Chuck,
Here is the first indication that Intel's .18Micron process is not going smoothly (need more maturity - Intel Executive)
infoworld.com _________
Intel executive confirms Pentium III shortage
By James Niccolai InfoWorld Electric Posted at 6:51 AM PT, Nov 16, 1999
LAS VEGAS -- Intel is scrambling to catch up with demand for its fastest Pentium III processors but currently is unable to meet orders from its PC manufacturing customers, a senior Intel executive confirmed here Monday.
"There has been a confluence of factors that have put a huge amount of pressure on the overall supply chain, and we're scrambling" to keep up with demand, Pat Gelsinger, vice president and general manager of Intel's desktop products group, said in an interview at Comdex Monday.
The shortages affect Intel's fastest mobile and desktop Pentium III processors, which were released late last month and are being manufactured using a new 0.18-micron process, an Intel spokesman said. Intel's fastest desktop Pentium III processor runs at 733 MHz, while its highest performance mobile chip runs at 500 MHz.
The impact of the shortage on consumers wasn't immediately apparent. But a high-level official with one of Intel's PC manufacturing customers said in an interview Monday that his company is chomping at the bit for the new mobile Pentium IIIs for corporate notebook computers.
"We have some exciting mobile products that we just introduced recently ... and the only thing holding those products back from flying out the door is the availability of processors," said the official, who asked not to be identified.
Gelsinger played down the significance of the shortage. Intel always faces "exciting issues" when it switches to a new manufacturing process, and the problems it is experiencing with the Pentium IIIs are not atypical, Gelsinger said.
"We need more maturity with the [0.18-micron] process," he admitted.
The executive wouldn't be drawn out on whether Intel is having technical difficulties producing the chips, but said unexpectedly high demand, as well as disruptions caused by the recent earthquakes in Taiwan, contributed to the difficulties.
"Everybody wants more," Gelsinger said. "We are meeting all of our backlog commitments to customers; we can't satisfy all of their upside requests."
infoworld.com _________
Wow..., you can read lot of things into the comments like -
o confluence of factors
o we're scrambling
o Intel always faces "exciting issues" when it switches to a new manufacturing process
o We need more maturity ...
o having technical difficulties producing the chips ...
o as well as disruptions caused by the recent earthquakes in Taiwan
I'm not familiar with this type of business talk - can you guys translate above stuff for me, please ;o)
Regards,
Goutama |
