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Intel is scheduled to launch a new Atom N450 processor later this year or early next year. The new chips aren’t expected to be significantly faster than the Atom N270/N280 chips that are currently available, but they should conserve battery life and combine some graphics functions and other features that are normally located on the chipset onto the processor itself.

Fudzilla is reporting that Intel plans to price the new chips at about $64, or $20 more than the Intel Atom N270, which sells for $44 today. This could help explain earlier reports indicating that netbook makers have said they’re reluctant to begin using the new chips.

Of course, the Intel Atom N450 will still be much cheaper than most other current generation Intel processors. An Intel spokesperson told me the company has no comment on the pricing.