Comments on: Atoms are, after all, the universal building block

By: Atom: o pequeno grande processador. Em servidores, agora « Gadiguetes.com

Atom: o pequeno grande processador. Em servidores, agora « Gadiguetes.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:22:44 +0000

[...] Via CrunchGear. [...]

By: Ankit Gupta

Ankit Gupta — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:16:20 +0000

Shankar, thanks for the response and good point.

I dug around a bit more and Moorestown is something we should see in the 2010-2011 timeframe. Arm processors will be moving to a 45nm process around that time while Intel will be moving to a 32nm process.

By: Shankar

Shankar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:17:29 +0000

Yes, the current Atom processors consume more power. However, Intel is racing to produce its next generation of Atom chips called “Moorestown” which is supposed to consume 1/10th of the power of current Atom chips. BTW, Intel recently announced a design win with LG Electronics for high-end devices (Smart Phones).

By: Joe Wagner

Joe Wagner — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:42:35 +0000

I believe phones and other devices aren’t using Atom processors because they don’t need x86 architecture.

I think Atoms are typically using 3-5 watts and that would destroy a small cellphone battery.

Instead they use ARM processors and custom OSes.

By: Ankit Gupta

Ankit Gupta — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:48:47 +0000

Intel might be avoiding the downfalls described in The Innovator’s Dilemma. For those who don’t know, the first chapter talks about the shift from 14 to 8 inch hard drives, then 8 to 5.25, and then to laptop size. The companies that had the largest revenues couldn’t get themselves to adopt the smaller sizes because the MB/$ ratio didn’t make sense, market share didn’t exist, and a load of other reasons. At each shift, most all of the companies died out shortly, and some lingered for a little while before dieing off.

Intel might be avoiding this downfall and taking advantage of a trend that could increase daily “consumption” of electronics for society, kind of like how Coca Cola did. (Incomes increased 1:7, price of coke increase 1:2 depending on volumes purchased) The Atom is a lower revenue per unit item, and at least initially, I bet their profit margins won’t be so nice on it. What they do have potential of getting is volume.

Here’s my concern – why don’t I see the Atom in devices like the iPhone? Netbooks are a great use and could be, but I want to see these things everywhere, in our cars, in our phones, ebook readers, etc. Maybe even someday finding their way into kitchen appliances?

In my opinion, the way of the future involves a lot of independent devices that serve certain functions. Intel has a chance at getting it, I just wonder if the Atom is tailored too much to netbooks.

Anyone have some more insight? If I’m wrong about things like the Atom not being used in phones and other devices, let me know.