Intel has basically been doing that for quite a while with the whole "Core i7", "Core i5", etc naming strategy. Where an i7 targeted at laptops might be substantially the same as an i3 targeted at desktops.
absolutely, for any meaningful comparison one has to track down what the code name for the CPU core is on various semiconductor enthusiast websites, and do ones' own research. There's like 10 different generations of core i3/i5/i7 now. I think the old i7 sitting behind me is an Ivy Bridge.
