Intel Gives Its Classmate PC a Makeover

Future Plans

During the third quarter, Intel plans to refresh the new Classmate PC by replacing the Celeron M with an unspecified version of Atom, said Tom Rampone, an Intel vice president and general manager of the company's Channel Platforms Group. Atom is designed to be inexpensive and consume less power than previous Intel chips.

Originally designed for students in developing countries, the Classmate PC will be made available to PC makers in the U.S. and elsewhere who can market the laptops to consumers, as well as schools. Indeed, pictures of the new Classmate PC offered by smaller PC makers in Malaysia and the U.S. circulated online ahead of the official launch.

Pricing for the new Classmate PC will vary depending on configuration, but should range between $400 and $600, Intel said.