New Intel Chip Expected to Boost PC Sales
(07:00 01/06/97) NEW YORK (Reuter) - Many personal computer
makers this week will roll out flashy multimedia PCs designed around a
new chip by Intel Corp. -- a development that is expected to give the
consumer sector of the industry a much-needed boost.
Intel will officially launch its much-anticipated P55C microprocessor
using its so-called MMX (multimedia extension) technology
Wednesday and a slew of companies will unveil new consumer PCs,
notebooks and desktops using the new chip, which will offer much
faster performance.
The company said the new chip will offer more than just faster speeds
on the new PCs, but a spokesman declined to give any further details.
``Instead of just raw performance ... you get a richer experience,'' said
an Intel spokesman in Santa Clara, Calif.
International Business Machines Corp., Compaq Computer Corp.,
Dell Computer Corp., Gateway 2000 Inc., Toshiba America Corp.,
Sony Corp. and many other firms are expected to unveil new high-end
PCs simultaneously with Intel's announcment.
Most machines are expected to be priced over $3,000.
Intel said that an MMX-based PC would be more like a television,
with sharper images, three-dimensional graphics, faster audio and
television-like video. Other benefits include faster video
teleconferencing and Internet access.
``As more and more people use PCs, the expectations are higher and
higher, from what they see in movies and television,'' the Intel
spokesman said.
``This moves the PC platform a little further along to media-rich
applications. Our goal is to surpass the TV in terms of audio and
video.''
For example, he said, a user playing a video game on an MMX-based
PC will feel as if he or she is in a video arcade.
``It's a tremendous kickoff to 1997,'' said Rod Schrock, a vice
president of Compaq's Presario division.
``We are so excited about the new MMX processor that we
redesigned the entire line of Presarios from the ground up. Customers
are going to get a pretty dazzling experience.''
Schrock declined to give any product specifics, but he said that
Compaq will launch its new Presario consumer PCs with MMX in the
same timeframe as Intel's announcement.
``It should provide an added boost to the demand for the new
generation of PCs,'' Schrock added. ``There was no major industry
event in 1996, this year you have a new processor.'' |
