Netbooks set to go Dual Core - Can VIA and AMD Take on Intel’s Atom?

2008 will defiantly go down in technology history as the year of the netbook . Ultra portable PC’s defied the economy and helped push sales of notebooks beyond that of desktop’s for the first time in history . Netbooks have been thoroughly reviewed here at Maximum PC (see December 2008’s issue) and it’s clear from the both the comments, and the activity in the forums that those who are holding out are doing so primarily for one of two reasons. 1.) The form factor is too small. 2.) The machines are underpowered. Though not much can be done to address the first complaint, the second will likely become a moot point in 2009. This is the year we will start to see dual core and graphics accelerated netbooks go main stream. With the Intel Atom 330 already launched, the stakes will be raised considerably with new offerings from both VIA and AMD. As disappointing as this must be for AMD, it appears as though the VIA offering will be the strongest Intel competitor, but this may change ... (link)