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Technology Stocks : Advanced Micro Devices - Moderated (AMD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Goutam who wrote (4539)	8/11/2000 11:18:58 AM
From: Goutam	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Sony plans to ship AMD microprocessor based notebook PC 'VAIO note F' by this year end. Found this blurb in an article that was actually related to Sony's plans on using the 'CRUSOE' chip in their sub-notebook model. nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com ___________________________________________________________________ Sony to Roll Out Crusoe-Powered PC August 11, 2000 (TOKYO) -- Sony Corp. said its Vaio C1 subnote slated for shipment next autumn will have a Crusoe microprocessor, making it the first company to officially announce a PC powered by the energy-saving CPU, BizTech learned today. Sony, which has a stake in Crusoe's developer, Transmeta Corp. of the US, in early August decided to use the x86-compatible in its Vaio subnote PC, said a Sony product marketing manager, who asked for anonymity. The company official declined to be specific about the shipment date. In an apparent departure from its traditional CPU policy in favor of Intel Corp., Sony also said its "Vaio Note F" notebook PC, to be readied for the year-end shipping, will have microprocessors by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc. This decision will add two non-Intel CPU to the CPU procurement list for its Vaio notebook PCs. Since market introduction of Vaio notebooks in 1997, all models shipped to date have had Intel microprocessors. "We just happened to use the microprocessors considered appropriate for each PC introduction period," said the manager. He said Sony has no intention of breaking away from Intel, adding that Sony had never ruled out the use of non-Intel CPU. The company will continue to work with Intel regardless of the current CPU supply deals. Sony already notified Intel of its plan to use the Crusoe chip, he said. The Crusoe chip will be used in a Vaio C1 subnote model for the purpose of prolonging battery life, and the AMD chip in some of the Vaio Note F models for bringing PC price down in the all-in-one notebook category. No detail has been disclosed as to the specific CPU name, operating frequency, PC model and its specifications. Also no information on product announcement date, shipment date and price was provided. Crusoe microprocessor was chosen for the Vaio C1 subnote model for improved battery life. Sony needed to use the energy-saving CPU in order to improve the battery drive time of the new subnote powered by the same battery used in previous subnote models. Sony calls the PC as "stamina" model of the C1 subnote line. Sony said users cited improved battery capacity in their positive response on its Vaio Note SR introduced in May, succeeding Vaio Note 505. Such user response prompted product planning of long-life PC, Sony said. The new Vaio C1 model will have battery life twice as long as the current model with 1.5-2.5 hours, or even more, said Sony. Another Sony official said Crusoe chip's power consumption is as low as Transmeta's claims it is. But he said because of its insufficient heat dissipation capacity, the new PC will have to use the same fan used in the current models eroding the power-saving capability of the microprocessor. Sony has verified Crusoe's compatibility with x-86 processors. An official said Crusoe will measure up to the level performed by the 400MHz Pentium III microprocessor. Transmeta has not provided Sony with specific data regarding Crusoe's performance, according to Sony. Sony has made requests on specifications of Crusoe and there is a possibility that Sony will eventually have Crusoe microprocessor customized for the Vaio C1 subnote PC. Sony also revealed that all Vaio portable PCs have been made by itself, without an overseas OEM supply. Vaio are made at either Sony Digital Products Inc. in Nagano or Sony Kohda Corp. in Aichi. Japan Representative of Transmeta and Advanced Microdevices Japan Ltd. had no comment as they "did not hear anything from Sony." ___________________________________________________________________ Goutama