Huge sales target for Atom

A TOP REGIONAL EXECUTIVE in the Philippines reckons that Intel has set a target to have a huge number of PCs running on its Atom microprocessor by 2011.

Ever the optimist, Navin Shenoy of Intel says, "We expect to grow the overall market by 100 million by 2011."

Intel is looking to overtake other chip makers and, even with a huge market share, this target may well be setting the company up for a huge disappointment. But with netbook prices dropping every week (basic models range from around $250 to $350) and as more and more OEMs haul themselves onto the crappy lappy bandwagon, perhaps Intel is not stretching the truth too far.

The ever-expanding range of cheap-as-chips computers either run on Linux or Windows XP, with Microsoft even extending its support for its long-in-the-tooth OS way beyond its expected expiry date.

According to Intel there are already more than 60 laptop and desktop designs running on its Atom chip. µ