PC Industry Scared Netbooks May Hurt Laptop Sales

From PC World: Advanced Micro Devices has no immediate plans to release a processor designed for low-cost laptops, sometimes called netbooks, saying its not yet clear whether or not growing shipments of these devices will cannibalize sales of mainstream laptops.

Some low-end netbook models use an existing AMD Geode processor, but the company hasn't announced a specific processor aimed at this product segment, apart from general plans to release chips based on a low-power architecture called Bobcat in 2010.

"We haven't announced anything for this type of cheap mini-notebook and we're still taking this wait-and-see attitude," said Pat Moorhead, AMD's vice president of advanced marketing.

"The fact that there are a number of models coming out might give the indication that [the market is] growing and everybody wants to do this, but what's interesting is you pull back the covers and talk to people in the industry and they're kind of scared," he said.

That fear stems from a concern that netbook sales will undermine sales of more powerful machines.

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