Intel lines up 'ultimate' laptop

Intel has shown off a new laptop reference design featuring fingerprint security, voice over IP (VoIP), microphones and a camera.

Anand Chandrasekher, vice president and general manager of Intel's mobile platforms group, demonstrated the new laptop - called Florence - at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco.

The reference design, demonstrating "2005 mobile platform concepts", has three models: an ultra portable 12in screen model, a 15.4in business unit and a 17in home entertainment centre.

The 12in model converts from a laptop to a tablet PC, while the 15.4in model includes fingerprint and smartcard security, built-in array microphones and camera for collaboration.

The 17in Mobile Entertainment PC offers a wireless Bluetooth keyboard, built-in VoIP handset and remote control, a microphone and camera and Intel High Definition Audio for high-quality sound.

"We've taken the luggable laptop sector and put it on the Atkins diet," said Chandrasekher.

A wireless keyboard is included, with a detachable handset for remote built in. Simplified Wi-Fi networking and high level hyperthreading will also allow application like VoIP calls to be made.

The so-called Centrino 2, codenamed Dothan, will precede this third-generation technology. The 90nm Pentium mobile will be shipping in the second quarter of this year.

"We had to push it back from the first quarter and we're very disappointed at that," Chandrasekher explained.

The new design will include dual channel DDR memory, PCI Express and enhanced audio featuring Dolby sound. Tri-band Wi-Fi (802.11a,b and g) will also be built in.