7. Netbooks of the Future: Replace Atom, Add Ion
We pit two new Ion-based netbooks from HP and Lenovo against a budget Gateway ultraportable with the mobile GS45 platform and see Intel's platform comes out on top.
As we’ve shown through each performance test, Gateway’s EC1437u ultraportable clearly matches or beats Ion-based netbooks in nearly every way. The only tests in which the ultraportable didn’t overwhelm the competition were in gaming benchmarks, which won’t matter for most consumers considering purchasing one of these computers.
More importantly, our tests show that this first generation of Ion-based netbooks can compete with budget-level ultraportables, but they will ultimately lose every time. They have less overall processing power, less battery life, and considering the tested models, only occasionally lower price tags.
Gateway’s ultraportable proves that you can get good performance in a small, light, and inexpensive machine. It offers excellent performance compared to today’s top netbooks, although $550 is a couple hundred more than most netbooks. Then again, this ultraportable will last longer than your typical netbook because it isn’t so underpowered, that in a year, it will becomes doomed to obsolescence. Include the Gateway's elegant design and the EC1437u is an absolute best buy.
The Mini 311 provides the best computing experience per cost ratio, and is an exceptional machine because of this. Upgrade the CPU and memory by taking advantage of HP’s customization options and this netbook will likewise treat you well, at least for a few years.
Lenovo’s Ideapad S12 ION is a tough call. With the lowest rated battery life and only marginally more powerful than the Mini 311, we recommend purchasing the S12 if you like its design. Whether it’s the keyboard, trackpad, screen resolution, or even Lenovo’s unique build, the purchasing decision for this netbook revolves almost entirely on personal preference and feel.
Considering the results of our test, what is the future for mobile computing? Intel is pushing to make Atom the most widely used chip, whether for netbooks or cell phones. But looking at Gateway’s EC1437u, it’s clear that a properly made chipset, using a standard (even old) Pentium chip, can easily outperform an Atom processor. Pentium dual-core CPUs are harder to buy these days because of the recent phenomenon of Core Duo and quad-core models. Yet, it still performs better than Atom does and helps facilitate longer battery life.
Looking at this issue from another angle, the weaker Atom processors paired with Ion managed to perform almost as well as the ultraportable did and in some cases better. The only limitation to these machines during our tests was the CPU itself, specifically the Atom. It almost seems like Nvidia, with Ion, is carrying the weaker CPU forward and helping to make an obviously weak netbook nearly as powerful as an ultraportable.
This shows incredible promise for Nvidia’s platform, but little for Atom. To be fair, Nvidia has thus far only made Ion work with Atom processors. We can only imagine the speed an ultraportable, such as the EC1437u, would have if it were also Ion-based. There is undoubtedly room for growth, for both graphics processing and the standard CPU.
Does the netbook CPU need an upgrade? Intel believes so. Otherwise, the company wouldn’t spend billions in research and development to create new and faster Atom processors. But looking at the data on hand, it’s hard to imagine the need for the Atom when Intel’s past innovation works even better. Maybe Intel needs to consider making more—and lowering the prices for—basic Pentium chips for netbooks. It could boost the netbook market.
If consumers continue to insist on the goal of carrying small yet powerful and inexpensive netbooks around, then Atom feels like a step back. Ion, on the other hand, is a step forward.
- 1. The Truth about Netbooks
- 2. Specifications
- 3. Design and Comfort
- 4. Real-World Performance
- 5. Performance Benchmarks
- 6. Video Transcoding and Gaming Performance
- 7. Netbooks of the Future: Replace Atom, Add Ion
- Laptops and Notebooks,
- Intel,
- Nvidia,
- Lenovo,
- HP,
- Gateway,
- Atom ,
- ION ,
- Netbook ,
- Ultraportable
I agree... with the last line.
How in the world do you justify calling the Gateway machine an Atom in the title?
How in the world do you justify calling the Gateway machine an Atom in the title?
