The dual core Atom is not to be compared with other dual core processors! But not all "netbooks" use the Atom. Some use mainstream processors either AMD or Intel, but whether these should really be called netbooks is questionable. (A few use the ARM processors which cannot run Windows)
The line between notebook and netbook computers has become blurred - when netbooks were introduced they were about a quarter the price of small laptops (the small laptops were the most expensive ones then), but since then the performance and size range of netbooks has extended up (as has the price) and the performance and price of small notebooks has extended down (as has the price), so now ther is no real gap.
John

