Acer And ASUS Freezing Netbook/ultra-Thin Releases Over Atom N550 Uncertainty?

If you've held off from buying a netbook because there always seems to be a new model – and a price cut – just around the corner, now might be the time to buy. Acer and ASUS are reportedly freezing netbook releases until around mid-August, according to DigiTimes' market sources, to clear their inventory in the face of the incoming Atom N550 processor.  However, Intel's pricing for the new chip – and their uncertain plans for the Celeron processor range – are prompting uncertainty.

Intel are rumored to be phasing out Celeron chips altogether, which if true would leave the Atom range more room to spread out and make the more expensive N550 a more tempting prospect.  The chip apparently costs $11-22 more than the N455/N475, creating uncertainty among ultra-thin and ultraportable manufacturers.  Acer and ASUS are said to be watching market demand before jumping in.