Nvidia is this week unveiling its latest attempt to improve the capabilities of graphics-based technology; the new Optimus performance-switching platform. Designed to enable notebook computers to choose the best graphics processor for running given applications, it will in turn automatically route workload accordingly. It’s also provided headline writers such as us with the opportunity to work in a Transformers reference to brighten their day.

Nvidia says that by allowing systems to channel and optimise processing muscle through either a discrete Nvidia GPU or an integrated Intel solution “consumers no longer have to choose whether they want great graphics performance or sustained battery life”.

A report in the Tech Herald notes how, from a performance perspective, Nvidia outlines that Optimus will point 3D games, video content and GPU computer applications to the host system’s discrete graphics chip, while more basic tasks such as email and Web browsing will be tasked to the integrated graphics processor.

Dr. Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research, who is named as a ‘pioneer of the graphics industry and a leading analyst’ by the Herald said in response to the new product that,  “The genius of NVIDIA Optimus is in its simplicity”. He added, “One can surf the Web and get great battery life and when one needs the extra horsepower for applications like Adobe Flash 10.1, Optimus automatically switches to the more powerful NVIDIA GPU.”

For those of you with a green streak – well, in terms of energy benefits, Nvidia says that the improvements in efficiency that the new product offers should, and underline that word ‘should’,  provide portable computers with up to twice the battery life when compared to similarly configured systems equipped with discrete graphics processing technology.