Bill, Yes, Intel is making a chip to compete for mainstream graphics applications. Therefore, yes, I consider them to be a direct competitor to S3 and ATI. Sometime in the future (98ish). If their chip works. If they aren't outpaced by the rest of us graphics weenies. Etc.
Incidently, only part of Intel is a competitor. Another part of Intel is also one of S3's and ATI's biggest customers, the motherboard makers. Big company.
Yes, AGP is a good thing. More bandwidth is always good. The kids at Intel have been very pro-active and I believe very square with the vendors on this topic. They've done a nice job. They treated their own graphics chip group like another supplier.
But, to put their graphics effort into perspective, take a step back in time and see this post (http://www.techstocks.com/stocktalk/subject-549/reply-1371.html) which details Intel's public relations positioning of their effort. It is a fascinating Intel internal document which has spin control at such a level that it would make the Clinton White House blush. You bet their after our collective ass. If it's over a billion $ in value, they're interested. The obvious model is that they introduce it at the high end and follow it down the price performance curve like they do for CPUs. A potential second step would be integration of the graphics functionality onto the chip sets, another business dominated by Intel. Create baseline graphics at various PC price points and then let the independents fight for the add-in board scraps. You could write the whole business plan from what they do and don't say in this memo. A classic.
So,to your last question, yes the independent graphics companies will still be needed, but if Intel can capture the motherboard based graphics business, a big piece of S3's and ATI's business would disappear.
Presently, I'm betting my job and income on the premise the that companies like S3 and ATI will maintain and grow our markets. Intel has tried to enter the graphics business several times in the past and has fallen flat on their noses. Trying to coordinate a gang of outside companies to get the job done can't be making it any easier.
I leave you with my motivation which has best been laid down by "the bard in HenryV:
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day!
Jesus-Christ! I'm ready to kick some ass! I think I'll work another six hours tonight!
Ski |
