Intel said the theme of the conference in San Jose was the three Cs – Computing, Communications and Convergence. Barrett’s presentation included a myriad of examples of ways it was merging its traditional computing silicon business with communications technologies.
These included Manitoba, the integrated wireless phone platform the vendor is showing at the 3GSM World Congress conference in Cannes this week. Barrett’s speech also highlighted the integration of traditional silicon-based computing and photonics, with the demonstration of an optical modulator on silicon, which could take a digitized image and transmit it straight to fiber.
Barrett once again highlighted Intel’s process technology roadmap, which will encompass 90nm technology this year. The vendor also announced it is converting a Fab in Arizona to 65nm technology. The Fab is due to be up and running by 2005.
To back up Intel’s aggressive product release plans and ongoing capital and R&D investments, Barrett declared that the world’s demand for bandwidth and computing power was still voracious, despite the IT and communications sector’s current troubles.
Perhaps the area that’s most down on technology is here in the US, he said, in an apparent reference to the US press and analyst community’s gloomy take on the sector’s prospects.
Barrett also compared the rollout of cheap broadband in countries like Japan to the situation in the US, saying The US will eventually wake up to the fact that this is a competitive threat to our economy.
Nevertheless, he quoted analysts figures that suggest the IT sector will grow between 4% and 7% this year, although he refused to endorse any particular take on the sector.
But in a question and answer session after his presentation, Barrett was cagey on when this enthusiasm for technology would result in strong growth for the industry, or even a widespread upgrade of the PCs bought at the close of the last decade.
He said the imminent ending of Microsoft’s support for legacy operating systems, such as Windows 98, would spur some replacement activity, as would the fact that older PCs performance is increasingly out of kilter with what users are demanding.
It will eventually add up and companies will replace, [their PCs], he said. As for when that might happen though, Barrett said, That’s the $64 trillion question.
Only when companies show profitability again and unit shipments are up for more than two quarters could the market be said to have swung back to growth, said Barrett. I think we’ll know when the market has swung after it’s swung.
Barrett also demonstrated 2004 concept PCs for the mobile worker, desktop worker and and consumer. The Marble Falls desktop PC featured a small form factor processing unit, with dual independent screens. The Newport mobile PC concept featured a tablet based device with a combined keyboard, and a closed lid display in addition to the main screen.
Source: Computerwire
