Just another reason why Directory Services will be more important than an NOS in the future. Now, can Novell position itself inside this solution with its "ties" to AOL and InstantMe?
Regards,
Peter J Strifas
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Gateway Picks Transmeta Chip for AOL Devices
May 30, 2000 5:22 pm EST
By Nicole Volpe
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Personal computer maker Gateway Inc.
(GTW.N) said on Tuesday it would use a processor and an
operating system from Transmeta Corp. in the Internet-access
appliances it is developing with Web service provider America Online Inc. (AOL.N).
The move is the latest example of how computer makers'
designs of new Web-access devices are allowing them to break
from the standard PC setup of chips supplied by Intel Corp.
(INTC.O) and Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O) Windows operating system.
Gateway, one of the top makers of consumer PCs in the U.S.
market, took a stake in Transmeta last month.
Gateway said it would use the Santa Clara, Calif.-based
company's Crusoe chip and its mobile version of the Linux alternative operating system in the new Internet appliances. It cited the chip's longer battery life, smaller size and lower operating temperatures.
Internet appliances, which are lighter versions of the PC
designed for specific uses such as Web surfing, are designed to sit on kitchen counters or desktops and eventually be carried around the home as wireless devices always connected to the Internet.
Transmeta, which developed its chip design in secret and
unveiled the system in January, was founded by former Sun
Microsystems Inc. (SUNW.O) hardware designer David Ditzel,
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, financier George Soros,
Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE) and others.
Last month Transmeta said it had raised an additional $88
million in financing from PC makers such as Gateway and
Compaq Computer Corp. (CPQ.N), as well as other computer
makers and Taiwanese manufacturers.
Ditzel said in a statement, "At our launch in January, we
promised Crusoe would usher in a new world of mobility. With
their innovative approach to Internet Appliances for the home, Gateway and AOL are playing a significant role in moving that vision forward."
A.G. Edwards & Sons analyst Jimmy Johnson said he expects
other computer makers to follow Gateway's lead.
"Gateway is ahead of their time on the appliance side," he said. "Compaq will probably be next, and Dell (Computer Corp. (DELL.O)) will wait and get a feel the way they always do."
Gateway's new appliances will automatically run a customized
version of AOL's Internet service, which will display Web pages and include features such as e-mail and personalized
information.
While mobile devices and computing appliances are expected to become as pervasive new extensions of the Internet, they are not likely to actually replace the PC, at least not any time soon, analysts said.
"I don't think the PC is a dinosaur," said Johnson. "But there is a new wave of appliances and devices out there, and there is going to be a market for them. If Transmeta gets some seed products out there and things go well, we could see some hyper-growth there." |
