The fight between Santa Clara giant Intel and Sunnyvale, CA-based AMD takes a new turn as Intel announces a new class of energy-efficient laptop processors formerly known as “Santa Rosa”.

The Centrino platform, introduced in 2004, is now getting a fresh look with the introduction of the latest Core 2 Duo family of CPUs specially designed for laptops.

According to Intel, the new processors are faster, more energy-efficient and multi-tasking oriented. They also deliver better-looking video and graphics, stronger and faster wireless signals and boast with a new feature that turbo-speeds boot time and software application loading.

"When we introduced Intel Centrino 4 years ago, Intel changed the computing landscape with our mobile innovations," said Mooly Eden, Intel vice president and general manager, Mobile Products Group. "Now, simply said, we have improved virtually all aspects of Intel-based notebooks, the most popular and fastest growing computing market segment in the world."

According to Intel, the improved multi-tasking abilities of the Santa Rosa CPUs will ensure faster responsiveness and minimum performance degradation when running simultaneous applications, like an anti-virus scan and a video-download.

Since Windows Vista is already considered a laptop-battery drainer, Intel promises that Centrino notebooks equipped with its newest CPUs will have a longer battery life, while at the same time delivering an Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N signal up to five times stronger than traditional Wi-Fi networks and twice the wireless access range.

Intel also says that the Mobile Intel 965 Express chipset family with Intel Clear Video Technology will enable an enhanced high-definition video experience. Users will also share their content with family and friends via TV easier than before with Intel TV Wizard, which is a simplified way to connect to HD-enabled TVs. A new suite of drivers will deliver robust and outstanding Windows Vista Premium experience featuring Windows Aero.