Nvidia Corp recently announced a processor line-up it believes will power a new class of fast, small devices with long battery life that can surf the full Internet, play high-end games and display high-definition video. Dubbed the Tegra 600 and Tegra 650 processors "computers on a chip" for highly portable, visual devices, the company is hoping to capture some of Intel's share on the way. Apparently the Tegra chips will also include the application processor APX2500 used in smartphones and handsets. However, the mobile Internet devices, or MIDs, are what it's gunning for.

Mike Rayfield, general manager of Nvidia's mobile business, said MIDs have screens of four to 12 inches in diameter and may have a touch-screen or keyboard, a connection for a game controller or a wireless high-speed Internet connection.

"The systems now look more like dehydrated notebook computers," Rayfield said.

The Asus Eee PC has been a hit and Intel has said it would not be surprised to see sales of what it calls Netbook PCs such as the Eee PC and others top 50 million by 2011.