It looks like laptops are set to get even faster, with almost half of all laptops shipped in 2015 expected to incorporate quad-core processors. This prediction was made by IHS iSuppli analysts in a new report dated July 12, which says that 160 million laptops, or 49 percent of laptops shipped in 2015, will incorporate quad-core processors--up from just 9 percent this year. Six-core chips are expected to make inroads too, rising from none, currently, to 18 percent of laptops in 2015.

In a statement reported on eWeek, Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst of compute platforms for IHS iSuppli said, "The cornerstone of PC performance, the microprocessor, is continuing to evolve to provide new levels of performance to the PC market...The battle now has moved from the dual-core segment into the quad-core area--and next will spread to the six-core realm."

For now, laptop vendors are expected to continue improving existing laptops in order to achieve all-day mobile computing. One of the ways this may be done is to integrate the chip responsible for graphics processing, known as the GPU, into the same piece of silicon as the CPU in order to reduce power consumption. Another would be the use of an external battery. For example, the battery life of Sony's new VAIO Z laptop can be expanded from its default 6.5 hours to 13 hours with the use of an optional battery "slice."

For more:
- check out this article at eWeek
- check out this article at Tom's Hardware

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