Asia's top executive for Intel says that the new Atom processor will be the basis for an array of more than 25 new low-cost notebooks expected to be introduced in the next few months.

The prices for these Atom-based notebooks will be from about $250 to $300, with a few going for as much as $350. Some will be very slim and sleek, while some will be built more ruggedly with a more heavy-duty outline.

The Atom was introduced just last week as a low-power chip which is designed primarily for inexpensive notebooks. One byproduct of the lower power will be longer battery life, which is sure to be a popular side effect, although another byproduct is lower performance as well.

Most of these notebooks are expected to have screens ranging in size from 7 inches to 10 inches, and some will have screens that can swivel and lie flat, making them tablet computers. They are expected to ship with either Windows XP or some version of Linux.