As we all well know, Microsoft’s upcoming operating system, Windows 8, will feature low hardware requirements. With processor offerings from companies like Qualcomm and Nvidia to rival Intel, we will see numerous new low-cost laptops in the market due to increased competition.
“After more than 30 years of domination by a single microarchitecture–Intel Corp.’s X86–the PC microprocessor…market finally is set for some real competition,” said IHS-iSuppli analyst Matthew Wilkins.
According to Wilkins, one out of every four laptops in 2015 will feature an ARM processor. “Spurred by next year’s introduction of [Microsoft’s] new ARM-enabled Windows 8 operating system, ARM-based systems will account for 22.9 percent of global notebook PC unit shipments in 2015, up from 3 percent in 2012. Shipments will reach 74 million ARM notebooks in 2015, compared to 7.6 million in 2012,” Wilkins said.
Intel, on the other hand, is not planning on throwing in the towel. The company plans on introducing an Ultrabook that is set to rival the MacBook Air and feature a cheap price tag. The Ultrabook will run on Intel’s first system-on-a-chip for mainstream laptops, codenamed Haswell.
These cheap Windows 8 laptops are expected to be priced below $700 dollars and compete with Intel’s Celeron M and Atom powered laptops. For a decent price tag and a balance of price and performance, who wouldn’t want a Windows 8 laptop?
