Intel's announcement is still being digested. Very bullish news for NeoMagic.
Intel to launch Pentium II for mobile PCs
By Therese Poletti
SAN FRANCISCO, April 1 (Reuters) - Intel Corp said it will launch Thursday a new Pentium II processor, targeted to the mobile computing market and a host of laptops using the chip will be unveiled, some at prices under $3,000. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel will unleash the latest version of its Pentium II processor at speeds of 233 and 266 megahertz, designed specifically for notebook computers.
About 18 computer makers, including Compaq Computer Corp CPQ.N., Dell Computer Corp DELL.O., Gateway 2000 Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co HWP.N., International Business Machines Corp IBM.N., Toshiba Corp 6502.T., and others are expected to show new systems running the chip. Intel first launched its Pentium II processor in May 1997 but it has not yet had a version for the mobile market. The Pentium II comes with its own cartridge, which has previously been too bulky for notebook and laptop computers. But Intel designed the new Mobile Pentium II for mobile computers with a mini cartridge and it runs at a much lower voltage than typical Intel processors, consuming less power, a key feature for notebook and laptop computers.
The new mini cartridge for the mobile Pentium II is about two-thirds the length of an average business card with a thickness of about seven millimeters, Intel said. "The packaging makes it more mobile-friendly," said Stephen Nachtsheim, an Intel vice president and general manager of the mobile and handheld products group. "Just about everybody is announcing systems based on the Pentium II." "What's probably different is we are seeing them at a whole lot of different price points and a lot of different form factors," Nachtsheim said. "We expect to see systems all the way down to the sub-$3,000 level."
Computer vendors are betting on a lot of pent-up demand for notebooks with the new chip. Because there has not been a version of Intel's most advanced chip available for the mobile market, some users have held off purchasing mobile systems. "For the past year, you can buy a desktop that would run rings around a laptop with just a Pentium or a Pentium MMX(processor)," said Nathan Brookwood, a Dataquest Inc. analyst.
Dell Computer, based in Round Rock, Texas, will unveil a system starting at a price of $2,699. Dell said it expects to boost overall system performance by about 10 to 11 percent with the new processor, versus previous systems running Pentium with Intel's multimedia technology, MMX. "We believe we are going to take the market by surprise with this announcement with the Pentium II," said Stephan Godevais, vice president of Dell's new Inspiron notebook product line, which was launched last October and is targeted to small business, home users and consumers.
Dell said that its lowest priced notebook will start at $2,699 for an Inspiron notebook with a 233 megahertz Mobile Pentium II, and a 13.3-inch screen. Its systems will be available starting Thursday by ordering directly from Dell via telephone or its Web site on the Internet.
For large corporate and government customers, Dell said its Latitude family will start at $2,999, with a 233 megahertz Mobile Pentium II and a 12.1 inch screen. These systems will ship later this month.
Gateway 2000 Inc., which also sells its systems directly to the customer, will unveil systems starting at $2,899 for the 233 megahertz model, with a 14-inch screen, 32 megabytes of memory and other features, weighing about six pounds. "This is just step one," said Bob Burnett, vice president of mobile systems at North Sioux City, S.D.-based Gateway. "Within the next quarter, you will see Pentium II everywhere. Price points are going to plummet and the variety of products will expand a whole bunch." REUTERS
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