As the Intel Core M platform was launched at the end of last year, Intel processor has officially entered 14nm manufacturing process epoch. The Core-M processor boasts of high power-saving feature since its power-consumption is 4.5W. That’s reason why portable devices like entry-level laptop and tablet are powered by this processor. At present, undoubtedly low power-consumption will bring poor performance to the processor. But in fact, processor with low power-consumption doesn’t bring performance as poor as we have imagined. The Intel Core-M processor’s actual performance is among the performances of low-voltage Core processor, Pentium processor and Celeron processor. If the laptop, powered by the Core-M processor, comes with SSD, the laptop can bring good actual user experience. Of course, if users have high demand on laptop performance, then the Core-M processor will not be a good choice for them.
Since the Core-M platform focusing on low power consumption was launched, several distinguished products have appeared, such as the Lenovo YPGA 920, the ASUS ZenBook UX360CA, the 12-inch Apple MacBook and the 12.5-inch Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air (more fanless laptop available on https://www.laptopmain.com). The common features of these products share are light weight and portability. These laptop’s body thicknesses are within 1cm and their weights are within 1kg. The difference among these products lies in that the YOGA 920 adopts heat dissipation system with a fan while the latter three products without cooling fan.
From that, we can see that the Core-M platform has improved laptop’s portability but most importantly it has also changed laptop’s heat dissipation method. The change in laptop’s heat dissipation method seemingly looks simple. But in fact, this change undoubtedly plays a significant role in laptop’s transition.
However, there is one thing that is undeniable: compared with fanless design, current users obviously pay more attention to product’s performance and price. Although the Core-M processor has been widely applied to laptop and tablet, it hasn’t been accepted by most users. This reminds me of CULV and ultrabook, the former became a total failure while the latter made a huge success. However different result CULV and ultrabook get, they both have left deep impression on the laptop history.
The fanless design is meant to be applied to the laptop when computer’s hardware technology enters a phase. As a matter of fact, the 14nm Core-M platform that Intel made provides hardware support on fanless design for OEM manufacturers while OEM manufactures have successfully showed fanless laptop’s feature through actual product exhibition. But we have to admit that now the fanless laptop is not successful with regard to user’s acceptance towards it, sales and completion. But it doesn’t mean that the laptop itself has poor performance or appearance design.
Until now, there are many product types appearing in the laptop industry.
Type 1: high-performance and high power-consumption products which focus on game or entertainment
Type 2: main stream laptop or business laptop which focus on practicality
Type 3: lightweight products which focus on portability
At present, the laptop without fan which is powered by the Core-M processor belongs to the third type. Except the fanless laptop, user can also choose a myriad of product in the former two types which have been widely accepted. Current fanless laptop shows no advantage either in users’ acceptance, sales performance, competition or even the appearance design that it is proud of. That’s the awkward situation that it faces now.
