Laptop vendors like to talk a big game. But a new Intel initiative is challenging PC makers to step up and deliver product models that'll push the envelope on laptop design.

Called Project Athena, the Intel effort is challenging PC makers to create laptops that don't just look good on marketing materials, but perform well in real-life scenarios. The company initially unveiled the project in January. But at Computex, Intel offered new details on what exactly qualifies as a Project Athena laptop—and the bar is relatively high.

Unlike Intel's ultrabook initiative from 2011, which centered on thin and light designs, the company's latest effort is focused on the whole package, including connectivity, battery life, and software performance. The major requirements include:

Battery Life: Vendors tend to use offline video playback time as a metric to judge a laptop's battery life. But to qualify as a Project Athena laptop, the PC maker will have to ensure the machine can offer 9+ hours of real-world wireless web browsing on one charge. It'll also need to be able to re-charge 4 hours of battery life in 30 minutes or less.

Vendors tend to use offline video playback time as a metric to judge a laptop's battery life. But to qualify as a Project Athena laptop, the PC maker will have to ensure the machine can offer 9+ hours of real-world wireless web browsing on one charge. It'll also need to be able to re-charge 4 hours of battery life in 30 minutes or less. Always Ready: Project Athena laptops should operate like a smartphone. So to qualify, they'll need to be able to wake from sleep mode in less than one second. A fingerprint sensor or facial-recognition system is also required for quick unlocking. And when on standby, the laptop will remain connected to the internet, so it can quickly load up incoming notifications when the user returns.

Project Athena laptops should operate like a smartphone. So to qualify, they'll need to be able to wake from sleep mode in less than one second. A fingerprint sensor or facial-recognition system is also required for quick unlocking. And when on standby, the laptop will remain connected to the internet, so it can quickly load up incoming notifications when the user returns. Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3 ports and Wi-Fi 6, which can enable max download speed of 10 Gbps, will both be required. Intel is also demanding every laptop model offer the option of a Gigabit LTE modem on customer request.

Thunderbolt 3 ports and Wi-Fi 6, which can enable max download speed of 10 Gbps, will both be required. Intel is also demanding every laptop model offer the option of a Gigabit LTE modem on customer request. Performance: Only laptops outfitted with Core i5 or Core i7 processors will qualify. Another requirement is the need for at least 8GB of DRAM and 256GB of NVMe SSD. The laptops will also need to smoothly execute AI-powered computing tasks, like voice assistants that can hear you over the laptop, and image-editing software that can recognize objects in pictures.

Only laptops outfitted with Core i5 or Core i7 processors will qualify. Another requirement is the need for at least 8GB of DRAM and 256GB of NVMe SSD. The laptops will also need to smoothly execute AI-powered computing tasks, like voice assistants that can hear you over the laptop, and image-editing software that can recognize objects in pictures. Design: Laptops must have screen sizes from 12 inches to just under 16 inches, and be built in an "ultra slim" package. Display resolution must also be 1080p or higher, and have touch-screen support.

Changing Demands From Customers

The company created Project Athena to address how consumers are demanding more out of their laptops, Intel vice president Josh Newman told journalists. This can include doing work on the fly, uploading video and content from any location, and playing games and streaming movies—all over the same system.

"The thing we find about these customers is that they are passionate about doing it all. But it's hard. And so they need something that can adapt to them," Newman said.

However, Intel is stressing PC makers make no compromise on performance. So eligible Project Athena laptops will need to offer long battery life and fast responsiveness at the same time, not just one over the other.

"The most important thing is that we do this all," Newman added. "We're trying to work with the OEMs (the original equipment manufacturers) to do this all together, year after year after year."

Real-World Testing in the Lab

To make this all happen, Intel isn't just going to take the PC vendors' word for it. The company has opened up three testing labs, where it will determine which laptops make the cut. Testing methodology will also focus on vetting the products under real-world scenarios, not ideal conditions. This will include examining how fast the laptops run when multiple browser windows and other Office programs are open.

"When we're running these tests, we can't just leave the products plugged in. They are unplugged overnight as they're running through those tests," Intel engineering manager Majeed Salman said. "Athena is changing the methodology whereby we tune these devices.

"We're not turning off Windows update, it's on," he added. "We're not turning off antivirus. We're not disabling any of those as part of Athena because we want to give that view on what a real user feels on their PC."

Product Rollouts

Expect the first Project Athena laptops to arrive in a dozen different models later this year as both Windows devices and Chromebooks. You can also anticipate some innovations, like laptops with dual screens and foldable displays. And to keep pushing the envelope, Intel plans to update Project Athena with new requirements each year.

So how will you be able to buy a Project Athena laptop? Top vendors—including HP, Dell, Lenovo and Microsoft—have signed on, according to Intel. But don't expect them to use the Project Athena codename when marketing their devices, at least not yet.

"We think in the future it will make sense to do something that'll help consumers find these laptops more easily," Newman said. "The focus for this year was to just get the first dozen [models] and prove we can deliver a more meaningful experience."

The first Project Athena laptops will also be premium products. So you can expect to pay $1,500 and up. But the goal is to bring the performance you'll find in the next-generation laptops to mainstream products over time, Newman said.

Challenges

However, a big question facing Project Athena is whether PC vendors will stick with the Intel effort when they're already selling laptops that promise high performance.

Intel's Josh Newman holding up an HP Spectre Folio

"The core incentive is that [PC makers] see the same customer trends and needs that we see," Newman said. "They believe that we have to keep raising the bar on the experience."

Laptops that do make the cut will also benefit from Intel's marketing of Project Athena once it begins to ramp up, he added.

To achieve the long battery life, Intel has been investing in new display technologies, including an LCD panel that can run on one watt. Last year, the company unveiled a concept laptop running the panel, which offered 28 hours on a single charge. The company's upcoming 10nm chips, called Ice Lake, have also been built to help laptop makers achieve the long battery life times.

"What we're asking the OEMs to do, it's hard," Newman said. "We're putting some tension in because at the end of the day we want a better experience overall."

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