Panasonic Fits Core i7 Into Netbook Panasonic Netbook Featuring High-Powered Desktop Core i7 Shipping In Japan

Some would tell you the true netbook revolution started when Intel
released their Atom processor, which provided the perfect low-price,
moderate-power processor for the typical 10-inch netbook. Since then,
the Atom has become the de facto processor for (what seems like) 99% of
netbooks. But Panasonic has done the impossible and gotten a Core i7
processor into a netbook form factor computer.
The Core i7 line is currently Intel's high-end desktop processor line,
so it's a bit odd to see Panasonic put one into a netbook. Considering
most netbooks don't have the chops to properly cool a full desktop chip,
Panasonic spent extra time designing the cooling solution for their
powerful netbook, which is bizarrely named the Let's Note R8 . The R8
features an improved fan design that gives it 3x the air flow and
produces 50% cooler temperatures than a netbook would normally get.
They've picked the Core i7-620UM, which is one of Intel's new Arrandale
chip designs, with the -UM family putting in Intel's ultra-low-voltage
family. It's clocked at 1.06GHz and the Core i7's Power Boost will spin
the core up to about 2.13GHz. Panasonic says this is the smallest case
that a Core i7 has ever been built in, and they're probably right. If
you're not a computer enthusiast, you might not be impressed, but
Panasonic definitely earned bragging rights.
As for the other specs, the computer will be packing on-board video
processing, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB HDD, WiFi and all the other usual
features. Battery life is 7.5 hours, which is impressive for such a
powerful processor in such a small body. Panasonic is offering a Core
i7-640UM as an optional upgrade, and buyers can also order a bigger
500GB HDD, a 128MB SSD, and other colors for their netbook.
They'll ship next month, in Japan only. Pricing is unavailable at this
time, but Panasonic hopes to make 18 million yen off of sales of the
Let's Note R8 this year – so guess on the unit price accordingly.