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Published on March 10, 2008

By the middle of the year, computer users will be able to use a new type of personal computer which costs less than Bt10,000.

To make notebook and desktop computers available at a price which is affordable to all, Intel has developed a new family of low-cost microprocessors called the Atom.

Intel Microelectronics (Thailand) country manager Accharas Ouysinprasert said the new processor would change the face of computing by making it available to the masses at affordable prices.

Built on a low-cost concept, the Atom technology will allow PC manufacturers to keep prices at Bt10,000 or lower, Accharas said.

"As a low-cost PC, it is suitable for use by students or first-time users," he said.

Intel has stipulated that the Atom processor will drive the emergence of a variety of computing devices and will offer a slew of opportunities for computer manufacturers.

Accharas said the Atom would spawn business opportunities for the whole PC-manufacturing industry ,which can use the Atom as a foundation.

The Atom processor's design is based on a new architecture for small and low-power devices while maintaining the Intel Core 2 Duo instruction set.

Thus, Atom-based PC users will have a  computing experience similar to that of a standard PC.

Accharas said the only difference would be that an Atom-based PC will be used for basic, uncomplicated applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, making presentations or accessing the Internet. Therefore, the Atom platform will not be suitable for power users.

"This segment will be separated from the mainstream notebook market, where prices are beyond Bt20,000," he said.

Accharas said the target market for an Atom computer would be the education sector and first-time buyers.

Pongpen Sutharoj

The Nation