Technology, Laptop | featured news

Apple would like you, if just for a moment, to forget about the iPad.

Intel on Monday launched its next-generation Atom netbook processor, saying it will bring longer battery life and improved system performance to low-cost laptops.

By Texas Instruments, a new, 6mm-square Bluetooth system-on-a-chip can operate for "more than a year" on a small button-cell battery (like you see in watches or very tiny remotes). Everything from cellphones to laptops could get a battery boost from the technology increasing competition for the emerging Wi-Fi Direct to Connect technology.

Maybe it's because they are cheap. Maybe it's because they are small. Or maybe it's just because people don't need computers for much more than Net access these days.