Intel's "always-on" Metro notebook

World's skinniest laptop as thin as a RAZR

25 May 2007 9:28 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Before you start fumbling for your wallet, please note that this is only a prototype notebook design from Intel.

We previewed this thing of wonder last month when Intel first unveiled it at a Developer event in Beijing, but with more pics and specs revealed to Business Week (link to the article below) we thought it was worth another quick squint.

The story goes that Intel briefed Ziba Design in Portland, USA to make an ultra-modern, ultra-connected notebook as thin as a (first version) RAZR.

Dubbed the Metro, this is made from magnesium, and has no hard-disk drive – it uses flash memory so can be truly skinny – just 0.7 inches to be precise, and weighs just 2.25 pounds.

The flash memory also means the notebook needs less power so can offer 14-hours of battery life.

Apart from the obvious skin-deep appeal, the serious thinking behind the Metro was to create an "always-on" device. The Metro's embedded chips mean that it will access cellular, Wi-Fi, or WiMax wireless broadband networks and switch between them depending on the best connectivity available.

According to Business Week, Intel is expected to actually release these same embeddable chips that access all these networks in late 2007, early 2008.

As far as the Metro goes, Business Week says "a PC maker will announce plans to start manufacturing the machine later this year".

Pleeeeeeeeeeaase!