Atom processor

The second generation of netbooks is here and they've brought more storage with them.

The pint-sized mobile computers typically now come pre-loaded with Windows 7, but consumers should remember that not every netbook running Windows 7 is quicker than older models with Windows XP. Models released onto the market in the Christmas run-up are often running on the same hardware as their predecessors.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Samsung is rolling out the Go netbook through AT&T next week. The 2.8-pound device will operate Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition and connect via AT&T's 3G network.

Intel has developed a mobile e-reader about the size of a paperback book designed to convert printed text to digital text and then read the text out loud to users at speeds that match individual needs. Intel said the device aims to help people who have learning disabilities such as dyslexia or vision problems that make reading printed words difficult or impossible.

PC retailers have spent the last few weeks gearing up in a big way for the launch of Windows 7. They're cleared out old inventory and stocked the latest PCs and notebooks in anticipation of increased demand for Windows 7-ready hardware.

But you may not need new a new PC to run Windows 7. One of the aspects of Windows 7 that has been most lauded by pre-release testers, in fact, is the new operating system's respectable performance on older hardware. And in tough economic times, that's good news.

To find out for sure how your PC might fare with Windows 7, read on.

On Tuesday, Nokia introduced its Booklet 3G to U.S. consumers. Nokia has partnered with AT&T, Best Buy, and Microsoft to launch its first device that aims to breach the chasm between personal computer and mobile device.

The Booklet 3G runs on Microsoft Windows 7 and is powered by an Intel Atom processor. Nokia promises the device will deliver up to 12 hours of battery life so users can leave their power cable behind and still stay connected and productive.

Nokia is getting into the netbook game. The mobile-phone maker announced Monday the Nokia Booklet 3G, a Windows-based netbook with an Intel Atom processor that is set to compete in a crowded, but growing, market.

As Nokia sees it, more people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility. Kai Oistamo, Nokia's executive vice president for devices, said the Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for a company in the business of connecting people.

Will Windows 7 succeed where Vista did not? An Intel executive thinks so.

Sean Maloney, chief sales and marketing officer for the chipmaker, said Wednesday that the upcoming Microsoft operating system will find a greater reception among consumers and business users than its predecessor.

Speaking at the Intel Technology Summit in San Francisco, Maloney said "this time" the adoption of the new OS will "go faster."

No Vista Deployment for Intel

A nettop PC -- a small, mini desktop computer -- can function as an alternative to the classic desktop PC. These devices are compact and inexpensive, making them well suited for use as a simple workstation. They also consume relatively little power.

A nettop, like a netbook, is an inexpensive PC intended primarily for accessing the Internet, explains Christof Windeck from the German computer magazine c't.

"That essentially means they're perfectly suited for using as a web browser, an e-mail client, and perhaps a simple photo editor for uploading images," says Windeck.

The growing category of netbooks, many of which are built around Intel's Atom processor, is getting a competitor. Qualcomm announced Sunday it is expanding its Snapdragon platform with a new chipset for "smartbooks" and new smartphones.

Smartbooks are smaller than netbooks and will be sold through telecommunications companies.

Improved Battery, GPS

The San Diego, Calif.-based company said its chipset, which will use the new 45-nanometer process technology, will provide devices with faster processing, improved battery life, and other enhancements, such as GPS.

Lenovo and Nvidia have teamed up to add advanced graphics capabilities -- including the playback of high-definition 1080p video and Blu-ray discs -- to the China-based PC maker's latest mini-laptop.

Through the addition of Nvidia's energy-efficient Ion graphics technology, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 will be the first netbook to harness enough graphics horsepower to fully support high-definition PC games, many of which will not run on today's low-cost small PCs, noted Nvidia Senior Vice President Jeff Fisher.