Mobility is fast becoming the norm in the UAE as more and more residents embrace the freedom and flexibility laptop computers now offer according to a recent survey by Intel.

Almost 40 percent of the UAE residents surveyed own or use more than one laptop. Of those owning laptops, a massive 86 percent use their laptops daily and a third of them for at least five hours a day.

Intel says a combination of advances in chip technology and expanding infrastructure has helped to push laptops to the top of computer shopping lists in the Emirates.

According to a recent IDC report, notebook shipments increased almost 93 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2008 in the UAE. The report also said that laptop sales to desktop now rank four to one in favour of notebooks in the UAE compared to regional figure of 43 percent notebooks to 57 percent desktops.
 
'Today the Internet is the killer application – it's driving how people use their PCs and the performance and capability requirements as well. People generate their own personal content and share their photos with their community, HD Video is being enjoyed off or online and the same applies to gaming. Consumers need all the performance, battery life and wireless connectivity they can get to fully enjoy the new web 2.0,' said Samir Al-Schamma, general manager for Intel in the GCC.

'From our first launch of Centrino in March 2003, we focused on enabling performance, battery life, and wireless connectivity in a range of cool form factors. Today, these remain the most important features for mobile PC users. In this environment, it remains key to address the top mobile computing needs, and this is where the new Intel Centrino 2 processor technology comes in.'

Intel recently unveiled its Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology products for laptops, powered by several new Intel Core2 Duo processors.

Over 250 innovative consumer and business wireless notebook PC designs are on the way  – including those equipped with the right combination of powerful processors, graphics and battery life to enjoy stunning High Definition videos and myriad other computer and Internet activities.

Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology also features Intel Dynamic Acceleration and Deep Power Down technologies that boost performance to get tasks done more quickly, while turning off processing components such as core clocks and cache memory when the laptop is idle for greater energy savings.
   
Intel also launched its Mobile Intel 45 Express Chipset and new wireless Intel WiFi Link 5000 series that is shipping to customers now, with laptops arriving in July and August. Delivering five times the speed and twice the range of older 802.11a/g technology, the Intel WiFi Link 5000 series provides 802.11 draft-N support that delivers the fastest data rates possible today - up to 450 Mbps.

Switchable graphics, a new optional power-saving feature available on Intel Centrino 2-based notebooks, provides both integrated and discrete graphics on a single notebook, enabling users to easily switch between the two options. Switchable graphics delivers greater 3D performance when needed while providing the option for greater power savings for the best of both worlds.
 
Additionally, the platform includes a new version of Intel Turbo Memory, a flash memory-based storage technology that speeds up software loading and boot times, further enhancing the system’s responsiveness in a very energy efficient manner. Intel Turbo Memory does this in conjunction with Windows Vista ReadyBoost and has doubled the capacity from the previous version to 2 GB.

For consumers, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology delivers the horsepower and battery life to enjoy a typical full-length, Blu-ray high-definition video on a single battery charge for the first time, plus the ability to play a variety of online games,<