HCL to shrink laptop screen further, to introduce 5-inch PC

Deepshikha Monga, New Delhi
The Economic Times (Ahmedabad edition)

The laptop screen is shrinking further. PC maker HCL Infosystems is working on a 5-inch PC to compete with the PDA. The product, to be launched in the next 12 months, is likely to be priced between Rs 10,000-15,000. The hardware firm had launched ultra-mobile, low-cost laptops earlier this year under the brand MiLeap. The range includes 7-inch and 10-inch laptops. “It is part of technological evolution. Devices will get compact, lighter and come with a longer battery life,” said HCL Infosystems executive vice-president George Paul.

The 5-inch device would be based on the Intel Atom processor, which was launched this year by the chipmaker for Internet-centric devices. Paul said processors by Texas Instruments and STMicroelectronics were another option but work remains to be done to ensure the same user experience as when using a normal desktop or laptop.

“The advantage of such a product would be the use of the x86 core, which would ensure that it can run all the standard software and applications,” he added. Most PDAs and portable Internet devices use the ARM core made by processor company ARM.

HCL’s experience with its MiLeap range will come handy when it launches the smaller screen product, which is classified as a mobile Internet device. “We know that Indian users prefer the hard disk to flash and Windows over Linux as an operating system,” Paul said.

“Any device with a screen size lower than 7-inch would not compete with a laptop and potential buyers would be those looking for a more functional device than a PDA. However, if it gives more horsepower, it could compete with these low-cost laptops but this looks unlikely in the next 4-5 quarters,” says Gartner principal research analyst Diptarup Chakraborti. Several players have launched small-screen, low-cost laptops in India, including Taiwanese PC maker Asus.