AMD may be top dog when it comes to desktop CPU market share, but Intel wields a sizable market-share advantage in mobile processors. That's largely because of the widespread popularity of Intel's Centrino mobile/Wi-Fi platform. (The platform, called Centrino Duo in its current form, consists of a specific range of mobile processors, a motherboard chip set and a wireless network interface. To be able to call a laptop a Centrino laptop, vendors must use all three components.)

The smashing success of the Core 2 Duo processor and its recent partnership with Apple have only increased Intel's mobile market-share lead over AMD. In order to preserve and extend this advantage, Intel is betting heavily on two technology advances: a new Centrino platform code-named "Santa Rosa" and the debut of a new processor architecture code-named "Penryn."

The chip-making giant will also release a number of new CPUs based on the current Centrino Duo platform as well as the new mobile platform slated for release in the second quarter of 2007.

Welcome to Santa Rosa

In the second quarter of 2007 (rumors have indicated April will be the launch date), Intel will debut the fourth generation of its Centrino mobile platform, code-named "Santa Rosa."