AMD sets sights on notebook market
Firm unveils mobile version of 64bit processor
AMD is hoping to loosen Intel's stranglehold on the corporate notebook market with the introduction of a mobile version of its 64bit 3400+ processor.
The vendor has claimed its Mobile AMD Athlon 64 processor 3400+ will open up the high-performance notebook sector, which will take it into new markets.
Just last week, research firm Context revealed that AMD was losing ground to Intel in the European notebook PC sector, as a result of the sharp increase in sales of Intel Celeron-powered notebooks. AMD's market share dropped to 10.7 per cent in May 2004, compared with 16.7 per cent in January.
System builders Alienware and Epson Direct are the first to sign up, with notebooks based on the new chip due out this month. The 3400+ sits at the top of AMD's Mobile Athlon 64 range, alongside the 3200+, 3000+ and 2800+.
The processor, like its desktop cousin, will boast the Enhanced Virus Protection security feature, which will be enabled once Microsoft releases the Windows XP Service Pack 2 later this summer.
"AMD continues to push the performance envelope with cutting-edge solutions for customers who refuse to sacrifice computing power for mobility," said Marty Seyer, general manager at AMD's microprocessor business unit.
"A growing number of PC consumers are demanding high-performance notebooks to help them stay connected on the go," said Matt Sargent, analyst for research firm Current Analysis.
Frank Azor, senior vice-president of Alienware's worldwide product group, said: "With 64bit capability for tomorrow's software, our customers can benefit from industry-leading performance, confident that their investment is protected."
AMD also introduced the Athlon XP-M processor 2200+, which will become the first AMD mobile processor to be used to power a convertible tablet PC.
Seyer said: "We were the first to bring 64bit and dynamic power management to notebooks, and now the performance of AMD mobile processors is available in a dynamic convertible tablet PC."
The Mobile AMD Athlon 64 processor 3400+ and Athlon XP-M processor 2200+ are available for $432 and $97 respectively.