Intel will be expanding their offerings in the entry-level desktop market next year, with the introduction of their Shelton platform. The new platform relies on Intel's latest 45nm process, and will use either the 945GC chipset or a third-party chipset, the SiS 671.

The systems will be aimed at the sub-$300 laptop and $100 desktop markets and will probably end up competing with companies like Via and Asustek with their embedded lineups.

Even if Intel should hold on to a significant portion of the market, will it give them that much advantage over their competitors? With several companies such as ASRock considering leaving entry-level behind and even Intel having made plans in the past to exit entry-level, the room for “growth” in that area may be limited.