Agree!!!
Totally misleading title
Agree about the title.
My question is why not compare the Core 2 Duo with the SU7300 from Acer, also 11.6", and $599???
After all, you were looking for price comparison!!!
Original title all fixed up. Slight mixup, sorry about that.
zzz_b, we chose the Gateway because originally we intended to test an Acer netbook, but the good folks asked about their new line of ultraportables. I'm not sure which model you mean, since their website doesn't list any 11.6" laptop with the SU7300, but we would have stuck with the Gateway because it's cheaper.
Indeed, we were looking for comparable machines, but more in parts and performance than price. Price is clearly a factor, but in comparing an ultraportable to a netbook, it's more important to know which performs well.
For taking notes in class and web browsing, i think your standard atom netbook without ion is perfect.
Netbook + Arch Linux + LXDE = plenty fast enough
This review is interesting, but everyone knows that the 4500 is juk, and Atom is overkill for netbooks. I really wish that you could have also looked at one of AMD's offerings. Right now the 13" HP DM3 should be easy to get your hands on, and the Wind U230 and Lenovo X100e are both the same size as these guys, and should be out within the week.
This review is interesting, but everyone knows that the 4500 is juk, and Atom is overkill for netbooks. I really wish that you could have also looked at one of AMD's offerings. Right now the 13" HP DM3 should be easy to get your hands on, and the Wind U230 and Lenovo X100e are both the same size as these guys, and should be out within the week.
jamezrp - the model is the Aspire 1810T with 11.6" display, Core 2Duo SU7300, GMA4500, 4GB RAM, 320 GB HD, 802.11a/b/g/n, bluetooth, about 7h battery life. All this for $599.
Just a comment, the Lenovo is more expensive than this one.
Much better title, thank you.
Given that the Gateway machine is dual-core, vs. the single-core HP and Lenovo offerings, I do not think anyone is really surprised that the Gateway ultraportable comes out on top in cpu benchmarks.
What I would like to see is a direct comparison between a dual-core Ion netbook, such as the Asus Eee PC 1201N, and a dual-core (SU4100) with GMA 4500MHD netbook/ultraportable such as the Acer Aspire 1810TZ-4484.
With a current price difference of only $10.00 on ncix, I believe the competition will be a lot tighter, the only clear advantage for the SU4100-based machine being battery life.
In my mind, such a comparison would be much more beneficial to those looking for a relatively small, lightweight machine (around 12") that would have more power/usability/longevity attached to it and still cost under/around $600.00 (Canadian).
I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for an update/review to surface (^_^).
4500 is junk for what purpose? its power efficient, drives HDMI/DP displays, handles HD media fine, runs aero. Yes, its slower than ION chipset for 3D - is that the compelling usage model for these systems?
Of course, it won't be long before we will see Arrandale based CULV systems showing up which will meet or beat ION in 3D and media while offering even more CPU muscle than the Gateway reviewed here with the same or better battery life...
In september I picked up an 11.6 inch acer aspire 1410-8804 for $449. SU3500 is only 1 core at 1.4ghz but it runs so much better than an atom. I had one of the first msi wind which was nice but this thing is so much better.
In this area the gma4500 is lousy but better than the 950 and the atom is horrid so the culv is decent. I would pick culv over ion anyday in this device market.
But my question is if my acer $389 today (vista mine had free upgrade to win 7 - and don't run vista on culv) why can't I get culv + nvidia 9400m ($50-100) on an 11.6-12.1 device for under $500? I figure it would cut batt life by 20-30% but 6cell 5600mAh batt would still get like 4-5 hours I would think and only add 20-30 dollars to the cost.
I sat in a jury room waiting to be pulled for a possible jury. 20% of the room, overwhelmingly female, had their netbooks out and love them!
I call netbooks purse computers. Not to be sexist, but it is the killer app. It fits charged in a purse. I see the same for the Apple tablet and HP slate.