The world of computing is in the midst of a sea
change. Some might call it a “strategic inflection point.” You can see it all
around, especially in the massive growth of device types — smartphones,
tablets, hybrid devices, e-readers, netbooks, Chromebooks. It’s a time of great
creative ferment. We at Intel love this. The variety of all of these different
devices is changing how people think about computing. In terms of the devices
themselves, we are working hard to bring the benefits of Intel technology not
only to improve the overall mobile experience, but to revolutionize it.
In case you didn’t catch it, one of the more
interesting recent disclosures related to this happened at Computex last month
in Taiwan. Intel’s Sean Maloney and Mooly Eden provided further details on the
significant changes Intel is making to the Intel Core processor roadmap to
enable a new mainstream line of mobile computers, called Ultrabook. This new
breed of devices will combine best in class performance, responsiveness and
security in thin and light, elegant form factors. Eventually you’ll think of an
Ultrabook as a tablet when you want it, a PC when you need it. This is an
historic change that we believe will redefine the computing experience.
We’ve
been mapping out these changes over the past several months and they aren’t
trivial. They will impact the physical shape and capabilities of personal
computing devices and require substantial changes to the way Intel and its
partners design, produce and market devices and their components. Intel
President and CEO Paul Otellini said in our most recent earnings announcement
that he’s pleased with the industry response and customer commitments around
this new product category.
Sean and Mooly explained that Ultrabooks will arrive
in phases. Phase 1 was kicked off when Intel introduced its latest Ultra-Low
Voltage 2nd Generation Intel Core processors in June that will bring new
systems to shelves this holiday season. Phase 2 centers around the next
generation Intel microarchitecture code name Ivy Bridge processors scheduled
for availability in systems in the first half of 2012. Laptops based on Ivy
Bridge will bring improved power efficiency, smart visual performance,
increased responsiveness and enhanced security.
Faster I/O such as USB 3.0 and
Thunderbolt technologies are also part of Intel’s ongoing work to drive the PC
platform forward. Intel microarchitecture code name Haswell is the third phase
toward accelerating the Ultrabook and reinventing the capabilities of the
laptop in ultra thin and light, responsive and secure designs. With Haswell,
Intel will transform the computing experience with more power efficient
processors that allow a more dynamic experience in insanely sleek systems.
In late 2011, you’ll begin to see systems that
offer:
Thin/light designs
Less than 21 mm thick – some much thinner than even that.
Ultra-fast start up
Intel Rapid Start Technology gets your system up and
running faster from even the deepest sleep, saving time and battery life.
PC wakes up almost instantly – Quick access to your
data and applications
Extended battery life
Ultrabooks will offer 5 hours of battery life even
in the sleekest form factors with some systems delivering 8 hours or more for
all-day usage.
Security enabled
Bios/Firmware enabled to expose hardware features
for Intel Anti-Theft Technology and Intel Identity Protection Technology
Intel has a strong track record in delivering
innovation and growth in computing by employing our core assets of
architecture, engineering, and manufacturing leadership. We transitioned to
multimedia instructions with Pentium in 1995 and the mobile PC market with
Centrino in 2003. We are confident we have the right set of technologies to
influence a major change once again.
Here’s the thing: We are totally jazzed about all of
this. It’s a good time to be working in this industry and it’s awesome time to
be working at Intel. It’s also a fantastic time to be a user of technology –
never before have we had so many choices of devices to suit our personal needs
and lifestyles. If you think today’s variety of computing devices is exciting, you
ain’t seen nothing yet.
Speaking of which, what new features, designs or
experiences would you like to see from your future mobile device? Would it look
much like the laptops or tablets of today or would it be something completely
different? What would you call it? We’d like to hear from you!
