| Nvidia has recently showcased Tablet PCs | | | | Intel's atom processors are mostly used in |
| working on its Tegra chipsets. Chipsets from | | | | netbooks and mini notebooks. These processors |
| Nvidia are traditionally focused on image | | | | mainly cater to a vertical segment without |
| processing and other graphics related applications. | | | | effecting the each other. On the other hand, the |
| These chips are therefore called the GPUs | | | | snapdragon processor from Qualcomm is a |
| (Graphics processing units). However, the Tegra | | | | different ball game. This chipset has an application |
| chipset, like the normal CPU (Central Processing | | | | processor integrated with the processors for 3.5G |
| Unit), is geared towards handling the complete | | | | wireless broadband, Global Positioning System |
| processing needs of handheld devices. The chipset | | | | (GPS), WiFi, bluetooth and Mobile TV, making the |
| can be easily used for gaming, video viewing, web | | | | snapdragon processor ideal for any tablet PC or |
| access or for any other general purpose handheld | | | | handheld device. The Nvidia's Tegra laptop |
| applications. Moreover, it packs enough processing | | | | processor might prove to be a big competitor for |
| power to handle future consumer entertainment | | | | Snapdragon. |
| like streaming video over high speed wireless | | | | This definitely does not mean that the graphics |
| broadband like the 4G connections. | | | | processing units from Nvidia would start replacing |
| With the increasing popularity of handheld devices, | | | | general purpose like Intel's Atom any time soon. |
| which focus on consumer entertainment, various | | | | However, these GPUs would start playing more |
| companies have started building chipsets to target | | | | important role in handheld devices, specially in |
| this niche segment. Nvidia's Tegra laptop | | | | devices focused on entertainment. Moreover, the |
| processor is now in direct competition with the | | | | end beneficiary might be the consumer. No |
| snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, Atom | | | | company would be able to charge exorbitant price |
| processor from Intel and the OMAP processor | | | | for the entertainment devices as the consumer |
| from Texas Instruments. The OMAP laptop | | | | would have lot of options to choose from. |
| processors are mostly used in mobile phones and | | | | |