New AMD processor aims for middle ground between netbooks and laptops

AMD has officially announced its Yukon chip, but it's not for netbooks. More powerful and power-hungry than Intel's Atom or Freescale's just-announced i.MX515, the newly-renamed Athlon Neo is intended for low-cost but fully capable ultraportable laptops.

Unlike the chips from Intel and Freescale, the Neo supports Microsoft Vista and contains integrated ATI Radeon graphics. According to AMD's press release, the Neo can handle 1080p HD video and "delivers a robust casual gaming experience with realistic 3D graphics."

The Athlon Neo will make its public debut this week at CES, but already one computer manufacturer has showed off a laptop based on the new AMD processor. Hewlett-Packard's Pavilion dv2 ultraportable has a 12.1-inch screen, weighs 3.8 pounds (although a footnote says that "actual weight may vary"), and is just under one inch thick.

But what really makes the dv2 -- and the Athlon Neo -- special is the low cost. Starting at $700, it will cost about half the price of most Vista-capable laptops in its size and weight range.

If the Athlon Neo lives up to AMD's claims, consumers won't have to sacrifice functionality and weight considerations in their quest for inexpensive laptops. But are these the only factors to consider? Tellingly, neither AMD nor the HP press release mention the word "battery" -- not a good sign for people who need to have a full mobile computing experience.

Image: AMD