhaps the movie industry.

What are some other examples of this sort of control?

By: hehz0r

hehz0r — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:58:45 +0000

Hopefully at least either Lenovo or Samsung, preferrably both, will release 12″ netbooks with matte screens, and perhaps better processors than Atom?

By: Lenovo

Lenovo — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:29 +0000

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By: Mikez

Mikez — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:17:18 +0000

It sounds to me as if both companies are treading in “anti-competitive” waters.
Unfortunately, our legal system is slow and very expensive -
It will take time and someone with very deep pockets to challenge them.

By: Report: Lenovo, Samsung lose preferential pricing for Intel Atom CPUs | Tech Talk

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:16:06 +0000

[...] Report: Lenovo, Samsung lose preferential pricing for Intel Atom CPUs [...]

By: Raziel

Raziel — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:13:36 +0000

If Intel keeps acting this way, the Nano and Neo may gain a bigger foothold….

Which is fine by me. Bring on the competition. I'd like to see a greater variety in these netbooks!