Unfortunately, the Intel and Microsoft duo can't ditch x86.

Microsoft's only OS for ARM is its failing Windows Mobile, which is now completely screwed in the market, and heading for cancellation. So that just leaves Microsoft with its full-blown Windows 7.

From Intel's perspective, it needs the Vole's applications, which require compatibility. You wouldn't think compatibility is necessary, but you see, if you don't care about all those old Windoze apps, then you would be better off ditching x86 altogether and instead buy a Smartbook running on an ARM processor.

I wonder if they've made the giant leap forward and ditched the old x86 features?
For an application like this, wouldnt it be ideal if they'd support only i64 and ditch previous modes?
Surely this would save power and transistors on the die.

Compatibility is great, but for devices like this, does anyone see the need?

At what point do we say a cell phone is no longer a cell phone and becomes a small laptop?
Make a USB device that converts your laptop into a Smartphone, then you can say you have a core2quad with 2gb ram and 500gb hdd running windows 7 os...now thats some phone!

Intel dual core P4 with hyperthreading, 3.6 ghz? Then yes, this chip probably uses 1/50 of the power when idle.

Atom is typically 2-5X the power draw as the ARM, so why on earth would Intel advertise this? Hello? You are supposed to think of those COOL blue guys dancing and doing stupid things, demonstrating how innovative Intel is...

Since neither active or idle are being advertised you kind of have to assume that they're both rubbish.

Idle power is a useless measure of power....Most processors should consume next to nothing when idle. It's the active power figures that everyone wants to see.

"up to 50 times less power at idle compared to its predecessors" means absolutely nothing without giving the actual figures in the first place.