Microprocessors, Memory, Mobility On Tap For IDF
Aug 03, 2000 (Tech Web - CMP via COMTEX) -- Intel will likely disclose its first DSP, as well as its latest opinion on PC memory, later this month at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF).
The show's theme, "Powering the Net, Connecting the Net," also underscores Intel's own diversification. In 1997, the conference was almost exclusively focused on the PC. Now, the PC is but one avenue for Intel (stock: INTC) to shop
its expertise. Company and industry executives will present similar tracks on servers, embedded computing, wireless, and a hefty dose of software.
IDF is the premiere geekfest of the chip world. The conference will take place from Aug. 22 to Aug. 24 in San Jose, Calif. This year marks the first time IDF has been held in Silicon Valley. Previously, the event was held in Palm Springs, Calif., and was typically jam-packed.
"It's in San Jose for a reason," said Matt Haller, an Intel platform evangelism manager for Intel, Santa Clara, Calif. "Palm Springs was just elbow to elbow. Claustrophobia."
Technology forums like IDF are Intel's opportunity to present initiatives and products that will help shape the future of the PC industry. Intel is also expected to take the opportunity to discuss its plans in the rapidy growing
enterprise and communications markets, which it has recently targeted.
In addition, the event offers Intel the chance to concentrate the industry's uninterrupted attention upon itself, while giving smaller OEMs the chance to talk to Intel technical executives in person.
"It's a twice-a-year shot for smaller OEMs ... to hear from the horse's mouth the direction of the industry," said Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Insight 64, Saratoga, Calif.
Intel rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices (stock: AMD) use industry events like the Platform Conference to tout their wares. And Via Technologies has announced a conference of its own in Taiwan in September. But Intel executives
stress that over half of the presentations will be from non-Intel executives, a response to charges that Intel controlled, as well as guided, the direction of IDF.
At the show, Intel CEO Craig Barrett will explain how Intel's "building blocks," or components, are the underlying silicon backbone of the Internet. His comments are expected to be fairly similar to the speech he made at the last IDF in February.
"Our job is to reinforce that [message]," said Mike Fister, vice president and general manager of Intel's enterprise platforms group. "You'd probably be pretty shocked if we radically changed it each time we did it."
Albert Yu, senior vice president and general manager of the Intel Architecture Group, will present the usual product road map, with special attention to both Intel's next-generation Itanium and Pentium 4 microprocessors, with a "new level of detail" on the Itanium, according to Fister.
Intel is also expected to focus heavily on Infiniband, favoring that I/O standard over PCI-X. Although the two I/O standards are often seen as complementary, Fister called PCI-X "an incremental improvement" over standard PCI.
Ron Smith, vice president of the wireless group and Mark Christensen, vice president of network communications, will present more details on Intel's wireless and embedded initiatives, likely announcing Intel's long-awaited
next-generation embedded processor, the StrongARM-2.
Intel is also likely to make a DSP-related announcement at the show, possibly concerning the design work it and Analog Devices (stock: ADI) have undertaken in developing a DSP core.
"Analog [Devices] and Intel will definitely be there and will definitely be talking," Haller said.
On the final day, Intel will disclose more details of its emerging Web hosting strategy and other e-business centers. Pat Gelsinger, who shifted roles from the head of the Intel desktop products group to become chief technology officer of
the architecture group, may also provide a hint as to what's going on inside Intel's research labs.
Reporters and customers alike often stagger home from the show under a burden of technical information. With approximately 120 different sessions divided into 20 or so tracks, does it provide any benefit for attendees?
"I think so," Brookwood said. "Developers don't get a lot of premium access to Intel. It's one shot to get a lot of questions answered."
techweb.com
--big, happy snip--
BV |
