Intel is planning to bring a thinner laptop or ‘ultrabook’ to face the challenge posed by Apple’s iPad and other tablets, reports Bloomberg. The largest chipmaker of the world also aims to change about 40% of consumer laptops to this new product category within a year and half.

The one-inch thick laptop will be able to start up in seconds and have a long battery life on standby.

“We want to find new ways to propel the PC forward,” said Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney. “With what has happened in the tablet space, there is a ‘hurry-up’ to the PC industry.”  Intel is sending Maloney to China to join as chairman of Intel China.

The machine will be powered by new 22nm Ivy Bridge processor and will cost under $1,000. It will offer users all the benefits of tablets while having capabilities of the laptops. Intel plans to deliver the Ivy Bridge to the market by the end of the first quarter of 2012. However, the initial versions of the Ultrabooks will be based on Sandy Bridge architecture.

The move of Intel to bring ultrabook is an attempt to help the PC industry to challenge the increasing popularity of iPad among consumers interesting in slim, inexpensive computers. It is also a fact that until now, the ultraportable devices from PC manufacturers have not been much popular among consumers due to high prices and average performance of the chips.