Ever since the blistering-hot (in a more ways than one) intel-based Apple notebooks were rolled out two years and a bit ago, I've been lamenting that there was really nothing offered any more to accommodate those of us who didn't need the amount of raw processing power offered in need of the base MacBook, and who would prefer to live with a more modest performance profile accompanied by the advantages of cooler, silent operation and longer battery life.

The MacBook Air didn't really deliver on this. It has the more modest performance part, but through major compromises in practical usefulness, and it still runs hot anyway. What I want is a standard-sized laptop with the normal compliment of ports and features, a swappable battery a standard-sized and capacity hard drive, but I'm prepared to live with slower processor speed in return for lower heat, peace and quiet, and enhanced battery life.

However, help may be on the way in the form of the new Intel Atom family of low-power processors, announced last month and on display last week at Intel's Developer Forum in Shanghai, at least if Apple chooses to take advantage of this technology.

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