Intel Corp. (INTC) is promoting a new type of thinner and lighter mobile computer called an ultrabook in a bid to challenge the growing dominance of Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s iPad and other tablets.

Intel's vision is to enable a new user experience by accelerating a new class of mobile computers, the world's largest chipmaker said in a statement. "These computers will marry the performance and capabilities of today's laptops with tablet-like features and deliver a highly responsive and secure experience, in a thin, light and elegant design. The Ultrabook will be shaped by Moore's Law and silicon technology in the same way they have shaped the traditional PC for the past 40 years."

Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney, in his presentation at the Computex trade show in Taiwan, provided these details on the Ultrabook:

* Less than 20mm (0.8 inch) thick,

* Tablet-style features such as touchscreens and the ability to start up quickly to let users call up websites without waiting,

* Days of battery life on standby,

* Mainstream pricing under US$1,000, and

* Arrival in three key phases, with the initial batch available during 2011 winter holiday shopping season.

Three Phases

Intel said that Ultrabooks based on its latest 2nd Generation Intel Core processors will be on shelves later this year. This family of products will enable thin, light and beautiful designs that are less than 20mm (0.8 inch) thick, according to Intel.

The second wave of the Ultrabooks will be based on the next generation Intel processor family codenamed "Ivy Bridge," and will hit shelves in the first half of 2012. Promising "improved power efficiency, smart visual performance, increased responsiveness and enhanced security" for the Ultrabooks, the Ivy Bridge is the first high-volume chip based on Intel's 22 nanometer manufacturing technology. The 22nm technology uses a revolutionary 3-D transistor design called Tri-Gate, which are said to consume less than half the power of their 2-D counterparts.

The third phase of the Ultrabooks will have chips codenamed "Haswell" and are scheduled for release in 2013. Haswell, according to Intel, will change the mainstream laptop thermal design point by reducing the microprocessor power to half of today's design point.
Intel aims to convert 40 percent of consumer laptops to the new category by the end of 2012.

ASUS Ultrabook

Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, expects to have 35 tablets based on its chips on sale by the end of the year.Among the Ultrabooks to made available during the holiday season this year will be the UX21, ASUS Ultrabook.

ASUS said the "astonishingly thin" ultraportables are made possible through the use of a strong but light aluminum alloy shell with a unique 'spun' finish on polished surfaces. The artistry of the series draws inspiration from luxury timepieces, displaying sharp edges, an oversized keyboard and smartphone-like touchpad for added comfort, as well as reinforced hinges for extended longevity. It said that the UX Series has these specifications:

* Mere 17mm at its thickest point,

* Latest 2nd generation Intel Core mobile processors, up to the powerful i7,

* SATA 6Gb/s solid-state drives, and

* Instant On feature, which resumes the notebook in seconds.

"At ASUS, we are very much aligned with Intel's vision of Ultrabook," said ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih, who joined Mr. Maloney on stage at the Computex to showcase the company's new ultra-thin laptop.
"Our customers are demanding an uncompromised computing experience in a lightweight, highly portable design that responds to their needs quickly. Transforming the PC into an ultra thin, ultra responsive device will change the way people interact with their PC."

The iPad

Desktop computers and laptops continue to outsell tablets. Last year, nearly 18 million tablets were shipped, with Apple's iPad accounting for nearly 83% of the market. More than 346 million personal computers were shipped in 2010, with Hewlett Packard grabbing 18.5% of the market, and Dell, Inc. having 12.3%.

However, while PC sales have slowed down in the past two years, iPad sales have skyrocketed. Research firm International Data Corporation said last month it expects that there will be 50 million tablet shipments in 2011, with Apple maintaining 70% to 80% of the tablet market. Jefferies & Co. projects that 70 million tablets will be sold this year, with the total expected to increase to 246 million in three years.

Cupertino, California-based Apple sold 4.69 million iPads in the first quarter of 2011, for a total of about 20 million since the April 2010 debut. With a 9.7-inch touch screen, a Wi-Fi data connection to download popular games like Angry Birds, movies, and thousands of other apps, the iPad has outsold all the other tablets combined.

"We want to find new ways to propel the PC forward," said Intel's Mr. Maloney. "With what has happened in the tablet space, there is a 'hurry-up' to the PC industry."

The world's top PC seller Hewlett-Packard said its PC sales decreased 23 percent last quarter due to a "continued softness in consumer PCs across all geographies." Dell Inc., HP's main rival, saw sales to consumers slump 7.5 percent, acknowledging that sales fell partly due to competition with the iPad and other tablets.

The record sales of the iPads have affected other firms that rely on PC sales. Microsoft Windows, the lead operating system for PCs but is not used in iPads, had its sales in the first quarter fall 4.4 percent to $4.45 billion. Microsoft Inc., which had its net income eclipsed by Apple for the first time in two decades, plans to release a version of Windows optimized for touch-screen tablets next year.

While Intel's processors run more than 80 percent of the world's PCs, the popular tablets are running on non-Intel chips. Apple's device runs on mobile-phone chips.

Apple is expected to face more competition this year from Research in Motion's PlayBook, Samsung Electronics Inc.'s Galaxy Tab and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s Xoom, though these devices still have to gain traction. Tablets from Samsung, Motorola and RIM also rely on non-Intel chips.

Apple released its iPad 2, which is 33% thinner than its predecessor, the iPad 2, comes in black and white, and has a dual core Apple A5 processor, in April this year.