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ARM: Smartbooks stalled by Flash issues

ARM's hope to get in on the expected smartbook trend has been thwarted by delays in Flash optimization, a lower-than-expected uptake of Linux on Netbooks, and the emergence of tablets.

David Meyer Special to CNET News.com

Smartbooks have failed to materialize due to delays in Flash optimization, a lower-than-expected uptake of Linux on Netbooks, and the sudden emergence of tablets, ARM's marketing chief has said.

ARM dominates the mobile phone chip design market and has since 2008 been trying to get into the subnotebook market as well. The plan was to do so through Linux-based, ARM-powered "smartbooks" that would provide an instant-on, longer-life alternative to x86-based Netbooks but, according to ARM's marketing vice president, Ian Drew, events have conspired to stall this plan.

"We thought [smartbooks] would be launched by now, but they're not," Drew told ZDNet UK on Tuesday. "I think one reason is to do with software maturity. We've seen things like Adobe slip--we'd originally scheduled for something like 2009."

Read more of "Smartbooks have been delayed by Flash issues, says ARM" at ZDNet UK.