Intels proprietary open architecture is defined in the design and pin-out of their CPU, how the communication and the timing of CPU and the main board works. IMHO that is pretty obvious.
They were playing the changing game since the old 80386 time changing a couple of open proprietary features: 386SX-architecture with small memory bus, Numeric Co-processor, later incorporation of the Coprocessor, redefining instruction set and pipelining features (affecting compiler designs), increase of bus frequencies (affecting board designs), changing slot and socket designs. These standards were always set by Intel and the monkeys hat to follow and copy. Cyrix, IDTI, IBM and others could not follow. Next step will be switching to a 64Bit architecture, which has major impact on board, chips, ram, compiler and software design around the CPU. The name of the game is to prevent your value chain partners to support another architecture and to change the standards often to keep the monkey always a step behind, while keeping the value proposition for your value chain partners intact.
The OPA criteria raises the barriers of entries and supports the formation of the value chain. IMHO Intels standard setting ability melts at the moment, because AMD monkey is the more attractive alternative, and even the alpha-gorilla has to give way to his younger follower. AMD is in a position today to set its own standards (e.g. Socket A design).
On Transmeta, the next up and coming in the CPU war, with disruptive technology, very interesting:
techreview.com
But Transmeta has to show it can execute. At the moment it is Vaporware. JMHO.
Michael |
