Intel Atom logoThere are two things I should point out about this headline. First, it doesn’t really matter what Intel says, PC makers are free to set computer prices at will. And second, while Intel’s latest guideline may sound like good news for consumers interested in picking up cheap mini-laptops, Intel had originally suggested prices of $299 or less. But Fudzilla reports that the chip maker has acknowledged the fact that computer makers have been selling pricier netbooks for a while, and now suggests netbooks should be priced at $400 or less.

Intel’s other guidelines for what separates a netbook from a fuller featured notebook? If it has a screen between 7 and 12 inches, for instance, along with a low price, it’s a netbook. Intel would also probably prefer it if all netbooks used Intel Atom or Celeron processors, but I think it’s safe to say that any cheap mini-laptop with a low power Intel, VIA, or even AMD processor can probably be considered a netbook. If it looks like a duck and all that.

Of course, there are still plenty of netbooks with 10 inch or smaller screens that are going for more than $400, but most Intel Atom based systems sell for under $500.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,547 other subscribers

9 replies on “Intel: Netbooks should cost $400 or less”

  1. Intel and Microsoft are trying to keep netbooks freom cannibalizing more lucrative markets. So, they try to define the market for netbooks instead of letting the market define itself. They’re keeping back innovation, pure and simple, because of greed.

    1. Intel created the category…yet you accuse them of keeping back innovation. hater.

      1. Intel created the Classmate as a direct response to OLPC XO-1; to not let competitors create/dominate new large area of the market.

  2. Well, Intel said $299 when 7″ and 8.9″ machines were the norm shipping with Linux. With todays 1″ machines with XP and fancy parts $400 is okay.

  3. Intel also thought I should pay (them) $385 for my 80387/20 – –
    Back in the day when $100US would buy more than a loaf of bread.

Comments are closed.