Intel Atom Turns One with New 2GHz,1.2GHz models

It's been a year since Intel fired the opening salvo against regular-size laptopping with its Atom processor. Now, the Z series gets its expected speed bump, and at the bottom end, a low-power MID-oriented model. The Atom Z550 takes the Atom to heretofore unseen speeds of 2.0GHz, while maintaining a sub-3W power envelope. Obviously, this speed gain is a good thing, but our enthusiasm is dampered by the fact that this is based on familiar, unexciting tech; the Z series "Silverthorn" processors may be power-thrifty and capable, but their architecture hasn't changed much with the newprocessors. A speed bump and the addition of hyperthreading are appreciated, but these marginal boosts won't be game changers.On the other side of the performance spectrum, the Z515 winds the processor clock way down. Intel claims that Intel Performance Burst Technology "enables the processor to run at 1.2GHz when performance is needed", scaling up from an idle speed of 800MHz. The Z series processors were originally intended for low power applications like MIDs, and although the Z550 will likely make its way to netbooks, the Z515 is comfortable right where it is, thanks