LAS VEGAS--The smartbook is now a tablet, at least according to
Nvidia, whose upcoming Tegra 2 chip will power these mobile computers
in 2010.
Device makers using Nvidia's Tegra 2 chip will, for the most part,
initially bring out tablets--not classic clamshell designs--according
to Mike Rayfield, general manager of Nvidia's mobile business. "A year
ago there was a lot of talk about clamshell devices," Rayfield said,
speaking in a teleconference before the Consumer Electronics Show. But
that's changed, according to Rayfield, because consumers may mistake a
clamshell-design smartbook for a Windows-Intel-based Netbook.
"The tablet is a good entree from a (telecommunication) carriers
standpoint. It would avoid confusion of people getting clamshells and
assuming they're getting a Windows PC," he said.
On the CES floor, Nvidia was showing prototype tablets using its new
Tegra 2 chip
On the CES floor, Nvidia was showing prototype tablets using its new
Tegra 2 chip
(Credit: Brooke Crothers)
Rayfield described the devices as having "screen sizes between 5 and
10 inches, all touch-capable...most of them are very thin, well under
an inch," he said, adding that they will have one or two cameras,
Wi-Fi, and 3G, among other features.
Tegra 2 will provide full high-definition Web streaming and Flash
(Adobe) acceleration. "Tegra 2 is in production. Hundreds of
development systems [are ]out in the wild. You'll see devices with
Tegra 2 in the marketplace in 2010," he said.
Some tablet makers will go direct through retail, some through
carriers, Rayfield said.
"The GPU (graphics processing unit) is used extensively in flash
acceleration. We believe that will be a significant differentiator,"
he said, speaking about the Tegra 2's graphics component, a strong
suit for Nvidia.