Intel Banias due on March 12

Intel will release its Tablet PC-oriented Banias low-power microprocessor and Centrino set of chips (including Wi-Fi) on March 12, according to CNet. Speeds are only 900MHz and 1GHz, says the report. It remains to be seen whether Banias chips are actually faster than their MHz suggests -- which Intel reckons is the case -- and whether consumers will trade speed for longer battery life. Intel launches are usually accompanied by new PCs, so it shouldn't take long to find out.