Advantages & Disadvantages of an Intel Centrino
Intel Centrino is a brand name for an Intel technology package that includes features designed to work with smaller and more mobile laptop computers, with longer battery life and built-in wireless support. First introduced in 2003, the Centrino package includes a motherboard chipset, central processing unit and built-in module to provide wireless networking capabilities. The Centrino technology is designed to make lightweight laptop computers more powerful and more specifically designed for the mobile user.
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Power
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A significant advantage of the Centrino technology is that it’s designed to prolong the battery life of a laptop computer. The Pentium M processor is designed to use only the specific voltage that applications require, which helps improve battery life. This technology, known as Enhanced Intel SpeedStep, will switch the voltage and frequency in response to what the processor requires. According to SearchMobileComputing.com, the Centrino technology can achieve up to seven hours of battery use on some laptop computers. In a December 2008 review, Consumer Reports noted that some laptops running the Centrino 2 technology had a battery life of at least five hours, which was the best of any laptop running the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.
Size
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Another advantage of the Centrino technology is it’s designed to work with thinner and lighter laptop computers. You typically must make compromises on computing power and overall performance if you want a 5-pound laptop computer compared to a 7-pound computer. However, many lighter Centrino laptops can offer a similar performance to bigger and bulkier laptops.
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Cost
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Many of the earliest laptop computers that used the Centrino technology were generally more expensive than older laptops that used Intel’s Pentium 4 processors. In March 2003, a Cnet article said Centrino-based laptops were about $300 more than heavier, older systems. The same was true for the Centrino 2 platform introduced in 2008. The December 2008 Consumer Reports article stated that laptops with the Centrino 2 technology were more expensive than similar models.
Consumer Confusion
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Another disadvantage of the Centrino technology is that it has generated some confusion among consumers who would like to compare laptops using Centrino technology with other laptops. One of the challenges is that Intel refers to its Centrino mobile technology with a variety of changing names, such as Carmel, Sonoma, Calexio and Alviso. The company also has a list of system board chipsets, such as 855 and 915. In a January 2005 ZDNet article, author David Berling wrote that Intel’s Centrino marketing campaign falsely implied that laptops need to have the Centrino technology to connect to Wi-Fi access points and to achieve the best battery life.
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