Intel is planning to launch the new Atom N450 in January 2010, and the new processor doesn't really bring any revolutionary leaps in terms of technology or performance.

However, in spite of that, Intel will price it $64 at launch, which sounds like quite a bit as the N270 sells for $44, and the nettop dual-core 330 costs $43. However, the energy efficient Z530 costs $65, about the same as the N450. Considering the pricing, it's no wonder netbook makers aren't to eager to ditch the good old N270.

At $64 the new N450 is still quite a bit cheaper than the cheapest CULV Celeron, which sells for $106, but bear in mind that the Celeron will get a successor soon, so its price might go down a bit. Although CULV chipsets are about $10 more costly than chipsets used in the Atom platform, Intel's pricing policy offers discounts for Atom/chipset bundles.